The national trade association that is the voice for the U.S. flag workboat industry has taken the unusual step of hiring an experienced investigator to collect evidence on foreign vessels that violate the U.S. law known as the Jones Act. The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) has created a new position – Manager of Jones Act Compliance – to ensure compliance with the laws requiring that vessels involved in domestic transportation be owned by Americans, crewed by Americans and built in America. The newly hired individual will actively track the activities of foreign vessels working in the offshore oil and gas industry, determine whether those vessels are cheating on the Jones Act and work with enforcement agencies to punish violators. Joe Kavanaugh will serve in this position.