Maritime Studies and Innovations
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.820
- Agency
-
Maritime Administration
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- 5 $1,623,735 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP)
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 69-1750-0-1-403
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 funds studies and innovations related to shipping, vessel operations, shipyards, maritime financing and insurance, and other maritime activities supporting U.S. merchant marine development under CFDA 20.820, with the most recent grant award issued on June 17, 2026.
Program activity remains sparse but active. The portfolio comprises five cooperative agreements totaling $1.6 million in federal dollars obligated, awarded between February 2017 and June 2026. Award cadence has been irregular: one award in 2017, two in 2022, one in 2023, and one in 2026. The June 2026 award to the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) represents a five-year renewal ($550 thousand) to develop tools and research supporting port infrastructure analysis and maritime operations advancement. A December 2023 award ($142.5 thousand) transferred funds to the National Academies of Sciences Transportation Research Board to provide independent expertise on marine and maritime issues. An August 2022 award ($431.235 thousand) funded measurement of ship underwater radiated noise in shallow coastal waters off North Carolina to inform acoustic modeling and vessel quieting efforts. An earlier award (February 2017, $500 thousand) supported an interisland ferry system feasibility study for Hawaii port infrastructure expansion.
All awards under this program are structured as Cooperative Agreements, the sole assistance type used. The Department of Transportation Maritime Administration is the exclusive funding source across all awards. Award magnitudes range from $142.5 thousand to $550 thousand for active, funded efforts, though one 2022 modification carried zero additional obligated dollars as a no-cost extension.
The source does not indicate any recently posted grant opportunities or open solicitations. Applicants should monitor grants.gov for Notices of Funding Opportunity; when posted, these will specify evaluation factors, eligibility limitations for particular projects, and award procedures. Proposal selection generally considers project scope, alignment with U.S. Government maritime policy objectives, applicant qualifications, and cost.
Objective and description
- Objective
The purpose of this program is to provide assistance for projects involving studies and innovations related to shipping, vessel operations, shipyards, maritime financing and insurance, and all other maritime activities in support of the policy of the
- Description
The purpose of this program is to provide assistance for projects involving studies and innovations related to shipping, vessel operations, shipyards, maritime financing and insurance, and all other maritime activities in support of the policy of the United States Government to encourage and aid the development and maintenance of a merchant marine.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
The assistance must be used for projects involving studies and innovations related to shipping, vessel operations, shipyards, maritime financing and insurance, and all other maritime activities in support of the policy of the United States Government to encourage and aid the development and maintenance of a merchant marine. Limitations on applicant eligibility for a specific project, if any, will be explained and included in any Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on grants.gov.
- Beneficiary eligibility
The ultimate beneficiaries of the projects will be the United States Government and the general public.
- Uses of assistance
Funding shall be used in accordance with the terms and conditions in the cooperative agreement. Only projects that meet the policy objectives of the United States Government to encourage and aid the development and maintenance of a merchant marine will be authorized.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Time limits and restrictions for any award will be set forth in the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
In general, proposals are selected based on, among other things, the scope of the project and how it meets the requirements of the United States Government, the qualifications of the applicant, and cost. Specific evaluation factors, and the order of importance, will be included in a Notice of Funding Opportunity posted in grants.gov.
- Award procedure
For competitively awarded cooperative agreements, the award procedure will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on grants.gov. For all other awarded cooperative agreements, final award determinations will be made by appropriate MARAD program officials at HQ after review of proposals.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Additional information for each competitively awarded cooperative agreement will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted to grants.gov. For all other awards, approval/disapproval times vary depending on the type and complexity of the project.
Grant awards
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The American Association Of Port Authorities | $550,000 | 34% |
| 2 | Department Of Transportation State Of Hawaii | $500,000 | 31% |
| 3 | University Of North Carolina At Wilmington | $431,235 | 27% |
| 4 | National Academy Of Sciences | $142,500 | 9% |
4 of 5 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $580,000 |
| FY2025 | $55,000 |
| FY2024 | $57,500 |
| FY2022 | $451,235 |
| FY2021 | $18,988 |
| FY2017 | $500,000 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.820?
Assistance Listing 20.820 is Maritime Studies and Innovations, a federal grant program run by Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for Maritime Studies and Innovations?
Its CFDA number is 20.820: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 20.820 awarded?
5 grant awards under 20.820 have obligated $1,623,735 in federal funds to 5 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 20.820?
The recipients obligated the most under Maritime Studies and Innovations are The American Association Of Port Authorities ($550,000), Department Of Transportation State Of Hawaii ($500,000) and University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ($431,235).
How much did 20.820 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 20.820 obligated $55,000 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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