Mission

To formulate national policies for the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Office of Sealift Support programs through partnerships with the Department of Defense (DoD), industry, other maritime institutions and the U.S. Merchant Marine through a series of programs that use commercial vessels to provide timely and accessible sealift capabilities in times of national emergency and to DoD strategic sealift needs during war, the transference of United States commodities and in outreach to maritime foundations and U.S. mariners.

Programs and Services

Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)

MARAD's Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) program, authorized under the Defense Production Act of 1950 as amended (50 U.S.C. § 4558), is a partnership between the U.S. Government and the maritime industry to provide the DoD with assured access to state-of-the-art commercial sealift and intermodal services when DoD deploys military forces during a national emergency or wartime operations.

Maritime Security Program (MSP)

MARAD’s Maritime Security Program (MSP, stablished on October 8, 1996, maintains a fleet of commercially viable, militarily useful merchant ships active in international trade.  The MSP fleet is available to support DoD sustainment sealift requirements during times of conflict or in other national emergencies.  The program also provides DoD access to MSP participants’ global intermodal transportation network of terminals, facilities, logistic management services, and U.S. citizen merchant mariners.

Tanker Security Program

The Tanker Security Program (TSP) will ensure that a core fleet of U.S.-based product tankers can operate competitively in international trade and enhance U.S. supply chain resiliency for liquid fuel products. The TSP will provide the Department of Defense with assured access to 10 U.S.-registered product tank vessels that may be used to supply the armed forces with fuel during times of armed conflict or national emergency.  

Strategic Ports Program

Through the Strategic Seaports Program and the National Port Readiness Network (NPRN), MARAD works with several entities, including federal agencies, state and local governments and port authorities to anticipate and plan for the deployment needs of the military during a crisis. The program establishes and maintains relationships with ports on both coasts (and Guam) to ensure rapid response to defense needs while minimizing disruption to commerce.

Transfer of U.S. Flag Vessels 

MARAD under 46 U.S.C. § 56101, U.S. documented vessels 1,000 gross tons and over require MARAD’s approval to be transferred to foreign ownership, flag and/or registry. Vessels 3,000 gross tons and over are subject to additional financial terms and conditions contained in 46 CFR Part 221.  In either case, the Maritime Administration requires a formal application (MA-29) with supporting documentation, including an original U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Ownership (CG-1330).

 Merchant Marine Flag Program  

The Merchant Marine Flag Program lends United States Merchant Marine (USMM) flags and authorizes the use of USMM logos to qualifying institutions for public display alongside other flags of the United States Armed Forces. Displaying these Merchant Marine emblems support the MARAD mission and allows organizations to highlight the historic and continuing contributions of the United States Merchant Marine.

U.S. Mariner Medals

As part of our outreach activities, the Maritime Administration awards medals and war zone ribbon bars to civilian mariners who support the Nation’s armed forces in conflict, as well as during peacetime when contributions are significant. Over 350,000 medals and war zone ribbons have been distributed to eligible merchant mariners for approved conflicts.

For more information on these programs contact:

The Office of Sealift Support

sealiftsupport@dot.gov

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Mail Stop 1

Washington, DC 20590