JonesActEnforcer - Offshore Marine Service Association

Jones Act Enforcer

What is the Jones Act Enforcer?

The JONES ACT ENFORCER is a first-of-its-kind vessel that patrols U.S. waters to gather video and photographic evidence of Jones Act violations. The vessel travels up and down our coasts to ensure that U.S. law is being followed when new offshore wind projects are underway.

The mission of the JONES ACT ENFORCER is to shine a light on the unjust, dangerous practices playing out in American waters by documenting foreign vessels skirting U.S. law (and eliminating American jobs and livelihoods in the process). Not on our watch.

Associated Press Coverage: American Boat Patrols Waters Around New Offshore Wind Farms to Protect Jobs

Huffington Post Coverage: Legislation is Essential for Allowing U.S. Workers to Compete with Foreign Rivals

Why is the Jones Act Enforcer needed?

America’s great offshore industry is under threat as wind developers hire foreign vessels and crews that engage in unsafe activities in place of qualified and available American mariners. This practice directly violates the Jones Act , a long-standing U.S. law that requires seaborne cargo shipped between two U.S. points to be carried by U.S.-built, crewed, and owned vessels.

Despite the Jones Act’s importance and support, the Act is not fully enforced due to limited resources and profit-seeking behavior from big developers. Additionally, unelected bureaucrats within Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have weakened the law by allowing foreign vessel owners to utilize loopholes to advance their own agenda (i.e., line their own pockets). Once approved, these loopholes are repeatedly exploited by other foreign vessels and each time it happens, American mariners lose out.

How does the Jones Act Enforcer support U.S. maritime law?

OMSA ardently supports ongoing initiatives in Congress to better enforce the Jones Act, including efforts to pass the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act (AOWFA) —legislation that would ensure that when foreign vessels do operate in U.S. waters, they play by the same rules as American vessels. But until Congresses passes legislation to enforce and strengthen existing law, OMSA’s sponsorship of the JONES ACT ENFORCER aims to hold offshore wind developers accountable and bring parity to the industry.

The JONES ACT ENFORCER is actively monitoring U.S. offshore wind construction sites to ensure fair, safe, and legal practices and evidence of violations is being submitted to authorities, made public, and shared with the media.