Maritime Bureaucracy Renews Citizen Proof Process
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Maritime Administration wants to keep collecting info to check if people qualify as U.S. citizens for certain benefits. If you’re involved in maritime programs, this affects you! They’re asking for your thoughts by February 17, 2026, to make sure the process is clear and not too much work. No big changes or extra costs are planned—just a smooth renewal of the current rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual U.S.‑citizenship Affidavit for MARAD Programs
If you are a shipowner, charterer, equity owner, ship manager, or similar maritime business participant, you must submit an annual affidavit to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to establish U.S. citizenship to remain eligible for benefits under 46 U.S.C. chapters 531, 535, and 537 or for fishery endorsement eligibility under the American Fisheries Act. MARAD plans to renew OMB Control Number 2133-0012 without change; the agency estimates 550 respondents will each submit one response per year, at about 5 hours per response (2,750 total annual burden hours). Comments on the renewal are due February 17, 2026.
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