JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Last week, Crowley Maritime Corp. announced that it had dispatched 18 company owned and/or operated Jones Act petroleum vessels to discharge gasoline and diesel into Florida ports. This mobilization responds to fuel shortages caused by the unprecedented evacuation of millions of Floridians ahead of Hurricane Irma. The vessels include Crowley’s MT Ohio and MT Florida, which were among the first tankers to bring fuel into the Port of Tampa on Sept. 12 along with MT West Virginia in Port Everglades.
“We are extremely grateful for our customers’ response to this crisis, and for the dedication and sacrifice of the American men and women operating these vessels,” said Rob Grune, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. “Many of them live in Florida, and have put their own needs on hold while responding to the urgent needs of others.”
Fuel is being discharged to all major terminals in Florida: Jacksonville, Port Canaveral and Ft. Lauderdale in addition to Tampa. The vessels bring a combined volume 2.75 million barrels (115 million gallons) of gasoline and 500,000 barrels (21 million gallons) of diesel fuel within an eight-day period. This is enough to fill the tanks of more than 7 million cars once distributed from the ports to service stations across the state.
The vessels began discharging as soon as local fuel depot and port authorities gave the all clear to do so. Grune noted that berth availability is limited even when fully operational. “As a result, we expect that fully loaded vessels will experience significant delays waiting in line to discharge. Crowley’s vessels, and those of other American operators, are supplying as much fuel to Florida as the shoreside supply chain can accept and distribute.”
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, is a federal statute that requires that all goods transported by water in U.S domestic commerce be carried on American vessels.
Last week, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke extended the limited Jones Act Waiver initially signed on September 8 to September 22, 2017.
Due to the severe disruptions of the oil supply system resulting from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the extended waiver will facilitate movement of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, to be shipped from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas; to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.