The article currently says "Fewer than 100 Jones Act vessels are in operating today, not including barges and tugboats". I don't know why your quote omits that.
A lot of US to US traffic went on foreign owned barges which has been a real concern.
It’s not about the US declaring war on the owner, because then the bandages could be seized. However, if the owner’s country declares neutrality and decides that means they can’t move war material then the US ends up in a tough spot.
Entertaining trivia: The Space Shuttle main tank was manufactured at the Michoud Assembly Facility, somewhere near New Orleans, and transported to KSC by barge. In 1995, the tug lost power and nearly lost the barge and tank, but both were rescued by another ship. Which then claimed 50% of the cost of the tank as salvage fees. Many lawyers were entertained and kept in Rice Krispies, but I don't remember what the bottom line turned out to be.
"'Twas a dark and very stormy night, November 14-15, 1994, and the situation looked bleak for the barge Poseidon. Caught in the clutches of Tropical Storm Gordon, Poseidon and her escort, the J.A. Orgeron, were without power and adrift. Driven on the gales of the tempest, the flotilla was swiftly approaching the Bethel Shoal; if they ran aground, the ships were sure to founder and be lost. Acutely aware of the danger, Orgeron's captain radioed for help. Alas, the Coast Guard was not in a position to mount a rescue. In despair, the captain made plans to release Poseidon and her valuable cargo, an external fuel tank for the space shuttle. Although this action would result in the certain loss of Poseidon and the tank, the captain hoped thereby to save Orgeron and her crew."
Finn Falgout is an ocean-going tugboat owned and operated by Falgout Brothers Marine Company. Finn Falgout has been contracted by SpaceX since April 2020 to tow SpaceX droneships offshore in the Atlantic Ocean for operational missions and trials.
