Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE)

The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator, may designate certain eligible and qualified training entities as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) and may, subsequently, execute Cooperative Agreements with CoE designees. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) developed the CoE Program to support maritime workforce training and education at designated CoEs, including efforts of the designees to: admit additional students; recruit and train faculty; expand facilities; create new maritime pathways; and, award students credit for prior experience, including military service.

MARAD developed a policy to provide interested parties with comprehensive agency guidance on how best to apply for CoE designation. On a yearly basis, MARAD will review and consider all applications it receives and may contact applicants with questions to assist in reviewing their applications. The CoE Program is a voluntary program and, therefore, any eligible and qualified training entity is free to decide whether it wishes to participate in the program and apply for a CoE designation.

Current CoE designees were announced in a MARAD Press Release.

You can also discover more detailed information on each CoE designee through our CoE Interactive Map.

PREVIOUS MARAD ACTION

The following previous Federal Register Notices provided opportunities for comment on the agency’s policy for CoE: 

• CoE - Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection-Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) Annual Application for Designation - 86 FR 18115 (April 7, 2021)
• CoE - Notice of Opportunity to Apply for Training and Education Designation - 85 FR 67599 (October 23, 2020)
• CoE - Final policy and information collection requests for comments - 85 FR 13231 (March 6, 2020)
• CoE - Notice and request for comments - 84 FR 34994 (July 19, 2019)
• CoE - Notice and request for comments - 83 FR 25109 (May 31, 2018)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gerard Wall, Centers of Excellence Program Manager, Maritime Administration, at Gerard.Wall@dot.gov or 202-366-7273.