For National Security's Sake - Revisiting the "Jones Act", 100 Years Later
Abstract
By repealing the portion of the Jones Act that mandates only vessels constructed in the United States may conduct domestic maritime trade, the U.S. merchant marine industry can be revitalized and more effectively leveraged to promote national security. This enhancement regenerates the maritime industry in three ways. First, partially amending the Jones Act enables the immediate increase in the size of the U.S. merchant fleet. Second, when coupled with direct subsidies, the updated legislation facilitates revitalization of U.S. shipyards by reintroducing them to global shipbuilding competition. Finally, a consequentially larger U.S. flagged merchant fleet demands the growth in the number of U.S. merchant mariners required to crew these vessels in times of peace and war. In 2014 the Department of Transportation was tasked with producing a National Maritime Strategy, originally due in February 2015; the strategy received a deadline extension into February 2020. Incorporating the ideas expressed in this paper to inform the National Maritime Strategy advances the national security and economic interests of the nation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1094773
Entities
People
- Matthew K. Mulvey
Organizations
- Naval War College