In the wake of Hurricane Fiona several weeks ago, a tanker sailing from Texas to Europe diverted to Puerto Rico to bolster the island’s depleted diesel fuel stocks. But, because of a century-old U.S. maritime law called the Jones Act, the foreign-flagged ship waited offshore for days before federal officials allowed its much-needed cargo to be offloaded. And even that took a massive public outcry and direct presidential intervention.
It was an absurd and frustrating scene — one that the Jones Act makes all too common during emergencies — and another clear sign of why this misguided law needs immediate reform.
Enacted in 1920, the Jones Act mandates that vessels carrying goods between U.S. ports are U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built and mostly U.S.-crewed and owned. In normal times, the protectionist law primarily means higher prices. In emergencies, however, it can mean much worse, rigidly limiting shipping options that disaster response efforts often require.
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