 |
Maritime Administration
|
On this page:
See also:
Return to Sea Flags home page
Maritime Administration
The Maritime Administration, known as MARAD, is an agency of the Department
of Transportation charged with developing and maintaining the capabilities
of the U.S. merchant marine, seaports, and shipbuilding industry to ensure
that they are capable of carrying domestic commerce and a substantial portion
of foreign commerce, and of supporting national defense requirements in
time of war or emergency. MARAD maintains and operates the National
Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) and Ready Reserve Force (RRF)
of vessels owned by the U.S. government for use in a national emergency.
It supports and assists the maritime academies run by various states to
train merchant marine officers and operates the United
States Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point, New York. MARAD
was formed in the Department of Commerce in 1950 as a successor to the
U.S. Maritime Commission (founded 1936), which was in turn the successor
of the U.S. Shipping Board (founded 1917). With the exception of
the inscription on the rim of the seal, the MARAD flag is essentially the
same as that of the old Maritime Commission. It is not used aboard
ship; vessels of the RRF are distinguished by red, white, and blue stripes
around their stacks and fly their own distinctive flag.
Return to top of page
Personal Flags of MARAD Officials
The senior officials of the Maritime Administration have flags based on
that of the administration itself, but with a white field and blue stars
indicating position: three stars for the Administrator and two for the
Deputy Administrator. The flags are three by four feet with golden yellow
fringe for indoor display.
Administrator
Deputy Administrator
Return to top of page
Ready Reserve Force
The Ready Reserve Force (RRF) was created within the National Defense
Reserve Fleet in 1976 to support the rapid worldwide deployment of U.S.
military forces by transporting unit equipment and follow-on supplies.
The RRF consists of 68 vessels, four of them in full operational status
overseas, two on loan to state maritime academies as training ships, and
the others normally maintained in reserve in a condition in which they
can quickly be crewed and activated. Some 40 of them have been employed
in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom
since 2001. The flag of the RRF was introduced in connection with
the force's 25th anniversary in 2001.
Return to top of page
Return to Sea Flags home page
Sea
Flags
Copyright 2000-2002 by Joseph McMillan