Maritime Administration

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) was established in 1950 and continues as an part of the United States Department of Transportation.

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MARAD was established by Reorganization Plan No. 21, effective 24 May 1950, as one of the successor agencies to the Maritime Commission.

Related Topics:
24 May - 1950 - Maritime Commission

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It administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the United States 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, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Texas.¹

Related Topics:
United States Merchant Marine - US Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point, New York - Maritime academies - California - Maine - Massachusetts - Michigan - New York - Texas

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When the Federal Maritime Board was abolished in 1961, its functions relating to the subsidization of the merchant marine were transferred to the Secretary of Commerce who established the Maritime Subsidy Board within the Administration to perform these functions. This latter Board negotiates contracts for ship construction and grants operating-differential subsidies to shipping companies.

Related Topics:
Federal Maritime Board - Secretary of Commerce - Maritime Subsidy Board

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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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In 1981, MARAD came under control of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Text originally taken from the Maritime Administration website, which is public domain under US copyright law.

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1. http://www.marad.dot.gov/programs/state_aca.html

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