AMP gives strong backing to CBP’s Jones Act proposals
The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a coalition representing the US maritime industry, on Tuesday came out strongly in favour of proposed modifications of the Jones Act.
Those proposals were made by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency in January and would tighten a loophole that essentially allows foreign-flagged and/or crewed vessels to deliver repair equipment to offshore oil platforms.
In its statement of support for the proposal AMP said: “Correct enforcement of US coastwise laws is vitally important to national security interests and the maintenance of our domestic maritime industry.”
The AMP statement was submitted on the final day of an open comment period on the CBP’s notice.
Earlier this month the American Petroleum Institute (API), a trade association for the oil and natural gas industries in the US, had criticized the proposals, saying they could costs thousands of jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry and related businesses.