This rule adopts as final, without change, the interim final rule published in the Federal Register (69 FR 29079) on May 20, 2004. This final rule amends the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) regulations so that the Maritime Administrator's authority to defer service obligations of United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) midshipmen recipients of scholarships or fellowships of national significance is not conditioned on enrollment in postgraduate marine or maritime-related courses of study.