They’ve been barred entry for nearly a century, thanks to the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act. The law states that all goods moving by water between U.S. ports must be carried by ships that are built, flagged and crewed in this country. It has been subjected to repeated attacks over the years, including during the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A recent report by the Heritage Foundation argues that repeal of the Jones Act would save the American economy $682m per year. Others say that number doesn’t account for the thousands of jobs that the act reserves for American workers. In this episode, attorney and Jones Act expert Charlie Papavizas provides valuable background on the Jones Act, and clears up some key misconceptions about the law. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Managing Editor of SupplyChainBrain.

Look for the next episode of the podcast, which can be downloaded or streamed, every Friday on the SupplyChainBrain website. And check us out on iTunes!

Show notes:

More from Charlie Papavizas on the Jones Act.

“Sink the Jones Act”: a report by the Heritage Foundation.

A defense of the Jones Act by Tony Munoz, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Maritime Executive. 

This episode is sponsored by MercuryGate International, Inc.

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