COSCO SHIPPING International HONG KONG Co LtdCOSCO Shipping subsidiary's vessel operating under waiver faces protest and political pressure to end waiver, threatening future operations.
Members of the Seafarers International Union protested outside Marathon Petroleum's refinery in Garyville, Louisiana, against the Chinese-flagged vessel Jin Zhou Wan, which has completed at least three domestic coastwise voyages under a temporary Jones Act waiver. The Jones Act requires cargo transported between U.S. ports to move on U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, U.S.-flagged, and primarily U.S.-crewed vessels. The Jin Zhou Wan is owned and operated by a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping, designated by the U.S. Department of War as a Chinese Military Company. The waiver was issued during the conflict with Iran to stabilize domestic fuel supplies and lower gasoline prices, but analysis by Navigistics Consulting and Reuters found it did not significantly increase fuel supplies or measurably reduce gasoline prices. The initial 60-day waiver was later extended for another 90 days, and Louisiana's congressional leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, recently joined dozens of House Republicans in urging President Donald Trump to allow the waiver to expire.
COSCO SHIPPING International HONG KONG Co LtdCOSCO Shipping subsidiary's vessel operating under waiver faces protest and political pressure to end waiver, threatening future operations.
Marathon Petroleum CorpProtest at Marathon refinery over Jones Act waiver for Chinese vessel; waiver may affect fuel supply but impact on Marathon unclear.
Cosco Shipping Development Co LtdAs part of COSCO group, potential negative impact from waiver expiration and political opposition.