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Critics tie Jones Act to collapse of US commercial shipbuildingCommentary published October 9 notes US yards now build fewer than five commercial ships each yearshipbuilding · Sander Voss · 2026-10-10Facts · 12
Rana Foroohar argues that the US shipbuilding industry has collapsed, producing fewer than five commercial ships a year compared to more than half the world's tonnage after World War II.Critics tie Jones Act to collapse of US commercial shipbuildingRitchie Torres stated that following a March 2026 Jones Act waiver, Puerto Rico imported more US mainland gas in months than the prior 22 years.Ritchie Torres calls for Jones Act repeal or permanent Puerto Rico exemptionShipping rates on Jones Act routes are typically several times more expensive than rates in the competitive international market.The Jones Act collapsed the US commercial shipyard industry. Repeal it.It is almost three times more expensive to operate a ship domestically than internationally because of the Jones Act.The Jones Act collapsed the US commercial shipyard industry. Repeal it.The proportion of aging ships in the Coast Guard fleet rose to 22.5% in August 2025, meaning more than one in five ships is over 20 years old.Coast Guard fleet aging ship proportion reaches 22.5%A 2025 US Trade Representative report states the US ranks nineteenth in commercial shipbuilding and builds fewer than five ships per year, while China builds more than 1,700.The Jones Act was supposed to build shipyards. It closed 300 instead.All 12
Shipping crude oil from Texas to East Coast refineries is significantly more expensive per barrel than to distant locations due to the Jones Act.The Jones Act Strands LNG on the Gulf CoastShipping rates on Jones Act routes are typically several times more expensive than rates on competitive international routes.The Jones Act raises costs while failing its stated justificationsFederal Maritime Commissioner Rob Quartel estimates total savings from repeal could be $20 billion or more.A Buried Report Shows the Jones Act's True CostEliminating the domestic build requirement would expand the fleet engaged in coastal trade and make it more competitive.The Jones Act's shipyard promise is a ghost. Repeal it.Jones Act ships cost more: construction costs run about three times foreign levels and operating costs at least twice as much.South Korea reviews Alaska LNG investmentU.S. flag ships are more expensive to operate than international competitors because they require full U.S. crews and citizenship rules.Jones Act ships average 11-12 years old, three times foreign fleetsWord matches first, then pieces close in meaning.