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MARAD

Legacy ID
281
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United States Merchant Marine Research Guide

Maritime Administration Records at the National Archives

The Records of the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and its predecessor agencies are held by the National Archives and Records Administration College Park, Maryland, in Record Group 357. Records related to MARAD and predecessor...

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.

USNS Comet Comet is considered to be the...

History of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF)

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...