Coast Guard Clarifies U.S.-Build Jones Act Requirement for Work Platforms

For a vessel to qualify to operate in the U.S. coastwise trade (Jones Act) it must be built in the United States which means that all major components of its hull and superstructure must be fabricated in the United States and the vessel must be assembled entirely in the United States. On April 25, 2013, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a ruling relating to the construction of multi-purpose, self-propelled work platforms designed to accomplish a number of shallow water tasks such as dredging, excavation, pipe and cable laying and trash and debris removal. In the ruling the Coast Guard determined that a deck house/operator's cab, lifting arms, front stabilizers, extendable outriggers and similar devices are not "components of the hull and superstructure." Therefore, those items could be of foreign manufacture without jeopardizing the Jones Act eligibility of the work platforms constructed in the United States so long as they are installed onto the vessel in the United States.

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