United States Maritime Commission - Timeline

Timeline

• 1936: Merchant Marine Act abolishes Shipping Board and establishes Maritime Commission.

• 1937: Joseph P. Kennedy appointed by President Roosevelt as the first head of the Maritime Commission

• 1938: Maritime Commission authorizes large merchant fleet

• 1940: Maritime Commission agrees to build 60 Ocean class merchant ships for the British Ministry of War Transportation.

• 1941 Beginning of the Emergency Shipbuilding Program

• 1942: The War Shipping Administration was established

• 1942: The United States Coast Guard takes over Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation

• 1942: United States Merchant Marine Academy opens at Kings Point, Long Island, New York

• 1942: Maine Merchant Marine Academy, later named Maine Maritime Academy, opens in Castine, Maine

• 1950: Functions of Maritime Commission transferred to Department of Commerce and MARAD, United States Maritime Administration