Fiscal Year 2026 United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP)
Grants fund projects that develop, expand, or promote marine highway transportation as an alternative to landside freight movement and congestion, including vessel-related implementation and shipper use promotion.
⚑ Program supports implementation or promotion projects rather than basic research. · Eligibility details were not provided in the notice excerpt; confirm any applicant restrictions in the full NOFO.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 80 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topics: environment, emergency_disaster_resilience; social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 40 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
The United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP), codified at 46 U.S.C. 55601, was originally established by Section 1121 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce landside congestion through the designation of Marine Highway Routes. The USMHP statute authorizes the U.S. Department of Transportation (“Department” or “DOT”) to make grants to implement Projects or components of Projects that 1) provide a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation; mitigate or relieve landside congestion; promote Marine Highway Transportation; or use vessels documented under 46 U.S.C. chapter 121; and 2) develop, expand, or promote Marine Highway Transportation or shipper use of Marine Highway Transportation
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Kelly B Mitchell-Carroll Grantor <Fred.jones@dot.gov>