This is something that has irritated the crap out of me since I first read about it weeks ago. I know the Jones Act is holding this up, but why hasn't there been a move to waive it? I don't get this. I didn't like this sort of thing when NOLA was dealing with Katrina, and I don't like this now with Obama's administration.
The Jones Act was waived after Katrina and after Rita. Both union and non-union companies and the unions worked to keep the time limited and subject to review. It was renewed once I think after the initial waiver. The wavier was limited to vessels involved in the oil trade, so the request to move US grain for pigs from the US Great Lakes to North Carolina via foreign vessels was denied.
There is an objection currently by non-union dredge companies with regards to making berms on the grounds that there are US (Gulf Coast companies mostly) vessels ready to do the work. This would not affect the skimmer vessels.
As to why no waiver has been offered, I have no idea.
More info on the Jones Act from an industry journal.
http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIX/2010jun00120.html quote from end:
"There are well-established federal procedures for waiving the Jones Act to bring in foreign vessels in those situations were American vessels are not available," said the MCTF. The American maritime industry has not and will not stand in the way of the use of these well-established waiver procedures to address this crisis.
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