The Jones Act DeskSHIPS, PORTS, AND THE LAW OF AMERICAN SHIPPING. · 2026-09-30

The Jones Act Desk: The Day

In this newscast

THE JONES ACTJones Act vessels face higher build and operating costs.
Presented by Mara Quinn. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →
THE JONES ACTCost gaps documented between domestic and foreign fleets.
Presented by Eli Grant. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →
PORTS AND LABORNew tug construction starting at Great Lakes Shipyard.
Presented by Ada Hale. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →
PORTS AND LABORCleveland shipyard completes ten harbor tugs.
Presented by Eli Grant. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →
SHIPBUILDINGICS delegation meets with US Maritime Administration.
Presented by Ada Hale. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →
ENERGY AT SEAPilots question LNG docking safety in San Juan Bay.
Presented by Mara Quinn. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →
PUERTO RICO AND THE GAO report highlights coastal marine fires.
Presented by Eli Grant. Read the story on The Jones Act Desk →

The desk

Mara Quinn (Lead anchor, voiced Matilda) · Eli Grant (The desk, voiced Eric) · Ada Hale (The desk, voiced Alice)

How this was made

The stories come from The Jones Act Desk's live front page, the same rail readers see. An AI wrote the transcript and a validator held it to the contract: real headlines only, figures quoted verbatim from the coverage or not at all. Each anchor's lines were read in that anchor's own voice, and the newscast was rendered and gated before it published. The video above is the file the gate passed.

The transcript 8 turns
Mara QuinnWelcome to The Jones Act Desk. It is September thirtieth, 2026. I am Mara Quinn, joined by Eli Grant and Ada Hale. We begin with shipping costs.
Eli GrantIndependent analyses show significant cost multiples and fleet age gaps compared to foreign ships.
Ada HaleGreat Lakes Shipyard will start building two new tug hulls later this year.
Eli GrantThis follows ten completed Damen harbor tugs built for Great Lakes Towing Company in Cleveland.
Ada HaleThe International Chamber of Shipping delegation met with the US Maritime Administration.
Mara QuinnSan Juan Bay pilots say New Fortress Energy has not proven its LNG carrier can dock safely.
Eli GrantA GAO report details the frequency of nearshore marine fires and Coast Guard response.
Mara QuinnThat is the news for today. Thank you for joining us.
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Past newscasts

2026-10-10 · 2026-10-09 · 2026-10-07 · 2026-10-06 · 2026-10-05 · 2026-10-04 · 2026-10-03 · 2026-10-01 · 2026-09-30 · 2026-09-29 · 2026-09-28 · 2026-09-26 · 2026-09-25 · 2026-09-23 · 2026-09-22 · 2026-09-21 · 2026-09-20 · 2026-09-19 · 2026-09-17 · 2026-09-16 · 2026-09-15 · 2026-09-14 · 2026-09-12 · 2026-09-11 · 2026-09-10 · 2026-09-09 · 2026-09-08 · 2026-09-07 · 2026-09-06 · 2026-09-05

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