Maritime, << MAR ih tym, >> Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation. The agency promotes a strong and efficient U.S. merchant marine. It works to meet the nation’s water-borne shipping demands in times of peace and to support the armed forces during a national emergency. It also conducts promotional and marketing programs to increase domestic shipping, port development, and the use of U.S. vessels in foreign trade.
The agency trains young men and women to become deck and engineering officers at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York(see Merchant marine). In addition, the agency provides support to six state-operated maritime academies.
The Maritime Administration negotiates maritime agreements with other nations and participates in international maritime forums. It also maintains a National Defense Reserve Fleet for use in national emergencies. The Maritime Administration was established in 1950.
