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The 'United States Maritime Administration' or 'MARAD', is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that 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.
The Maritime Administrator, the head of MARAD, is Sean Connaughton [1], a lawyer, 2005 Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and former United States Coast Guard officer. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 3, 2006.

Contents

History

MARAD functions

Maritime Security Program

See also

References

History

When the U.S. Maritime Commission was abolished on 24 May 1950, its functions were split between the U.S. 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.
On August 6, 1981 MARAD came under control of the U.S. Department of Transportation thereby bringing all transportation programs under one cabinet-level department.

MARAD functions

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.

Maritime Security Program

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.
The Maritime Security Program (MSP) authorizes MARAD to enter into contracts with U.S.-flag commercial ship owners to provide service during times of war or national emergencies. As of 2007, 10 companies have signed contracts providing the MSP with a reserve of 47 cargo vessels.^[1]

See also

★ United States Merchant Marine, Responsibility for U.S. merchant shipping has been held by many agencies since 1917. For a history, see United States Shipping Board.

References

1. Maritime Security Program (MSP)


★ U.S. Navy Marine Administration

★ U.S. Maritime Administration