An executive order signed by President Biden today is earning strong praise from an important Florida industry.
Florida’s domestic maritime industry is the second-largest of any state in the country. It employs 66,000 Floridians and generates $14.6 billion in economic impact. The Florida Maritime Partnership says that maintaining the Jones Act is key to supporting this industry.
FMP member companies based in the Tampa Bay area include Overseas Shipholding Group, Hendry Marine, and Marine Towing of Tampa. Another member, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, completed the 2019 Big Bend dredging project in Port Tampa Bay ahead of schedule.
These companies are all subject to the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, more commonly known as the Jones Act. This law requires that any vessel transporting goods between two points in the United States must be U.S. owned, built, and crewed. Today’s executive order from President Joe Biden signals that the new administration will continue to support the Jones Act.
“The success of the domestic maritime industry is enabled by the Jones Act, which allows Florida Maritime Partnership member organizations the ability to leverage innovative technologies, focused investments and dedicated trade routes to create a significant, positive economic impact to the markets we serve,” said Christopher Smith, president of the Florida Maritime Partnership. “President Biden has long been an ardent supporter of the Jones Act and we commend his Executive Order prioritizing ‘Buy American’ and recognizing the importance of the domestic maritime industry to U.S. economic, national and homeland security interests.”
