Global InformationUnited States Merchant Marine information
| United States Merchant Marine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Size | 465 ships (>1,000 GRT) |
| Insignia | |
| Flag |  |
The United States Merchant Marine[1][2] is an organization composed of United States civilian mariners and U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of the government and private sectors, and engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States.[3] The Merchant Marine primarily transports domestic and international cargo and passengers during peacetime, and operate and maintain deep-sea merchant ships, tugboats, towboats, ferries, dredges, excursion vessels, charter boats and other waterborne craft on the oceans, the Great Lakes, rivers, canals, harbors, and other waterways.[2] In times of war, the Merchant Marine can be an auxiliary to the United States Navy, and can be called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military.[4]
In the 19th and 20th centuries, various laws fundamentally changed the course of American merchant shipping. These laws put an end to common practices such as flogging and shanghaiing,[5] and increased shipboard safety and living standards. The United States Merchant Marine is also governed by more than 25 (as of February 17, 2017)[6][7] international conventions to promote safety and prevent pollution.[8]
In 2022, the United States merchant fleet had 178 privately owned, oceangoing, self-propelled vessels of 1,000 gross register tons and above.[9] Nearly 800 American-owned ships are flagged in other nations.[citation needed][10]
The federal government maintains fleets of merchant ships managed by the United States Maritime Administration. In 2014, they employed approximately 6.5% of all American water transportation workers.[11] Merchant Marine officers may also be commissioned as military officers by the Department of Defense. This is commonly achieved by commissioning unlimited tonnage Merchant Marine officers as Strategic Sealift Officers in the United States Navy Reserve.[12][13][14]
During World War II, nearly 250,000 civilian merchant mariners served as part of the U.S. military, transporting supplies and personnel. Between 1939 and 1945, 9,521 merchant mariners died, a per capita casualty rate greater than those of each U.S. Armed Forces branch.[15] The GI Bill Improvement Act Of 1977 P.L. 95-202, granted veteran status to Women Airforce Service Pilots and "any person in any other similarly situated group" with jurisdiction granted to the Secretary of Defense, and delegated to the Secretary of the Air Force.[16] Merchant mariners who served in World War II were denied such veterans recognition until 1987 when a federal court ordered it. The Court held that the Secretary of the Air Force wrongfully denied active military service recognition to American merchant mariners who participated in World War II.
- ^ Marine is the French word for "navy", and many English-speaking countries call their fleet the Merchant Navy. Similar terms are used are used in other languages: for example, the French Marine Marchande and the Spanish Marina Mercante.
- ^ a b e-CFR: Title 49: Transportation Part 1 – Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties Subpart D – Operating Administrations, retrieved February 17, 2017
- ^ eCFR – Code of Federal Regulations, retrieved October 23, 2015
- ^ Maritime Administration. "Frequently Asked Questions – What does the Maritime Administration do?". Maritime Administration. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
- ^ "Shanghaied!". www.americanheritage.com. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Conventions". www.imo.org. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ The International Maritime Organization (IMO) was first organized as an organ of the United Nations in 1948, but did not come into force until the 27th member (Egypt), of which 7 must have at least 1,000,000 tons of shipping, signed the International Maritime Organization Convention in 1958. There are currently more than 175 Member States, and 55 Conventions and Amendments managed by the IMO. The U.S. is signatory to at least 25 Conventions and Amendments covering maritime safety, pollution, security, search and rescue, and other issues, in addition to U.S. laws and regulations. See: http://www.imo.org/en/About/Conventions/StatusOfConventions/Documents/status-x.xls Archived 2015-11-18 at Archive-It
- ^ "Summary of IMO conventions". www.uscg.mil. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "United States". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ In 2006, 264 American ships were registered in the Bahamas and the Marshall Islands, widely considered flag of convenience countries.[citation needed]
- ^ Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (October 2, 2015). "Employment by industry, occupation, and percent distribution, 2014 and projected 2024: Occupation Code 53-5000, Water Transportation Workers". www.bls.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Become a Merchant Marine with America's Navy : Navy.com". www.navy.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Office, Webmaster: David Brown; Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems Directorate; Code N6. "Sealift – New direction for merchant mariners in Navy Reserve". www.msc.navy.mil. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Strategic Sealift Officer". Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Moon Cronk, Terri. "WWII Merchant Mariners Receive Congressional Gold Medal". US Dept of Defense. US Gov. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ American Merchant Marine at War. "Mariners' Struggle for Veteran Status". American Merchant Marine at War. Retrieved April 20, 2013.