About Merchant Marines

The U.S. Merchant Marine refers collectively to the fleet of civilian merchant ships that transport freight around the world and on U.S. navigable waters. In peacetime, the Merchant Marine transports import and export cargo. In wartime, the Merchant Marine acts as an auxiliary of the U.S. Navy and can be nationalized to assist in the nation's war effort by transporting troops and equipment. It is not a uniformed service, but its history extends back to the Revolutionary War.

Identification

The 1936 Merchant Marine Act states that the United States should have a merchant marine to engage in commerce and to act as a military auxiliary during national emergencies, including war. Contrary to the belief of some, the Merchant Marine is not a uniformed branch of the armed forces.

Size

The Merchant Marines, whose members are known as mariners, numbers about 69,000 members. The American merchant fleet as of 2006 had 465 ships, including tankers, passenger vessels and cargo transport ships. This does not include the many American ships that have been registered under other nations. Over the years, the U.S. merchant fleet has shrunk in size. During World War II, the fleet numbered more than 2,000 ships.

History

The U.S. Merchant Marine traces its roots to 1775, when a group of seamen armed only with pitchforks and knives captured an armed British warship off the coast of Maine. The Merchant Marine was at its peak during World War II. The United States nationalized the nation's merchant fleet at that time to assist with the allied war effort. Merchant Marine vessels carried troops and war materials, while the government armed the ships with weapons and military personnel.

Significance

By all accounts, mariners served admirably in World War II. More than 1,500 ships were sunk, and between 5,700 and 8,400 mariners gave their lives during the war. Estimates vary because the Merchant Marine has no official historians. In 1988, President Reagan granted veteran status to mariners who were active during World War II.

Service

The U.S. Coast Guard regulates the Merchant Marine and has information on becoming a mariner. It has various licensing requirements for different classes of mariner. The Lundeberg School of Seamanship offers training for people interested in maritime careers. Trainees receive 12 weeks of classroom instruction, followed by 12 weeks on a ship. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, also prepares men and women for careers in the Merchant Marine.

Resources

• History of the U.S. Merchant Marine