Page 8: of Marine News Magazine (May 2026)

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Insights

AWO

American Waterways, Global Volatility:

Making the Right Policy Choices

By Jennifer Carpenter, President & CEO, AWO

Today’s headlines bring constant news of international of Americans. Today, we need policymakers to make the shipping hubs across the global supply chain experienc- right choices in support of this essential industry, starting ing major volatility and disruption – from Iran sending with terminating the historically long, overly broad, un- shockwaves through global energy markets by forcefully necessary Jones Act waiver currently in effect. obstructing vessel traf? c in the Strait of Hormuz; to the The issuance in March of a 60-day Jones Act waiver,

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen signaling intent to restart allowing foreign-? agged vessels to move oil, natural gas, attacks on shipping in the Red Sea; to China detaining coal, and fertilizer between U.S. ports – a waiver already

Panama-? agged vessels in an escalation of ongoing dis- unprecedented in both length and scope and recently putes over the Panama Canal; and beyond. extended for an additional 90 days from the May 17

By contrast, the American tugboat, towboat and barge expiration date – has had no impact on the price of gas- industry continues to move our nation’s cargo on U.S. oline domestically. Meanwhile, the waiver has created domestic waterways, safely, securely, and reliably. Even serious vulnerabilities. with the occasional curveball from Mother Nature caus- The waiver applies to domestic markets where no ing delays in one part of the system or another, dedicated American vessel shortage exists, allowing foreign vessels and resilient U.S. mariners continue to deliver without to navigate our domestic waterways freely, directly un- fail. Domestic maritime’s ability to serve as a beacon of dercutting American companies that play by the rules stability despite geopolitical upheaval is not solely attrib- and follow U.S. law. This puts American vessel owners, utable to skill, grit, and experience, as critical as those are mariners and shipyards at a disadvantage and undermines – it’s also the product of public policies that enable the our supply chain reliability while making our waterways industry to keep moving, thriving and innovating. But less safe. As legal observers have noted, a Jones Act waiver those policies cannot be taken for granted – they repre- is not a waiver of U.S. tax, immigration, labor or environ- sent choices made by policymakers to consciously shape mental laws, but it is unclear how the federal government an operational environment that re? ects our industry’s intends to ensure that foreign vessels using the waiver are fundamental importance to our nation’s economy, sup- fully compliant with applicable laws – a situation that is ply chain, and national security, and to the everyday lives unfair at best, and profoundly dangerous at worst.

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