The Jones Act was written to help injured seamen. In addition, the Jones Act also protects U.S. interests within its own waters and ensures that the United States maintains a fleet of merchant ships.

When one is first learning boating, there seems to be an endless confusion of terms, procedures, and rules to be memorized. Many of these are critical to safety, and over the years boaters have invented various little mnemonics to help them navigate the complexities.