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May 2, 2025
|4 min read
SHIPS for America Act Reintroduced – What’s New
in December 2024, divided into two bills. Companion legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Rep.
John Garamendi (D-CA). This is a major, historic effort to revitalize the U.S. merchant marine. The legislation had to be re-introduced to be consi...Read more
April 18, 2025
|5 min read
United States Imposes Substantial Fees on Chinese-Built and Other Vessels
car carriers starting in October 2025. The USTR also proposed additional duties on Chinese-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes and certain cargo handling
equipment. The range of fees, the application of the fees to car carriers not connected with China, and the crane fees are all new and did not ap...Read more
April 10, 2025
|4 min read
Ground-Breaking U.S. Merchant Marine Executive Order Issued
mainly executive reports to outline further action and to propose new legislation – all to promote the U.S. merchant marine including U.S. shipbuilding.
February 24, 2025
|4 min read
U.S. Government Proposes Trade Sanctions Against Chinese-Built or -Operated Vessels
The proposed sanctions stem from an investigation under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 which commenced on April 17, 2024, culminating in a report
issued on January 16, 2025, affirming the petition.
December 19, 2024
|4 min read
SHIPS for America Act – A Retrospective
America Act of 2024,” was introduced in the U.S. Congress. The legislation is an ambitious effort to increase substantially the U.S. merchant marine in the
international trade and the U.S. shipyard industrial base after a long period of U.S. government neglect.
October 10, 2024
|4 min read
Jones Act Waivers and Hurricanes
waiver can ever be efficacious, it might be useful to review how very narrow the circumstances must be to justify such a waiver under the law as it has been
amended.
October 1, 2024
|2 min read
New Information Made Available on Settlement of Frozen Fish Jones Act Case
England via Canada allegedly in violation of the Jones Act. The Settlement Agreement was provided in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. It
was not included in the case docket when the Stipulation for Dismissal was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska in February 2024.
August 27, 2024
|2 min read
Customs Confirms Offshore Wind Foundation Installation Rulings
project which it issued last year.
May 21, 2024
|2 min read
U.S. Maritime Citizenship Laws Again at Issue
rigorous, it permits certain foreign investment provided vessels remain under U.S. citizen control.
May 7, 2024
|2 min read
When is a Vessel Built in America “U.S. Built”
What qualifies as “U.S. built” under the law and U.S. Coast Guard interpretations was recently tested in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit case of
Diamond Services Corp. v. Curtin Maritime Corp.
January 30, 2024
|3 min read
Customs Issues New Guidance on a Range of LNG Transportation Issues
addressed how the U.S. Jones Act, which is a set of U.S. laws restricting U.S. domestic maritime commerce to qualified U.S.-flag vessels, applies to LNG
transportation.
December 14, 2023
|2 min read
U.S. Maritime Administration Makes Government Vessel Financing More Flexible
more flexible.
October 18, 2023
|2 min read
Offshore Jurisdiction “Pristine Seabed” Case Dismissed
American Petroleum Institute’s (API) motion for summary judgment in the case of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC v. Chris Magnus (Civil Action No.
4:22-CV-02481).
October 10, 2023
|3 min read
U.S. Legislation Introduced Restricting Use of Foreign Vessels in U.S. Offshore Projects
and renewable energy projects would be affected. The latest version of that legislation was introduced on October 5, 2023, by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
entitled the “American Worker Fairness Act.”
September 18, 2023
|2 min read
U.S. Customs Revises Jones Act Guidance for Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation Installation
“Jones Act” is a popular term for several laws which reserve U.S. domestic maritime trade to U.S.-flag vessels which must be built in the United States and be
owned and operated by qualified U.S. citizens.
July 31, 2023
|3 min read
U.S. Customs Provides New Jones Act Guidance for Offshore Wind Turbine Installation
offshore wind turbines. The “Jones Act” is a popular term for several laws which reserve U.S. domestic maritime trade to U.S.-flag vessels which must be built
in the United States and be owned and operated by qualified U.S. citizens.
April 28, 2023
|2 min read
U.S. Legislation Advances Restricting Use of Foreign Vessels in U.S. Offshore Projects
including the two provisions which will have an effect on the ability of the United States to produce both oil and gas resources offshore and renewable energy
offshore.
December 16, 2022
|1 min read
Congress Authorizes Major Expansion of Vessel Tax Deferral Program
the Capital Construction Fund vessel tax deferral program designed to help finance the construction of vessels in the United States.
November 1, 2022
|1 min read
U.S. Customs Re-Clarifies Foreign Vessel Scope for Offshore Wind Cable Installation
wind projects. CBP partially altered its views on October 28 with regard to the transportation of cable remaining after a cable lay operation is complete.
October 7, 2022
|3 min read
Congress Considers Substantial Changes to Jones Act Ruling Process
the way the U.S. Government provides Jones Act compliance guidance.
About This Blog
MaritimeFedWatch features updates and discussions on current maritime legal issues and developments. The blog covers environmental regulation and crimes, piracy, the Jones Act, U.S. Coast Guard initiatives, U.S. Congressional enactments, and many other topics of interest to the U.S.-flag industry and the world wide maritime industry’s interaction with the United States.
