Jones Act proponents are applauding a proposal by US Customs and Border Protection to sweep aside a series of rulings that had made it easier for offshore vessels to operate in US waters.
But the measure is likely to find opposition in the oil industry.
The agency is proposing to revoke several years of decisions that had classified some items carried by foreign-flag ships as "equipment" rather than "merchandise" subject to the cabotage restrictions of the act and other rules requiring domestic shipments to be carried on US-built, American-owned vessels crewed by US citizens.
Parting
