1-8-2019
ANACORTES, Wash. — Now that it’s passed a Coast Guard review, the 264-foot fishing vessel America’s Finest can fish in U.S. waters, but with a catch.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports after more than a year of battling with Congress over a violation of the Jones Act in which the Anacortes shipbuilder used too much foreign-fabricated material, the ship cleared the final hurdle.
2nd District U.S. Representative Rick Larsen helped champion a waiver for America’s Finest, but the waiver still puts limits on the ship’s fishing capacity, as well as two other vessels that were not involved.
The Dakota Creek Industries Vice President says the company had to lay people off and has likely missed other shipbuilding opportunities since this all started, but he hopes to rebuild and hire more people this year.