To amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, to establish a contingency retainer program and improve the United States-flag merchant marine.

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Title I: Amendments To The Merchant Marine Act, 1936 - Maritime Reform Act of 1992 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to encourage the establishment of a fleet of active, militarily useful, vessels to meet Department of Defense and other security requirements, while also maintaining an American presence in international commercial shipping, to be known as the Contingency Retainer Fleet, to consist of up to 74 privately owned, U.S.-flag vessels for which there are in effect operating agreements under this Act. Prohibits excluding a vessel from the Fleet solely because it was not constructed in the United States. Deems a vessel to have been U.S.-built for purposes of provisions of the Act relating to: (1) transportation in American vessels of Government personnel and certain cargoes; and (2) shipment requirements for certain exports sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. Sets forth requirements for the operating agreement, including that: (1) the vessel be operated in the foreign trade; (2) the agreement require payments to the vessel owner or operator of specified amounts each year, starting at $2.5 million per vessel in fiscal year…