The US Maritime Commission was created as an independent agency by the Merchant Marine Act of 29 June 1936, to further develop and maintain a merchant marine for the promotion of United States commerce and defense. It was authorized to regulate US ocean commerce, supervise freight and terminal facilities, and administer Government funds to construct and operate commercial ships.

The Commission was the successor agency of the United States Shipping Board and the US Shipping Board Bureau of the Department of Commerce. It also took over the property and records of the US Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation , known as the US Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corporation, after 1927. When the War Shipping Administration was established in 1942, it took over many functions of the Commission, including the operation of the merchant marine and the shipbuilding activity remained under the Commission. These functions were returned to the Commission after 1 September 1946.

The Commission was abolished on 24 May 1950, and its functions were transferred to the Department of Commerce where they were assigned to the Federal Maritime Board and the Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Text originally taken from the Maritime Administration website, which is public domain under US copyright law.