MarAd – Page 2 – Professional Mariner

02 Mar

MarAd alert: Military action, retaliatory strikes in Mideast

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Security, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — On Feb. 28, significant military activity commenced in the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea. It is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible to avoid military operations and potential retaliatory strikes by Iranian forces. Any U.S.-flagged, -owned, or -crewed commercial vessels that are operating in these areas should maintain…

27 Feb

MarAd advisory: Black Sea, Sea of Azov shipping threats

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Security

(WASHINGTON) — Since February 2022, and as recently as January 2026, commercial vessels have reportedly been struck by projectiles and experienced explosions in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Vessels have also reportedly been struck by drones and unmanned vehicles. Additionally, there have been reports of moored and drifting naval mines. While some past actions may have targeted specific…

18 Feb

MarAd taking applications for Centers of Excellence program

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingMarAd

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) opened applications Tuesday for its Centers of Excellence program for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE). Under President Trump and Secretary Sean Duffy, the administration is bolstering the nation's maritime workforce and investing in research, collaboration, promotion and policy support. “Our Centers of Excellence provide the critical infrastructure to train the next…

04 Feb

Texas GulfLink gets deepwater port license to export crude

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, shipping, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Texas GulfLink has received a license to own, construct and operate a deepwater port for the export of crude oil from the United States. The license is the first to be authorized under President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order. The deepwater port will: • Support creation of up to 720 jobs for construction and operation. • Export…

03 Feb

Gladding-Hearn uses grants to improve shipyard safety, efficiency

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsMarAd, shipbuilding

(SOMERSET, Mass.) — Financial support from federal and state agencies has assisted Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., in undertaking capital projects that have made its shipyard operations more efficient and safer for over 80 employees who build and refit their customers’ high-speed ferries, pilot boats, research boats and other commercial vessels. With a Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration…

06 Jan

MarAd takes over deepwater port licensing from Coast Guard

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, shipping, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) announced on Monday that it will take on oversight of deepwater port licensing from the U.S. Coast Guard. This change will streamline environmental reviews, accelerate license approvals, and lower domestic energy costs. “The Deepwater Port Program is a key pillar of President Trump’s energy dominance strategy. With this change, we’ll soon accelerate project approvals…

19 Dec

Stephen Carmel confirmed as new MarAd administrator

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday announced that Stephen Carmel has been confirmed as the 21st administrator of the Maritime Administration (MarAd) after the U.S. Senate on Thursday supported the nomination by a 53-43 vote. The MarAd administrator will be central to implementing President Trump’s Executive Order on Restoring Maritime Dominance. In this role, Carmel will advise…

21 Oct

St. Johns Ship Building uses MarAd grant to add new crane

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsMarAd, shipbuilding

(PALATKA, Fla.) — St. Johns Ship Building, a subsidiary of Americraft Marine Group, has announced the receipt and commissioning of a new 100-ton Link-Belt rough terrain crane, acquired through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd) Small Shipyard Grant Program. The Link-Belt 100|RT is fabricated and assembled in Lexington, Ky., and represents a significant step in…

06 Oct

MarAd advisory: Foreign tech threats and cyber influence

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, Security

(WASHINGTON) — This advisory from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) continues to alert maritime stakeholders of potential vulnerabilities to maritime port equipment, networks, operating systems, software and infrastructure. Foreign companies manufacture, install and maintain port equipment that creates vulnerabilities to global maritime infrastructure information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems. In the past few years, the U.S. government has…

05 Aug

Pacific-Gulf Marine gets management contracts for six MarAd ships

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsMarAd, Ready Reserve Fleet

(NEW ORLEANS) — Pacific-Gulf Marine (PGM) has been awarded three 10-year firm contracts with a total value of $621 million, including fixed fees and reimbursables. Of the six ships PGM will manage on behalf of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd), two are out-ported in the San Francisco Bay Area, two in Newport News, Va., and two in New Orleans. These…