The Jones act or the merchant marine act of 1920 states .
"It is necessary for the national defense and for the proper growth of its foreign and domestic commerce that the United States shall have a merchant marine of the best equipped and most suitable types of vessels sufficient to carry the greater portion of its commerce and serve as a naval or military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency, ultimately to be owned and operated privately by citizens of the Unites States; and its declared to be policy of the United States to do whatever may be necessary to develop and encourage the maintenance of such a merchant marine, and, in so far as may not be inconsistent with the express provisions of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, in the disposition of vessels and shipping properties hereinafter provided, in the making of rules and regulations, and in the administration of the shipping laws keep always in view this purpose and object as the primary end to be attained."1.
This basically states that all domestic shipping must be done by U.S flag vessels. This paper will examine the act and determine what effects it has had on the economy and how it has shaped the maritime industry. .
The Jones act is named after Senator Wesley Jones, who sponsored the act of 1920. Senator Jones pushed through the bill without any congressional debate or any record of vote, President Wilson signed the bill in June that year. .
"The primary aim of the Act was to establish rules for the disposal of surplus ships, but the Merchant Marine Act is memorable for other reasons. For the first time, Congress issued a Declaration of Policy with respect to the U.S.-flag merchant marine. Also, Section 27 of the Act included cabotage language, championed by Sen. Wesley L. Jones of Washington that restricted trade between states to ships that are built in the United States, registered in the United States, and manned by American citizens.