FMC vs. MARAD: Who Does What in U.S. Shipping?

Ever find yourself sitting in a meeting thinking, “Wait… is that FMC or MARAD?” 🤔 Now you don’t have to wonder. Both agencies are central to America’s maritime system—but their missions, authorities, and day-to-day roles couldn’t be more different. In this fast, plain-language session, maritime attorney and former FMC counsel Lauren Beagen (The Maritime Professor®) will break it all down in a way that’s clear, practical, and actually fun to learn. 👉 Think of it like this: ⚖️ FMC = Referee (independent regulator, competition authority, flag neutral) 📣 MARAD = Cheerleader + Coach (Cabinet-level promoter, focused on U.S.-flag fleet and shipbuilding) Once you hear it explained this way, you’ll never mix them up again. --------------------- What You’ll Learn ✨ The core missions of FMC vs. MARAD ✨ Why FMC is the regulator while MARAD is the promoter ✨ The difference between an independent agency and a Cabinet-level agency ✨ Flag-neutral vs. U.S.-flag focused oversight ✨ Real-world examples and historical reference points you may already know ✨ When shippers, ports, or finance professionals need to know the difference --------------------- Who Should Attend 👩‍💼 Importers, exporters, and NVOCCs ⚓ Port authorities and terminal operators 🚚 Supply chain and logistics professionals 💰 Finance and investment professionals in maritime or infrastructure 🏛️ Policy and government affairs teams 📘 Anyone new to shipping who wants a clear explanation --------------------- What Attendees Are Saying 💬 “That Just-in-Time session was so straightforward and sharp. Thank you!” 💬 “That was awesome - extremely professional and efficient... Information wise I think it was really clear what was being discussed and you broke it down in a way that was easily digestible... I liked how you kept tying it back to the referee vs. cheerleader model. Overall super informative in an appropriate amount of time.”