Clients.

Context.

During construction of a new U.S.-built fishing vessel, a compliance issue with federal shipbuilding regulations threatened to derail the project. Without intervention, the error could have removed the vessel from the U.S. fleet, placed the shipyard at risk, and imposed significant financial losses on Fishermen's Finest.

Banner's role.

Banner led a multi-year government relations campaign to secure a rare statutory solution. We developed and advanced legislative language to provide a Jones Act waiver for the vessel, navigated competing regional and industry interests, and engaged Members of Congress and the administration by highlighting the project's environmental, economic, and efficiency benefits.

Outcome.

Congress enacted a rare Jones Act waiver for America's Finest, the first ever granted for a newly built fishing vessel. The project preserved U.S. shipyard jobs, kept the vessel in the domestic fleet, and supported more than 375 direct jobs and approximately 1,200 indirect jobs nationwide.

The project preserved U.S. shipyard jobs, kept the vessel in the domestic fleet, and supported more than 375 direct jobs and approximately 1,200 indirect jobs nationwide.