Federal agency that promotes the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced, United States merchant marine, sufficient to carry the nation’s domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. Established the National Maritime Resource and Education Center (NMREC) to assist the U.S. shipbuilding, ship repair, owner/operators and marine suppliers in improving their international competitiveness