CONFERENCE RECAPS: MARAD
Strengthening the marine transportation system MARAD’s mission, priorities, and partnerships
S peaking at the APP Winter Conference, Gus Hein, Gateway Director for the Mid- Pacific Region of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), delivered a wide-ranging update on the agency’s mission, leadership priorities and deep- ening collaboration with America’s ports. Framing his remarks in the spirit of the gathering, Hein praised the diversity of representation in the room and emphasized the importance of connections across jurisdictions and ocean basins. Reflecting on the purpose of the conference, Hein said, “That is what the APP is all about. It’s the opportun- ity for us to get together and to learn from each other, to network and to find out what kinds of projects we’re working on and how we can support each other.” He pointed to the breadth of participation from the Mid-Pacific region alone as evidence of the system- wide collaboration required to keep maritime commerce moving. Hein echoed remarks shared earlier in the conference that “every island, every coast, every port is part of a larger sys- tem — a network of relationships built on trust, mutual support and shared responsibility for the waters that sustain us all.” That theme, he said, aligns dir- ectly with MARAD’s mission. MARAD carries a broad mandate despite its modest size. “We have a big national — actually international — mission, and we do it all with fewer employees than they have at the Port of Los Angeles,” Hein noted. With fewer than 800 employees nationwide, the agency supports national defense, economic growth, port infrastructure and maritime safety initiatives. Hein also emphasized that mari- time capability underpins national
A central component of MARAD’s mission is its sealift program, which ensures the U.S. can sustain military operations and respond to emergencies.
strength. “To us, maritime security and economic security equal national security,” he said, highlighting MARAD’s responsibility for sustain- ing the U.S. Merchant Marine and sealift capacity. With new leadership confirmed, the agency is advancing four guiding pri- orities: safety, infrastructure, innova- tion and efficiency. Safety initiatives include mitigating risks at sea and in port environments, strengthening data collection and confronting human trafficking. “This is a way bigger prob- lem than I think people realize,” Hein said, referring to trafficking. “We not only go through training on it, but in our interactions with ports and oper- ations, we look for ways to identify and mitigate this serious problem.” Sealift and strategic port readiness A central component of MARAD’s mission is its sealift program, which ensures the U.S. can sustain military operations and respond to emergencies. Their Ready Reserve Force includes roll-on/roll-off vessels, auxiliary crane ships, aviation support ships and tank- ers stationed at ports around the coun- try. Some Pacific ports host MARAD vessels, and Hein encouraged port offi- cials to view them as shared assets. “If you have MARAD ships in your port, please know they can be used for exer- cises,” he said, describing joint drills with military, Coast Guard and law enforcement partners. Strategic commercial seaports — including San Diego, Long Beach, Oakland and Guam in the
Mid-Pacific region — maintain port readiness committees and conduct regular coordination meetings. Hein reported that West Coast ports are currently at full readiness. “Everyone’s doing outstanding,” he said, adding that construction projects or infra- structure upgrades can temporar- ily affect readiness levels, but overall coordination remains strong. Investing in infrastructure David Bohnet, Division Chief for Grant Management, provided updates on MARAD’s major fund- ing programs, beginning with the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which continues to receive significant support under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Bohnet offered practical advice for applicants. “Be very mindful of the cri- teria for the program for which you’re developing your application,” he said. Recycling submissions without align- ing them to specific requirements often leads to weak evaluations. “If they see that you’re non-responsive to key ele- ments, that can be detrimental.” Strong applications, he added, must tell a compelling story. “It’s writing that great story and really explaining how your project is going to impact your community, the greater transpor- tation community and your goals in cargo transfer.” In addition to PIDP, Bohnet high- lighted the U.S. Marine Highway Program and noted that port-related projects also compete under the
March 2026 — PACIFIC PORTS — 37
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