USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

MARAD

Legacy ID
281

Office of Ports & Waterways

The Office of Ports & Waterways was established to assist with port, terminal, waterway, and transportation network development issues. America's ports and their related elements make up the backbone of our intermodal transportation network. MARAD is committed to developing this...

United States Marine Highway Program

The United States has a versatile and expansive network of navigable waterways, including rivers, bays, channels, coasts, the Great Lakes, open-ocean routes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway System. We like to think of this as “the United States' marine...

Requirements to Hold a Preferred Mortgage

46 CFR Sec. 356.19

In order for a Mortgagee to be eligible to obtain a Preferred Mortgage on a Fishing Industry Vessel after April 1, 2003, it must be:

A citizen of the United StatesA state or federally chartered financial institution that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance...

Launch Barge Program

Summary

The Maritime Administration’s Launch Barge Program is designed to ensure that the largest of petroleum production platforms can be installed in a safe and timely manner.

The Launch Barge Program has three parts:

We encourage the use of U.S.-flag coastwise qualified...

Small Vessel Waiver Program

What is the Small Vessel Waiver Program? Please contact MARAD's Small Vessel Application Administrator at smallvessels@dot.gov prior to submitting payment or an application. 

The Jones Act requires that vessels operating in coastwise commerce be built in the U.S...

Domestic Shipping

The Jones Act - 46 U.S.C. § 55102

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the “Jones Act” (46 U.S.C. § 55102), requires that no vessel may transport any merchandise by water, by land and water, or via a foreign port, for any part of the transportation, between points in the United...

U.S.-flag Services

Welcome to the U.S. Flag Services section of the Office of Cargo and Commercial Sealift.

We have provided several areas of information for your use. You’ll find a listing of U.S. Flag Carriers which will include contact information and website links. If you want to see an alphabetical...