Customs Confirms That Jones Act Covers De Minimis Movements

In a recently released ruling to the public, Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the Jones Act encompasses short movements of vessels which are otherwise covered by the Act. In a reconsideration dated November 15, 2012 of a ruling issued on September 24, 2012, CBP indicated that a Jones Act-qualified U.S.-flag vessel was required by law to move merchandise a short distance before installing a topside on a SPAR (single point anchor reservoir). Once the topside was transferred from a Jones Act-qualified vessel to the foreign vessel, the foreign vessel was required to move a short distance to be able to position itself for the installation of the topside.