The
Maritime Administration (MARAD) falls under DOT and oversees the country's water transportation system. It supports and promotes America's maritime transportation infrastructure, including ships and shipping, port and vessel operations, national security, environment, and safety. MARAD augments the DoD with its own fleet of cargo ships during war time, or as needed to respond to world events. The U.S. Merchant Marine operates this fleet and provides auxiliary support to the Navy, the Military Sealift Command, and forms part of the
National Defense Reserve Fleet. MARAD is also responsible for disposing of fleet ships, as well as other non-combatant ships as they become obsolete. MARAD has multiple grant programs that can help implement CUS and MIRR recommendations. It can also provide in-kind or matching funds for REPI projects and other federal agency compatibility efforts. Due to the fact that MARAD's mission closely aligns with the military, community and military leaders and planners should consider them as a potential stakeholder for compatibility and resilience studies, as well as to implement completed studies. MARAD has regional
Gateway Offices across the country that understand the specific issues facing communities in each of those states and regions.
Compatibility Factors relevant to the Maritime Administration: Air Quality, Anti-terrorism/Force Protection, Communication/Coordination, Infrastructure Extensions, Land/Air Space Competition, Land Use, Safety Zones
Relevant Programs and Plans
The Maritime Administration's
Small Shipyard Grants program is designed to support small shipyards that make capital and
related improvements, or provide worker training in shipbuilding, repair,
and associated industries. Small shipyards are critical to economic security,
providing higher paying jobs to approximately 100,000 Americans, maintaining
communities near ports and waterways, and contributing tens of billions
to the economy. Projects funded by this grant drive efficiency, improve
the competitiveness of operations, and help ensure ongoing, quality ship
construction, repair, and reconfiguration. In 2022, the Chesapeake Shipbuilding
Corporation in Salisbury, received a $1.1 million Small Shipyard grant to purchase
a Plasma Table, 30-ton mobile Travelift crane, a 250-ton Computer Numeric
Control (CNC) machine, and a 14-foot CNC press brake. While these do not
directly address compatibility or resilience, the purchased equipment are
important assets and help support a major job producer on the Eastern Shore.
As a result, tradesmen and women who work at the shipyard can maintain and
improve their skills, especially when needed as surge support for naval
shipyards.
The Port
Infrastructure Development Program Grants (PIDP) is administered by MARAD with applications and awards made
on an annual basis. Applications can be rolled over and considered in future
years if not funded. PIDP funds are awarded on a competitive basis to projects
that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of moving goods into,
out of, around, or within a port. Annual PDIP funding was around $225 -
$290 million, but the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act increased it to $440 million for FY22
and beyond. In addition to addressing safety and efficiency, projects completed
using these funds can also address compatibility and resiliency, if they
are planned and executed properly. For example, the Sparrows Point Intermodal
Port received $9.88 million for Bulk Expansion Rail Modernization and Berth Rehabilitation.
The project includes additional waterside access, a bulk import and export
terminal, a modern gate complex, and upgraded heavy-duty roads, rail connections
and utilities. While its primary purpose was to modernize and increase cargo
capacity, the utility upgrades do address resiliency issues associated with
energy supplies. The Port of Baltimore has also applied for a PDIP grant
to make resiliency and flood mitigation improvements at its Dundalk Marine
Terminal, which should be funded if all eligibility criteria are met and
highly rated.
