MARAD small shipyard grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the availability of $19.6M in federal grants to support capital improvements and employee training at small American shipyards. The grants are provided through the Small Shipyard Grant Program to help eligible shipyards modernize operations, increase efficiency, and reap benefits from increased productivity. In 2013, U.S. shipbuilders directly employed 110,000 workers and produced $37.3B in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The grants to U.S. shipyards, with less than 1,200 workers, support capital and related improvements, skill-training, and equipment upgrades for ship construction, repair and reconfiguration. Applications for the grants are due by 4 p.m. CST on May 22, 2018. MARAD intends to award grants no later than July 23. (Source: Maritime Professional 04/16/18)