Supporting the Maritime Mission

As the DOT agency responsible for America's waterborne transportation system, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is busy. At our core, we support the technical aspects of America's maritime transportation infrastructure. Things like ships and shipping, port and vessel operations, national security, environment, and safety. Beyond that, we help maintain the overall health of the U.S. Merchant Marine, promote the use of waterborne transportation, and ensure that its infrastructure integrates seamlessly with other methods of transportation. See more about our overall activities on MARAD's About Us page.

Then, there is the people side of things. MARAD provides a host of internal and external outreach activities to educate the public about the importance of the maritime industry and the men and women who manage our world-class marine transportation system -- everything from support for current mariners, to education for future mariners, to programs that increase public awareness about the maritime industry's vital role in our daily lives.

Click the links below to learn more about specific Outreach programs and activities.

Maritime News & Events

MARAD delivers a continual stream of industry and event information. We maintain an up-to-date Newsroom that provides industry-focused articles, speeches, congressional testimony and our social media presence. We celebrate National Maritime Day every year on May 22, and support or facilitate a variety of maritime conferences, such as the annual Women on the Water conference.

Growing the Maritime Workforce

MARAD is committed to streamlining the maritime transportation system, growing its overall workforce, and supporting all U.S. merchant mariners -- past, present, and future -- through education, administrative assistance and programs to recognize achievement. 

• One of MARAD's constant top priorities is educating a new generation of merchant mariners, accomplished through our advocacy for maritime-based education at all levels. See our Education page for details.
• Our Military to Mariner program encourages military veterans to use their skill and expertise as bases for a career in the U.S. Merchant Marine.
• MARAD's Re-Employment Program is designed to help maritime specialists transition between civilian and maritime employment.
• We also administer a series of programs to recognize mariner achievement, foster morale and reinforce the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine within United States Armed Forces. See our Shipper Recognition, Mariner Medals, and U.S. Merchant Marine Flag programs for more details.

Reports & Strategy

Maritime Workforce Working Group (MWWG). MARAD convenes periodically with maritime-related agencies and partners to review key maritime operations and report those findings to congress upon request, such as the 2017 report addressing our current maritime workforce and its ability to sustain a U.S.-flagged fleet. We also contribute to the Maritime Transportation System (MTS) initiative, a cooperative led by the U.S. Committe on the Marine Transportation System and designed to develop and streamline the U.S. maritime infrastructure as a whole.

Reaching Out Through History

To underline the importance and cultural significance of the maritime industry and U.S. Merchant Marine, MARAD manages an accessible online archive detailing our rich history and accomplishments. Our History section is a 1-stop shop for all things MARAD history -- including photos, documents, surveys, mariner bios, short histories (MARAD, vessel, program, fleet), and ongoing history-based activities like the Gallant Ship Award and National Maritime Heritage Grant Program. 

Additional Resources

We also provide a collection of documents for mariners and the public about maritime-related programs and services, including, Video archives, and useful forms for the Public.

Questions?

For questions about our Outreach activities and programs, contact the Office of Public Affairs.