Captain Nick St. Jean and Chief Mate Jaime Torres star in a new maritime ad campaign.
A video advertisement starring American Maritime Officers Captain Nicholas St. Jean is poised to hit the airwaves this week as the U.S. maritime industry continues its push to promote the vital importance of this industry.
The 30-second spot created by the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), American Waterways Operators, and the Transportation Institute is titled “Always Ready. Always Present” – referring to domestic maritime’s ability to deliver in times of peace and crisis. The video ad, which will run on digital and cable channels in Washington, D.C., including on Fox News, CNBC and CNN, brings particular focus on the Jones Act – the nation’s oldest cabotage law.
The video is already making the rounds on social media and can be viewed on the AMP YouTube channel.
Captain St. Jean is master on the M/V El Coquí, a Crowley-owned Jones Act containership that delivers goods from Jacksonville, Fla. to Puerto Rico. AMO represents all licensed officers aboard the vessel.
“A secure America starts on our waters,” the veteran captain says as he walks the deck of his ship in the commercial. “American Maritime remains core to our security and self-reliance. A secure America means America-owned, American-crewed, and American built under the American flag.”
The ad was recorded as El Coquí conducted load and offload operations in San Juan. Chief Mate Jaime Torres stars in a Spanish version of the same ad.
St. Jean said he felt honored to represent the maritime industry in the commercial and promote the Jones Act, not only because it’s his livelihood, but because a strong U.S. Merchant Marine is vital to the lives of most Americans.
“It’s really important for us to promote the Jones Act and make the nation aware of what we do considering 90 percent of all goods travel by ship,” St. Jean said. “Most people don’t realize just how important a strong merchant marine is and if I can do my part to help educate, why not?”
The six-figure ad campaign comes on the heels of a successful Congressional Sail in event on Capitol Hill in April, where representatives from all maritime sectors converged on D.C. to talk to Congressional leaders about the issues facing the industry.
Weeks later, a revamped SHIPS for America Act was reintroduced into Congress and President Donald Trump has publicly said one of his main agendas is increasing U.S. shipbuilding and revitalizing the industry.
St. Jean concludes the ad with a parting message for viewers: “Support the Jones Act. Put America first.”