MARAD is proposing to revise its regulations pertaining to the filing of claims and the administrative allowance or disallowance of claims filed by officers or members of crew employed on vessels owned, operated, or chartered by MARAD. The rule is intended (1) to correct numerous citations in accordance with the codification of Title 46 of the United States Code; (2) to improve accessibility by modernizing text and updating agency contact information; and (3) to remove obsolete references.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
On May 1, 2019, MARAD published in the Federal Register an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), titled "How to Best Evidence Corporate Citizenship: Policy and Regulatory Review," soliciting public comment on steps MARAD could take to simplify and modernize the process for evidencing U.S. citizenship. Consistent with the comments MARAD received, the proposed rule would simplify and modernize the process for establishing United States citizenship of corporations and other business formations participating in MARAD programs. In the interest of minimizing the unnecessary disclosure of personally identifiable information, the proposed rule would also eliminate the requirement to provide dates and places of birth of corporate executives, directors, and stock owners as required in the current form of affidavit of citizenship. The proposed rule would also amend the form of affidavit with respect to publicly traded entities by eliminating the requirement to provide certain information regarding registered owners of stock, eliminate the notarization requirement, and provide a simple and streamlined process for recertification.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
On May 1, 2019, MARAD published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), titled "How Best to Simplify Filing Statements of American Fisheries Act Citizenship: Policy and Regulatory Review," soliciting public comment on steps MARAD could take to simplify and modernize the process for evidencing U.S. citizenship for owners of U.S.-flag fishing industry vessels of 100 feet or greater in registered length. In response to public support for updating our regulations, MARAD is soliciting public comments on this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Consistent with comments received, the proposed rule would simplify the annual citizenship filing procedures under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) program in order to reduce costs or administrative burdens placed on owners of fishing industry vessels. MARAD proposes (1) to simplify and streamline annual renewal filing for vessel owners whose citizenship information has not changed since their affidavit of U.S. citizenship (AFA Affidavit) filing; (2) to update acceptable methods for evidencing citizenship of publicly traded entities; and (3) to eliminate requirements to provide personally identifiable information (i.e., social security numbers and dates and places of birth for corporate officers and directors) in affidavits of AFA citizenship.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This final rule implements the Tanker Security Program (TSP) and makes certain changes to the TSP interim final rule (IFR) published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022, in response to public comments received on the IFR, feedback from stakeholders, and MARAD's own experience during initial program administration. The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to establish TSP, comprised of a fleet of active, commercially viable, militarily useful, privately owned product tank vessels of the United States. The TSP Fleet is intended to meet national defense and other security requirements and maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping. TSP supports the United States maritime industries and workforce to promote national security and economic resilience.
MARAD is revising its regulations regarding the filing of claims and the administrative allowance or disallowance of claims filed by officers or members of crew employed on vessels owned, operated, or chartered by MARAD. The rule will correct numerous citations in accordance with the codification of title 46 of the United States Code, improve accessibility by modernizing text and updating agency contact information, and remove obsolete references.
On July 1, 2025, MARAD published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), titled "How to Best Evidence Corporate Citizenship: Policy and Regulatory Review," soliciting public comment on actions MARAD could take to improve the process for evidencing U.S. citizenship. The final rule will simplify and modernize the process for establishing United States citizenship of corporations and other business formations participating in MARAD programs. In the interest of minimizing the unnecessary disclosure of personally identifiable information, the final rule will also eliminate the requirement to provide dates and places of birth of corporate executives, directors, and stock owners as required in the current form of affidavit of citizenship. The final rule will also amend the form of affidavit with respect to entities that are publicly traded by eliminating the requirement to provide certain information regarding registered owners of stock, eliminate the notarization requirement, and provide a simple and streamlined process for recertification.
On July 1, 2025, MARAD published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), titled "American Fisheries Act Program Update; Simplifying the Application Process," soliciting public comment on steps MARAD could take to simplify and modernize the process for evidencing U.S. citizenship for owners of U.S.-flag fishing industry vessels of 100 feet or greater in registered length. MARAD received one comment reiterating support for the steps MARAD has taken to update the regulation. MARAD's amendments to the rule will simplify and streamline annual renewal filing for vessel owners whose citizenship information has not changed since their affidavit of U.S. citizenship (AFA Affidavit) filing, update acceptable methods for evidencing citizenship of publicly traded entities, and eliminate requirements to provide personally identifiable information (i.e., social security numbers and dates and places of birth for corporate officers and directors) in affidavits of AFA citizenship.
This final rule amends MARAD's regulations governing Seamen's Service Awards. The amendment changes the name "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14172, Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness. The amendment also provides factual clerical changes, such as updating citations to authority and physical office names and addresses.
MARAD is revising its regulations pertaining to the award and administration of agency agreements in the form of service agreements and ship manager contracts. The rule is intended to correct numerous citations in accordance with the codification of Title 46 of the United States Code; improve accessibility by modernizing text and updating agency contact information; and remove obsolete references.
MARAD is rescinding four obsolete parts in its regulations pertaining to procedures for assigning priority use of commercial shipping services and port facilities, vessel allocation services, and port utilization under Title I of the Defense Production Act (DFA) of 1950. On October 1, 2012, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST) established the Department's Transportation Priorities and Allocation System (TPAS) in 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 33, which replaces the subject regulations in 46 CFR parts 340 and 345-347 regarding priority use and allocation of shipping services, restrictions on port utilization transfer or changes, the standard form of service agreements for ports, and the standard form of marine terminal contracts. Rescinding these regulations will improve clarity with respect to the implementation and administration of TPAS and recognize the centralization of TPAS within DOT its administration by OST.
MARAD is deleting 46 CFR parts 317, 324, 325, 326, 328, 329, 330, 332, 335, 336, 337, 338, and 339, which pertain to terms under agreements with agents. While MARAD is retaining its 46 CFR part 315 regulation addressing agency agreements and the appointment of agents, other regulations that simply provide static procedures to serve as terms of agreement are obsolete and are being rescinded because they are covered by clauses contained in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). In the more than 30 years since MARAD last updated its regulations, the development of its service agreements has benefited from the uniformity and transparency provided by FAR clauses, and MARAD has increased reliance on them.
