MAY 1, 2013 — A plan by Normrock Industries, Inc. of Quebec, Canada, to build its Amphibex line of amphibious excavator and dredging vessels at the Marine Inland Fabricators shipyard in Panama City, Florida, has gotten the nod from the National Vessel Documentation Center on the issue of whether or not they would be Jones Act compliant.

The ever watchful Dennis Bryant of Bryants Marine Consulting reports in his latest newsletter that the NVDC has issued a Determination Letter stating that the vessels, which are designed in Canada, would be considered built in the United States and eligible to engage in the coastwise trade so long as all major components of the hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States and the vessels are assembled entirely in the United States. This determination would be valid notwithstanding that various vessel components, such as lifting arms and stabilizers are built in Canada, so long as they are assembled into the vessels in the United States.

You can access the Determination Letter HERE