What Is The Jones Act?

Jones Act

The Jones Act, as used in the world of shipping is a law that reserves the transportation of goods between two points in the United States to qualified U.S.-flag vessels. This coastwise reservation law is named after its chief sponsor, Senator Wesley L. Jones. Similar laws apply to the transportation of passengers and reserve towing, dredging, and fishing in U.S. waters to qualified U.S.-flag vessels. Such vessels must be U.S. citizen-owned, U.S. citizen-crewed, U.S.-registered, and U.S.-built. Another law, also called the “Jones Act,” relates to merchant mariner injury recoveries.

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