State Maritime Schools
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.806
- Agency
-
Maritime Administration
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- 30 $236,095,427 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- State Maritime Schools or Academies (SMA)
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 69-1750-0-1-403
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Transportation Maritime Administration operates CFDA 20.806 to educate and train future merchant marine officers at state maritime academies, with awards distributed most recently as of September 30, 2024.
The program funds educational and training infrastructure and direct support for state maritime academy students and operations. Recent awards span pier and waterfront upgrades to accommodate new training vessels (Maine Maritime Academy pier and utilities redesign, $85.5 million; Massachusetts Maritime Academy pier improvements, $53.9 million; Texas A&M Maritime Academy pier improvements, $70 million), direct support for cadet training vessel travel costs (SUNY Maritime College, $1.2 million and $1.3 million in separate 2024 awards), student incentive payments to support merchant marine officer candidates, and fuel assistance for training vessel operations. All awards are structured as cooperative agreements under which schools maintain training standards and keep records for the period of employment plus six years. Assistance flows to schools as annual lump-sum payments or to students per semester directly to financial institutions.
All 30 awards in the portfolio derive from the Maritime Administration, which obligated $236.1 million in federal dollars across the period. The assistance type is uniformly cooperative agreement. Award activity slowed in fiscal 2024 (3 awards) after climbing to 7–8 awards annually in 2021–2023. Typical award magnitudes range from roughly $100 thousand for student incentive or fuel assistance programs to multiyear infrastructure projects exceeding $50 million. California Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime College, Maine Maritime Academy, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and Northwestern Michigan College appear as frequent recipients across direct support, student incentive, and infrastructure categories.
Eligible applicants are state institutions of higher education, limited to one maritime academy per state. No recent grant opportunities are present in the source; the most recent award closed in September 2024.
Objective and description
- Objective
To educate and train future merchant marine officers at the State Maritime Academies (SMA). The education and training of these students prepares them to graduate and enter the maritime industry in numerous capacities, including crewing merchant vess
- Description
To educate and train future merchant marine officers at the State Maritime Academies (SMA). The education and training of these students prepares them to graduate and enter the maritime industry in numerous capacities, including crewing merchant vessels, maritime opportunities ashore and also to be available during national emergencies or contingencies.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
State institutions of higher education. Assistance is limited to one maritime academy in any one State.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Students, meeting eligibility requirements.
- Uses of assistance
Operation and maintenance of the State Maritime Schools/Academies; training vessel fuel, maintenance and repair of training vessels loaned by Federal Government; student incentive payments to selected U.S. qualified students; and marketing activities related to the Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Annual payments to the schools are given normally on a lump-sum basis. SIP payments are paid directly to the students per semester. For cooperative agreements relating to SIP program marking activities, the time limits for any award will be set forth in the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum, or per semester directly to financial institutions.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
See Credentials/Documentation section of this program.
- Award procedure
Need for training must be established and school must satisfy established maritime training standards The final award is approved by the Maritime Administrator. For cooperative agreements relating to SIP program marking activities, final award determinations will be made by appropriate MARAD program officials at HQ (and 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards will apply).
- Renewals
For cooperative agreements relating to SIP program marking activities, awards will be renewed only if provided for in the cooperative agreement.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 30 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine Maritime Academy | $85,514,880 | 36% |
| 2 | Texas A & M University At Galveston | $70,000,000 | 30% |
| 3 | Mass Maritime Academy | $53,921,472 | 23% |
| 4 | The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York | $22,791,984 | 10% |
| 5 | Northwestern Michigan College | $2,113,027 | 1% |
| 6 | California State University | $1,720,063 | 1% |
| 7 | California State University, Maritime Academy | $34,000 | <1% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $27,126,012 |
| FY2025 | $70,000,000 |
| FY2024 | $115,241,126 |
| FY2023 | $21,385,626 |
| FY2022 | $2,556,665 |
| FY2021 | -$214,000 |
| FY2017 | $5,000 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.806?
Assistance Listing 20.806 is State Maritime Schools, a federal grant program run by Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for State Maritime Schools?
Its CFDA number is 20.806: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 20.806 awarded?
30 grant awards under 20.806 have obligated $236,095,427 in federal funds to 7 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 20.806?
The recipients obligated the most under State Maritime Schools are Maine Maritime Academy ($85,514,880), Texas A & M University At Galveston ($70,000,000) and Mass Maritime Academy ($53,921,472).
How much did 20.806 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 20.806 obligated $70,000,000 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
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