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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 1 History 2 MARAD functions 2.1 Maritime academies 2.2 Subsidies 2.3 Maritime Security Program 3 See also 4 References

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 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.

MARAD operates one federal maritime academy, and administers a Grant-In-Aid Program for state-operated maritime academies, as follows:

Classification	Name	Location	Notes
Federal	US Merchant Marine Academy	Kings Point, New York	One of the United States Service academies
State	California Maritime Academy	California	A campus of the California State University
State	Maine Maritime Academy	Maine
State	Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Massachusetts
State	Great Lakes Maritime Academy	Michigan	A division of Northwestern Michigan College
State	SUNY Maritime College	New York	A campus of the State University of New York
State	Texas Maritime Academy	Texas	A campus of the Texas A&M University System

Students at these academies graduate with appropriate licenses from the U.S. Coast Guard and/or U.S. Merchant Marine, and may become commissioned reserve officers with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, or the U.S. Marine Corps.

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.

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 60 cargo vessels.^[1]

• 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.

v • d • e Agencies of the United States Department of Transportation

Secretary of Transportation Deputy Secretary of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration • Federal Highway Administration • Federal Railroad Administration • Federal Transit Administration • U.S. Maritime Administration • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • Research and Innovative Technology Administration • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration • Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation • Surface Transportation Board • Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Office of Aviation and International Affairs • Office of Transportation Policy