U.S. Maritime Administration
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Seal of the US Maritime Administration |
MARAD, or the
U.S. Maritime Administration, maintains the
National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies and assists in fulfilling its traditional role as the nation's fourth arm of defense in logistically supporting the military when needed.
When the
U.S. Maritime Commission was abolished on
24 May 1950, its functions were split between the
Federal Maritime Board which was responsible for regulating shipping and awarding subsidies for construction and operation of merchant vessels, and Maritime Administration, which was responsible for administering subsidy programs, maintaining the national defense reserve merchant fleet, and operating the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy).
In
1961, the Federal Maritime Board regulatory functions were assumed by the newly created
Federal Maritime Commission, while the subsidy functions were assigned to the
Maritime Subsidy Board of the Maritime Administration.
In 1981, MARAD came under control of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
MARAD administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the
US Merchant Marine; determines services and routes necessary to develop and maintain American foreign commerce and requirements of ships necessary to provide adequate service on such routes; conducts research and development activities in the maritime field; regulates the transfer of US documented vessels to foreign registries; maintains equipment, shipyard facilities, and reserve fleets of Government-owned ships essential for national defense; operates the
US Merchant Marine Academy at
Kings Point, New York; and administers a Grant-In-Aid Program for State operated maritime academies in
California (
California Maritime Academy),
Maine (
Maine Maritime Academy),
Massachusetts (
Massachusetts Maritime Academy),
Michigan (
Great Lakes Maritime Academy),
New York (
SUNY Maritime College), and
Texas (
Texas Maritime Academy).
The
Maritime Subsidy Board negotiates contracts for ship construction and grants operating-differential subsidies to shipping companies.
The Maritime Administrator is vested with the residual powers of the Director of the National Shipping Authority, which was established in
1951 to organize and direct emergency merchant marine operations.
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U.S. Navy Marine Administration*
U.S. Maritime Administration
