In this episode of "What’s Going on With Shipping?", we tackle one of the most debated pieces of maritime legislation: the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act. As fuel prices fluctuate and geopolitical tensions rise, the call for Jones Act waivers has become a recurring theme in Washington. But is waiving the act a temporary "band-aid" or a sign of a deeper systemic issue? We examine whether these waivers are actually achieving their intended goals and, what the United States needs to do to ensure they have sufficient tankers to move and distribute oil and fuel throughout the country. Contact What's Going on With Shipping via: Patreon: www.patreon.com/wgowshipping Twitter: @mercoglianos Bluesky: @mercoglianos.bsky.social Facebook: @wgowshipping Email: mercoglianosal@gmail.com 00:00 - Introduction: Trump Administration's Jones Act Waiver Extension 01:23 - What is the Jones Act? (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) 02:14 - Legal Basis for Waivers (46 US Code 501) 03:10 - The Four Criteria for Jones Act Compliance 04:53 - Industry Reactions and Impact on Fuel Prices 05:51 - Analyzing the US Tanker Fleet Data 07:52 - Regional Operations: West Coast vs. Gulf Coast 09:34 - Special Exemptions and International Shuttles 10:21 - Challenges in US Ship Repair and Infrastructure 12:03 - International Trade and Tanker Security Program 14:11 - The Mechanism and Guidance for Requesting Waivers 15:47 - Congressional Testimony and Rebuilding the Merchant Marine 17:02 - Unanswered Questions: Foreign Crews and Labor Laws 17:57 - Studies on Waiver Effectiveness and Fuel Shortages 19:34 - Political Background and Jet Fuel Claims 21:48 - Fact-Checking Movement Data: 8 million Barrels? 24:41 - Detailed Review of Issued Waivers (April 30th Report) 25:53 - Case Study: Motor Vessel Cabo Deseado 28:18 - Case Study: Movement of Ethanol (Pheasant) 31:51 - Future Solutions: Vessel Replacement and Build-and-Charter 34:31 - Innovation: Propulsion and Nuclear Power in Shipping 36:09