A recent report involving a missing New Jersey fisherman in the Delaware Bay highlights not only the risks associated with working on the water, but also the multifaceted legal framework that applies when a maritime incident...more
Overview - The Trump administration announced a temporary waiver of the Jones Act on Wednesday 18 March, meaning that foreign-flagged vessels will be permitted to transport goods, such as fertiliser, natural gas, coal and...more
Armed conflict with Iran commenced on February 28, 2026. Since that time vessel operators, logistics providers, cargo owners, and those looking to receive landed product have faced far-reaching challenges. War is not a new...more
International conflict—especially in the Middle East—often shocks the energy markets due to concerns about the availability and price of oil and gas. Long before the recent Venezuela and Iran crises, President Trump had...more
The escalation of armed conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and certain Gulf states following coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in late February 2026 has significantly and immediately impacted international...more
Based on a request of the Department of War, the Trump Administration announced a 60-day limited waiver of the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 55102) on March 17, 2026, in response to energy market volatility amid the ongoing...more
The Trump administration’s waiver of the nation’s domestic cabotage laws under the family of laws known as the Jones Act1 is highly unusual for both its length (60 days) and its breadth (659 categories of products).2 While...more
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) published a bulletin (the “CBP Bulletin”) yesterday confirming the issuance of a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, authorizing foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil, liquefied...more
According to guidance issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on March 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted a limited waiver of 46 U.S.C. § 55102 (commonly known as the Jones Act), in...more
On March 18, 2026, the Trump Administration announced a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, which requires that cargo transported between U.S. ports be carried on vessels that are U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-crewed....more
As a surge in fuel prices and the escalating conflict in the Middle East cause a disruption in global energy flow, the White House is considering a temporary waiver of the Jones Act. This law, which requires cargo moving...more
According to recent reports, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated that “[i]n the interest of national defense, the White House is considering waiving the Jones Act for a limited period of time to ensure...more
The maritime finance industry saw significant change in 2025, including the shipping sector becoming a key target of sanctions policymakers, evolving regulatory action and lending trends, and the increased role of private...more
Private equity has over the past 15 years played a key role in the U.S. maritime industry, and today's regulatory landscape in the U.S. makes the U.S. maritime industry ripe with further opportunity for private equity funds....more
Over many years, laws have developed to provide a cause of action for employees due to injuries that have occurred from operations of many industries that have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to the...more
The Jones Act is the foundational law of the American maritime industry, and compliance with it is essential whether you are a vessel operator in the US domestic trades or a foreign operator serving the US market. The Jones...more
Introduction The maritime industry, long governed by a unique set of laws and traditions, is facing a new and formidable challenge: the rise of “nuclear verdicts” in personal injury cases, particularly those involving Jones...more
Offshore wind energy is rapidly emerging as a critical component of the global transition to renewable energy sources. Harnessing the vast wind resources available at sea offers significant potential for reducing greenhouse...more
In the early hours of Monday, January 6, 2025, a severe winter storm fell on much of the MidAtlantic region and extended into New England. Forecasters predicted that this would only be the first in a series of significant...more
Much has already been written about the shockwaves reverberating from the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises, et. al. v. Raimondo, Sec. of Comm., et. al., No. 22-451, 2024 U.S. LEXIS 2882 (2024). As the...more
In Santee v. Oceaneering International, Inc., the Fifth Circuit determined that a technician for Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) on a drill ship, was not a seaman covered by the Jones Act but that his exclusive remedy for an...more
The shipping industry is an extensive and foundational mode of global transportation and resource distribution. The men and women who work aboard the U.S. fleet are routinely exposed to varying types of cargo, machinery, and...more
Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Central District of California- In this action, the plaintiffs filed suit on behalf of the decedent, William Banks, in Los Angeles County Superior Court and thereafter...more
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - Plaintiff Harry Marsh worked as a merchant mariner from 1944 to 1992. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2018 and subsequently sued the owner of every vessel he...more
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the “Jones Act” requires that any vessel engaged in the U.S. coastwise trade be owned and operated by U.S. citizens. To qualify as a U.S. citizen under the Jones Act an...more