Virtual Ship Tours

Access the links below to take virtual tours of some historic vessels from the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) and Ready Reserve Force (RRF), and learn more about the history of the United States merchant marine.

History of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF)

Section 11 of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 established the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) to serve as a reserve of ships for national defense and emergencies. At its height in 1950, the NDRF consisted of 2,277...

MMEM Instructions

Instructions on obtaining Medals for U.S. Merchant Mariners who Served in Somalia

Reorganization Plan No. 21 of 1950: Message from the President of the United States

National Park Service MOA

Vessel Recycling Sales Funding

Ship Disposal Program Annual Report

National Maritime Heritage Grant Program

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the National Park Service (NPS) share a mutual interest in preserving the nation’s maritime legacy. The National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5401) authorizes NPS to administer the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program funded through...

The Maritime Administration’s First 100 Years: 1916 – 2016

The year 2016 marked 100 years since the founding of the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) first predecessor agency, the United States Shipping Board (USSB). The Shipping Act of 1916 created the USSB, the first Federal agency tasked with promoting a U.S. merchant marine and regulating U.S....

Exhibits