NMREC Mission

As the U. S. Government's commercial maritime industry advocate, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) established the National Maritime Resource and Education Center (NMREC) to assist the U.S. maritime industry in improving its competitiveness, both in the domestic and international commercial market.  The Center serves as a major information source and facilitator within the Government for the maritime industry by providing expertise, information, and reference material.

NMREC's program will constantly evolve to meet industry needs as they are identified.  It will promote positive interaction between industry, MARAD, and other Government agencies having an impact on maritime matters.

NMREC Focus

National Maritime Resource and Education Center near term focus:

• Marine Industry Standards Library
• ISO 9000 Information/Assistance
• U.S. participation in the development and implementation of domestic and international standards
• MARITECH and MARITECH ASE
• Maritime Safety
• Marine Environmental Protection Information
• International Marketing and Outreach

Marine Industry Standards Library

The Marine Industry Standards Library contains international, foreign, and domestic standards, such as ISO, IEC, ASTM, ASME and NFPA.   Searches may be performed by subject matter or standard number.  Also available are regulatory documents from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).  Rules, standards, and guides from International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), its constituent members including the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DnV, and Lloyds may also be accessed.  In addition, technical assistance is available to the marine industry for questions on standards and applications.

ISO 9000

ISO 9000 series has become the recognized quality assurance standard in over 50 nations; it is acceptable in lieu of MIL-Q-9858A by DOD; and many countries require that its marine suppliers be ISO 9000 registered.  Some U.S. shipyards are ISO 9000 registered.   MARAD will facilitate ISO 9000 registration for the marine industry by identifying registrars, providing pre-registration audit assistance and, as requested by industry, conducting seminars and workshops.

Consensus Standards in Lieu of Regulations

NMREC is working closely with standards developing bodies and the USCG to facilitate adoption of voluntary consensus standards, both international and domestic, in lieu of regulations.  NMREC has taken the lead, with the assistance of other departments and agencies, to provide administrative support to international standards efforts to insure continued active participation and the dissemination of the information which are the keys to promoting U.S. interests in the development of international standards.

This support is provided directly to the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the International Standards Organization (ISO) on Ships and Marine Technology (ISO/TC-8).  The U.S. TAG is the official representative group to ISO and chartered by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - the U.S. member body to both ISO and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

MARITECH and ASE

NMREC is working with the U.S. Department of Defense on MARITECH and, its successor, MARITECH ASE programs.  MARITECH and MARITECH ASE are technology development programs to improve ship design, construction, and business processes in U.S. shipyards.  They are part of a Presidential initiative to maintain a shipbuilding industrial base for national security by assisting in establishing the U.S. shipbuilding industry as a self-sufficient, internationally competitive industry.

Maritime Safety

NMREC is working closely with USCG, NASA, and industry partners to establish an International Maritime Information Safety System (IMISS).   The goal of IMISS is to collect information on near-events, potential hazards, safety practices, lessons learned, and any other type of marine safety related information that could be analyzed and evaluated to provide safety related information to the maritime industry.   In addition, NMREC is working with Department of Defense and industry partners in the development of a Smart Center Ship Route Program (SSRP) which will improve ship operation efficiencies and safety.

Environmental Protection Information

There is probably no more critical area to the marine industry than environmentally responsible standards and regulations.  NMREC works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the TAG to ISO/TC-8, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the private sector in this critical area and will serve as an information source for marine environmental protection information.

Marketing and Outreach

Seminars, symposia, and workshops have been, and will be, developed and conducted on a variety of topics such as standards, regulations, environmental concerns, marketing, and safety.  Materials and programs will be developed based on industry desires and inputs.  They will be conducted with the active participation of industry plus appropriate Government agencies and departments.  NMREC also works with the Departments of State and Commerce in developing and passing along leads and assisting industry's marketing efforts abroad.