The Maritime Administration (MARAD) provides critical marine transportation outreach activities at our major U.S. gateway ports (see map below), driven by 10 of the largest ports on the West, East, and Gulf Coasts, the Great Lakes and the inland river system. Offices located in these critical areas work with headquarters staff, state and local authorities, congressional representatives at the local and district level, and a broad range of port, shipper, and carrier stakeholders to cooperate on projects, identify Federal and state funding, and work on environmental and community challenges in the ports and their inter-modal connections.

Gateway Offices are MARAD's day-to-day presence throughout the Marine Transportation System, and are critical to the viability and effectiveness of the Maritime Administration and its future programs. At their core, they:

• identify transportation bottlenecks and ways to improve freight movement;
• act as liaisons for MARAD to help ensure that measurable progress is made on specific projects, as well as to bring Agency and Departmental expertise to the table; and
• work with stakeholders to promote collaboration among Federal, state, local and private partners on challenges facing the Marine Transportation System (MTS) in their areas of responsibility, focusing particularly on planning and environmental issues

In addition, Gateway Offices support and place particular emphasis on the following Maritime Administration priorities:

• America’s Marine Highways Initiative;
• Port Infrastructure Development;
• Improved delivery of Federal services to the MTS and ports through regular coordination and leadership at the local level;
• development of Deep-water Ports;
• the Passenger and Cruise Industry (including Ferries);
• Workforce Development (promoting opportunities for American employment);
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Activities; and
• Port Security

Gateway Offices Map