Page 49: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2006)

June 2006 49

By Philip M. Grill, Chairman,

Maritime Cabotage Task Force

As the Maritime Cabotage Task Force (MCTF) begins its 11th year of exis- tence, we are both proud of our accom- plishments and mindful of our chal- lenges going forward. MCTF was founded at a time when some wished to set U.S. domestic maritime policy hope- lessly adrift by opening domestic trades to foreign shipping. MCTF steered the nation clear of those shoals, but we must maintain a proper lookout today and tomorrow. Because MCTF has been on watch for quite a while, some readers might not be familiar with our origins.

We were founded in the fall of 1995 in response to unprecedented media and

Congressional attacks on the U.S. mar- itime cabotage laws. An admittedly effective campaign of disinformation had more than a few members of

Congress questioning the need for the

Jones Act and other U.S. maritime cabo- tage laws. A number of bills were actu- ally introduced that would have scuttled the Jones Act, Passenger Vessel Services

Act and other statutes. Some even attracted a fair number of cosponsors. In light of these developments, the U.S.- flag Jones Act industry banded together as never before and launched the

Maritime Cabotage Task Force. Our most immediate need was to rebut the false claims of inadequate service or capacity in the Jones Act trades. MCTF produced a number of landmark studies, most notably Full Speed Ahead, which quickly set the record straight and led to a majority of the House endorsing H.

Con Res. 65, a statement of full support for the Jones Act, in 1998.

Our 2004 Annual Report, which is available on our Web site (www.mctf.com), recounts MCTF's his- tory and accomplishments in depth, so the remainder of this column will be dedicated to the current state of our cab- otage laws and a look at the future.

The most serious threats to the Jones

Act of late were the blanket waivers granted for certain petroleum products following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September of 2005.

MCTF did not oppose the first waiver.

The destruction was so widespread that we understood the Administration had to

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