Cruise ships are a popular way to travel the world, offering passengers the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in a single trip. However, one question that often arises is whether there are any American-flagged cruise ships. The answer to this question is not straightforward.
The Jones Act
The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires all ships that transport goods or passengers between two U.S. ports to be built in the United States, owned by U. citizens, and crewed by U. citizens or permanent residents. This law was designed to protect American jobs and promote national security.
However, this law does not apply to foreign-flagged ships that visit U. ports as part of an international itinerary. Many cruise ships are registered in foreign countries such as Panama or the Bahamas for tax and regulatory reasons. These ships can still visit U. ports without violating the Jones Act.
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the Jones Act that allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate in Hawaii and Alaska without violating the law. These exceptions were granted because of Hawaii and Alaska’s unique geographic locations and their reliance on tourism.
Hawaii
Hawaii is located more than 2,000 miles from the nearest mainland port, making it difficult for American-flagged ships to operate there year-round. To promote tourism in Hawaii, Congress passed a law allowing foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate there under certain conditions:
- The ship must be registered in a country that has a treaty with the United States
- The ship must have been built in the United States or its territories
- The ship must stop at least one foreign port before arriving in Hawaii
- The ship must depart from and return to the same U. port
Alaska
Alaska is also located far from mainland ports, and its tourism industry relies heavily on cruise ships. To allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate there, Congress passed a law exempting these ships from the Jones Act under certain conditions:
- The ship must be registered in a country that has a treaty with the United States
- The ship must have been built in the United States or its territories
- The ship must stop at least one foreign port before arriving in Alaska
- The ship must depart from and return to the same U. port
- The ship must obtain a waiver from the Secretary of Homeland Security if it will be carrying passengers between two U. ports without stopping at a foreign port.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there are no American-flagged cruise ships currently operating, there are many foreign-flagged cruise ships that visit U. ports on their international itineraries. The Jones Act does not apply to these ships as long as they meet certain conditions, and there are exceptions for Hawaii and Alaska due to their unique circumstances.