(WASHINGTON) — A Senate bill carrying a waiver that would have made a $75 million vessel built by Dakota Creek Industries eligible to fish in U.S. waters failed to advance Wednesday, the Skagit Valley Herald reported.
The waiver would have forgiven a mistake by the Anacortes, Wash., shipbuilder that involved using too much foreign-fabricated material in the hull of America's Finest, thus violating the Jones Act.
Without the waiver, Fishermen’s Finest, the company that contracted Dakota Creek to build the ship, will move to sell the vessel abroad.
This is the second time this spring the waiver has been stalled in the Senate. It was not included in a spending bill that was signed into law in March.
Dakota Creek Vice President Mike Nelson said Wednesday he will continue to work toward getting a waiver.
“Obviously were very disappointed in the outcome, but we’re not giving up,” he said.
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