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What is the purpose of the Passenger Vessel Services Act?
The Passenger Vessel Services Act, (PVSA), 46 U.S.C. § 55103 (b), places the same restrictions on the coastwise movement of people. It is this act that prohibits commercial vessels such as cruise ships from allowing passengers to board at one U.S. port and debark at another U.S. port.
Why are cruise ships foreign flagged?
Why Do Cruise Ships Fly Foreign Flags? Cruise ships fly foreign flags in order to benefit from laws and regulations in other countries. Flying a foreign flag affects employment, taxes, and many other regulations that may be favorable for the cruise line.
Why are cruise ships not flagged in the US?
The simple answer to this question is because there is a 1830s law on the books that states that foreign-flagged ships are not supposed to transport passengers from one U.S. port to another without stopping in a foreign country. The cruise ship must be owned by a U.S. company. It must also be registered in the U.S.
What is the Jones Act regarding cruise ships?
The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-U.S registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S ports, which is prohibited on foreign flagged ships.
Does the Jones Act apply to the US Virgin Islands?
Regarding U.S. territories, the U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are exempt from the Jones Act. Therefore, foreign-flag ships can transport cargo between these islands and other U.S. points.
Is the PVSA part of the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a set of laws about maritime vessels, their workers, passengers, and freight. The Jones Act has a portion of the law that specifically covers cruise ships and their passengers. This law, the Passenger Vessel Services Act or PVSA, applies to ships carrying passengers, versus ships carrying cargo.
Why do ships have flags?
A ship’s flag state exercises regulatory control over the vessel and is required to inspect it regularly, certify the ship’s equipment and crew, and issue safety and pollution prevention documents.
Where are cruise ships flagged?
Although most cruise passengers hail from the United States, it’s common for cruise lines to register their ships in foreign countries — often referred to as “flags of convenience” — while headquartering themselves in America.
Is the Passenger Vessel Services Act part of the Jones Act?
You are far more likely to have heard of the Jones Act than the Passenger Vessel Services Act, but only one of them applies to passengers on a cruise ship and — surprise! — it is not the Jones Act.
Why is the Jones Act important?
The Jones Act requires that all vessels carrying goods between two U.S. points be American-built, -owned, -crewed and -flagged. Most importantly, the Jones Act advances our national security by helping maintain a vibrant domestic shipbuilding industry and maritime workforce.