Maritime Administration www.marad.dot.gov 

Strategic Objective: National Security: Assure that sufficient sealift 

capability and intermodal transportation infrastructure exists to support vital 

homeland and national security interests. 

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION 

FACT SHEET 

Reflagging Ships to U.S. Flag and the 

Vessel Transfer Program 

America’s Advocate for the Maritime Industry 

Kevin M. Tokarski 

Associate Administrator for 

National Security 

______________________ 

Jerome D. Davis 

Director 

Office of Sealift Support 

_____________________ 

Voice: (202) 366-2323 

Fax: (202) 366-3128 

Since MSP implementation in 1996, 64 modern commercial liner vessels 

have utilized the expedited process. 

Forty-two ships currently in MSP utilized the 

expedited reflagging process. 

Eight other U.S.-flag vessels received expedited 

approvals based on the Maritime Administration’s 

determination that the vessels are eligible for MSP. 

Vessels Reflagged Utilizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s 

MSP Reflagging Procedure 

The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard 

have established expedited MSP vessel reflagging 

procedures to encourage reflagging of modern, efficient 

vessels into the U.S. fleet. In FY 2002, MARAD and the 

U.S. Coast Guard agreed to expand the process to include 

tankers that the U.S. Transportation Command had 

determined to be militarily useful. The MAERSK RHODE 

ISLAND was the first product tanker to receive an MSP 

eligibility determination and subsequent reflagging to the 

U.S. registry. 

Fourteen other vessels that had received expedited Coast 

Guard approvals to reflag to the U.S. registry are no longer 

under the U.S. flag. 

Maritime Administration Department of Transportation 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maritime Administration www.marad.dot.gov 

Vessels Reflagged Utilizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s MSP Reflagging Procedure 

Currently Receiving MSP Payments 

1. APL KOREA 22. SEA-LAND INTREPID 

2. APL PHILIPPINES 23. OCEAN ATLAS 

3. APL SINGAPORE 24. OCEAN TITAN 

4. APL THAILAND 25. PHILDADELPHIA EXPRESS 

5. GREEN COVE 26. HONOR 

6. GREEN POINT 27. INTEGRITY 

7. GREEN LAKE 28. COURAGE 

8. FREEDOM 29. ALLIANCE NEW YORK 

9. MAERSK CAROLINA 30. OVERSEAS MAREMAR 

10. MAERSK GEORGIA 31. OVERSEAS LUXMAR 

11. MAERSK MISSOURI 32. GREEN RIDGE 

12. MAERSK VIRGINIA 33. ST. LOUIS EXPRESS 

13. GREEN DALE 34. WASHINGTON EXPRESS 

14. APL CHINA 35. YORKTOWN EXPRESS 

15. RESOLVE 36. CHARLESTON EXPRESS 

16. MAERSK ALABAMA 37. MAERSK MONTANA 

17. MAERSK ARKANSAS 38. MAERSK OHIO 

18. SEA-LAND CHARGER 39. MAERSK IOWA 

19. SEA-LAND LIGHTNING 40. GREEN BAY 

20. SEA-LAND METEOR 41. ALLIANCE NORFOLK 

21. SEA-LAND COMET 42. ALLIANCE ST. LOUIS 

MSP Eligible but not Receiving MSP Payments 

1. MAERSK RHODE ISLAND 5. APL AGATE 

2. APL BALBOA 6. APL PEARL 

3. MAERSK MICHIGAN 7. APL CYPRINE 

4. OCEAN CHARGER 8. APL JAPAN 

Reflagged to U.S. Registry but now Foreign-flag Vessel 

1. APL TOPAZ 8. LIVORNO EXPRESS 

2. TASINGE MAERSK 9. MAERSK VERMONT 

3. TROENSE MAERSK 10. MAERSK MARYLAND 

4. THOMAS MAERSK 11. MAERSK MAINE 

5. TINGLEV MAERSK 12. PRIDE OF ALOHA 

6. APL RUBY 13. PRIDE OF HAWAII 

7. APL ZIRCON 14. OVERSEAS AMBERBAR 

Vessel Transfer Program 

Under 46 U.S.C.§ 56101 and 56103, U.S. documented vessels 1,000 gross tons and over requires approval of the 

Maritime Administration to be transferred to foreign ownership, flag and/or registry. Vessels 3,000 gross tons and 

over are subject to additional terms and conditions of 46 CFR Part 221. The Maritime Administration requires a 

formal application with supporting documentation including an original Coast Guard issued certificate of 

ownership and application fee for processing. 

The Maritime Administration’s Approved Foreign Transfers—FY 2009 

1,000 gross tons and over: 

51 vessels transferred to foreign ownership and/or foreign registry 

Maritime Administration Department of Transportation