The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) is not too happy with the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC)'s request to waive the Jones Act amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The AMP, a staunch backer of the 1920 law allowing only US-flagged vessels with US crews to ship goods between US ports, sent a letter to Congress urging it to be upheld.

"For AXPC to seek a Jones Act waiver in these circumstances — so that its members could replace American mariners and American ships [which are plentiful] with foreign mariners and foreign ships — is unconscionable," president Michael Roberts said in a 13 March letter to US Congress.