Jones Act Compliance Amidst Developing Offshore Technologies and Transportation Support for Alternative-Energy Initiatives


As the search for alternative and cleaner-energy sources continues, new technologies abound in the arenas of energy production and advancements in the modes of transportation used to support novel forms of energy capture. With the development of offshore wind farms and other near-coastal energy installations, as well as larger and more complex exploration facilities in deeper waters, comes the ever-increasing complexities of servicing the energy-manufacturing market in compliance with existing and aging laws. The Jones Act provides a framework of regulations to govern the coastwise trade of the United States. This presentation will focus on the current relevance of the Act and examine the ways in which its verbiage and proper interpretation may just permit options for offshore-operational harmony between both domestic and foreign flag vessels as they work together to support an industry striving to achieve energy alternatives.