> Well, you can (partially) thank the Jones Act for US ship building being so abysmal.

Or you can thank it for there being any shipbuilding left at all.

I would like to hear the case for how repealing the Jones Act would strengthen the US shipbuilding industry. I imagine it would be quite amusing.

It's pretty easy to make a limited case that should convince you, though not very amusing, I'm afraid.

> [The Jones Act] requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that have been constructed in the United States and that fly the U.S. flag, are owned by U.S. citizens, and are crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

Repeal all provisions save for the requirement of to be constructed in the US.

It's not what I would suggest (an outright repeal would be better), but it's easy to see how this partial repeal would strengthen the US shipbuilding industry: you are making their products more useful and cheaper to operate and more useful for potential owners.