Chinese-flagged asphalt tanker JIN ZHOU WAN has carried asphalt from New Jersey to Baltimore under the Trump administration’s emergency Jones Act waiver, marking at least the vessel’s second U.S. coastwise voyage under the program.
Vessel tracking data reviewed by gCaptain shows JIN ZHOU WAN arrived in Baltimore with asphalt loaded in New Jersey. It is at least the second domestic coastwise voyage by the vessel under the waiver program. In May, the tanker transported asphalt from Harvey, Louisiana, to New Haven, Connecticut.
The 13,265 dwt asphalt tanker was built in 2017. It is owned and operated by COSCO Shipping Asphalt Hainan, a subsidiary of the state-owned China COSCO Shipping Corporation.
The Jones Act generally requires cargo moved between U.S. ports to be carried on vessels that are U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, U.S.-flagged and primarily crewed by U.S. mariners.
The Trump administration invoked emergency waiver authority under Section 501 of the Merchant Marine Act in March. The 150-day waiver allows approved foreign-flagged vessels to transport certain energy cargoes between U.S. ports. The administration cited national defense concerns linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis and disruption to energy markets.
The waiver remains in use after the United States and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding earlier this month to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities. The report said the agreement helped ease oil prices and lower gasoline prices.
MARAD data reviewed by gCaptain shows 138 domestic voyages have been completed under the waiver since it took effect in March. Approved shipments have included crude oil, refined petroleum products, jet fuel, naphtha and asphalt.
Jones Act supporters have questioned whether the emergency waiver is being used for routine commercial shipments rather than immediate national defense needs.
The Seafarers International Union said the waiver has allowed Chinese vessels to move cargo between U.S. ports while affecting employment for U.S. mariners. The union also said the waiver was not providing relief at the pump for U.S. consumers and called for it to end.
The American Maritime Partnership previously raised concerns over JIN ZHOU WAN’s Louisiana-to-Connecticut voyage. The group said China COSCO Shipping Corporation has appeared on U.S. Department of Defense lists identifying Chinese military companies operating in the United States. The company has disputed aspects of those designations.
The latest Baltimore arrival has added to scrutiny of the Jones Act waiver as the Strait of Hormuz situation has changed following the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.
