AmericasGasRegulatory

Bill introduced to Congress requiring quota of US-flagged ships for carrying US LNG exports

A bi-partisan political bill has been introduced to the US Congress calling for a minimum of 30% of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) crude exports to be carried on US-flagged vessels.

The legislation’s purpose is to help support the declining American maritime industry.

Properly titled H.R. 1240, the “Energizing American Maritime Act”, the bill has been introduced by Representatives John Garamendi (Democrat from California) and co-sponsored by Representative John Duncan (Republican from Tennessee) and Representative Duncan Hunter (Republican from California).

The bill’s backers cite not only an economic imperative but a national security one, too, for needing to bolster the industry this way.

They say it would create jobs for US mariners and shipbuilders as well as ensuring an optimum number of homeland personnel are capable of handling such a strategically important cargo in case of war or another national emergency.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.

Comments

  1. I wonder what will happen if other countries insist that a certain %age of their trade with the US must be carried on v/ls flagged in their country?

    1. Remember the UNCTAD LIner Code – “40% exporter, 40% importer, 20% cross traders..”

      “The end of overtonnaging is in sight”… (insert winking smiley here)

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