About

The Jones Act and other U.S. maritime cabotage laws require that cargo and passengers moving between two points in the United States be carried on vessels that are U.S.-owned, U.S.-built and U.S.-crewed. Other statutes reserve dredging, towing and salvage in U.S.waters to vessels that meet these requirements.

The MCTF is the most broad-based coalition the U.S. maritime industry has ever assembled to promote the cabotage laws. Its 400-plus members span the United States and its territories and represent vessel owners and operators, shipboard and shoreside labor groups, shipbuilders and repair yards, marine equipment manufacturers and vendors, trade associations, dredging and marine construction contractors, pro-defense groups and companies in other modes of domestic transportation. These diverse but allied interests share a common goal: to promote the long-standing U.S. maritime cabotage laws. Upon a foundation of U.S. ownership, construction and crews, the United States has built an unsubsidized domestic fleet that is the world leader in efficiency, innovation and safety.

Board of Directors

Maritime Cabotage Task Force Board
Standing (l-r): Eric Smith, Frank Pecquex, Barry Holliday, Matt Paxton, Jim Weakley Seated (l-r): Jim Henry, Phil Grill (retired July 31, 2009), Terry Turner (DC representative for American Shipping Group)

Brenda Otterson
American Maritime Officers Service

Thomas Allegretti
The American Waterways Operators

Terry Turner
American Shipping Group

Michael Roberts
Crowley Maritime Corp.

Barry Holliday
Dredging Contractors of America

Chuck Raymond
Robert Zuckerman
Horizon Lines

Jim Weakley
Lake Carriers' Association

Frank Pecquex
Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Kevin O'Rourke
Matson Navigation Company

Eric Smith
Overseas Shipholding Group

Matt Paxton
Shipbuilders Council of America

James Henry
Transportation Institute