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Merchant navy

January 10, 2023

This article is about merchant navies and merchant marines of various countries. For a more general article on the subject, see ship transport. For the racehorse, see Merchant Navy (horse).

A merchant navy or merchant marine is the fleet of merchant vessels that are registered in a specific country. On merchant vessels, seafarers of various ranks and sometimes members of maritime trade unions are required by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)[1] to carry Merchant Mariner's Documents.

A United States World War II recruiting poster for the merchant marine

King George V bestowed the title of the "Merchant Navy" on the British merchant shipping fleets following their service in the First World War; since then a number of other nations have also adopted use of that title or the similar "Merchant Marine". The following is a partial list of the merchant navies or merchant marines of various countries. In many countries the fleet's proper name is simply the capitalized version of the common noun ("Merchant Navy").

Merchant navies by country

Australian Merchant Navy

During the First World War, the government requisitioned Australian merchant vessels for use as transport ships, hospital ships and cargo ships.[2] During World War II, they were commissioned for use as hospital ships, supply ships and armed merchant cruisers,[3] in particular in the Pacific campaign.[4][5] Since 2008, 3 September has been officially commemorated as Merchant Navy Day, on the same day as the pre-existing Australian National Flag Day,[6][7][4] which allows the Australian Red Ensign to be flown on land for the occasion as a matter of protocol,[8][9] as an official recognition of the merchant navy's contribution in wartime.[4][5] The Australian Merchant Navy Memorial in Canberra, the national capital city of Australia, is a memorial honouring the Australian Merchant Navy's involvement in both world wars.[10]

British Merchant Navy

Main article: Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)
 
A recent example of British Merchant Navy officers, graduating at their 'passing out' ceremony from Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton, with former First Sea Lord Alan West, Baron West of Spithead, in 2011.

The British Merchant Navy comprises the British merchant ships that transport cargo and people during times of peace and war.

For much of its history, the merchant navy was the largest merchant fleet in the world, but with the decline of the British Empire in the mid-20th century it slipped down the rankings. In 1939, the merchant navy was the largest in the world with 33% of total tonnage.[11] By 2012, the merchant navy—still remaining one of the largest in the world—held only 3% of total tonnage.[12] As of the year ending 2012, British Merchant Marine interests consists of 1,504 ships of 100 GT or over. This includes ships either UK directly owned, parent owned or managed by a British company. This amounts to: 59,413,000 GT or alternatively 75,265,000 DWT.[12] This is according to the annual maritime shipping statistics provided by the British government and the Department for Transport. British shipping is represented nationally and globally by the UK Chamber of Shipping.[13]

Canadian Merchant Navy

Main article: Canadian Merchant Navy

Canada, like several other Commonwealth nations, created its own merchant navy in a large-scale effort in World War II. Established in 1939, the Canadian Merchant Navy played a major role in the Battle of the Atlantic bolstering the Allies' merchant fleet due to high losses in the British Merchant Navy.

Eventually thousands of Canadians served in the merchant navy aboard hundreds of Canadian merchant ships, notably the "Park Ship", the Canadian equivalent of the American "Liberty Ship". A school at St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, trained Canadian merchant mariners. "Manning pools", merchant navy barracks, were built in Canadian ports.

Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic

Main article: Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping

Greek Merchant Marine

Main article: Greek Merchant Marine
 
Greece controls 23.2% of the world's total merchant fleet, making it the largest in the world.

The Greek maritime fleet is today engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience.

Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since ancient times. In 2015, the Greek Merchant Marine controlled the world's largest merchant fleet in terms of tonnage with a total DWT of 334,649,089 tons and a fleet of 5,226 Greek owned vessels, according to Lloyd's List.[14] Greece is also ranked highly regarding all types of ships, including first for tankers and bulk carriers.

Indian Merchant Navy

The birth of the modern Indian Merchant Navy occurred before independence from the United Kingdom, when in 1919 SS Loyalty sailed from India to Britain.[15] Today, India ranks 15th in the world in terms of total DWT. India currently supplies around 12.8% of officers and around 14.5% of ratings to the world seafaring community. This is one of the highest of any country.[16]

India has many merchant shipping companies known. Some of them are Shipping Corporation of India, Essar, etc.

New Zealand Merchant Navy

 
A portrait of a New Zealand Merchant Navy captain of a Fairmile 'submarine chaser', as he holds it up and looks through a small coloured screen. This disc allows him to look into the sky to search for dive bombers without damaging his eyes.

In December 1939, 3,000 seafarers were employed and 186 merchant vessels were on the New Zealand Registry (many larger New Zealand vessels were however registered in London for insurance purposes). Some foreign vessels were impressed, including the four-masted barque, Pamir.

New Zealand, like several other Commonwealth nations, created a merchant navy. However, the "wartime Merchant Navy was neither a military force nor a single coherent body", instead it was "a diverse collection of private companies and ships".[17]

Although some ships were involved in the Atlantic and North Pacific trade, mostly this involved domestic and South Pacific cargos. New Zealand-owned ships were involved in trade with the United Kingdom (84% of all New Zealand exports in 1939)[17] and the majority of New Zealand seamen had served with the British Merchant Navy.

Over the course of the war, 64 ships were sunk by enemy action on the New Zealand–UK route,[18] and 140 merchant seafarers lost their lives (a similar number were also taken prisoner).[19]

Pakistani Merchant Navy

Main article: Pakistan Merchant Navy

The Pakistan Merchant Navy was formed in 1947. The Ministry of Railways and Communication (Port and Shipping Wing), Mercantile Marine Department and Shipping Office established by the Government of Pakistan. Who were authorized to flag the ships and also ensured that the vessels were sea worthy. All of the private shipping companies merged and formed the National Shipping Corporation (NSC) and the Pakistan Shipping Corporation (PSC) and as a result they had a common flag. Among these companies were the Muhammadi Steamship Company Limited and the East & West Steamship Company.

In the Indo-Pak war of 1971 Pakistan suffered a great loss, and most of Pakistani vessels were left in Bangladesh, because of having Bengali speaking crew on them. On 1 January 1974, President of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto nationalized the National Shipping Corporation and Pakistan Shipping Corporation, and formed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) with the intent of reestablishing the Pakistan Merchant Navy. Later, the company was incorporated under the provisions of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Ordinance of 1979 and the Companies Ordinance of 1984.

Today, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation is the national flag carrier. The corporation's head office is located in Karachi. A regional office based in Lahore caters for upcountry shipping requirements. The corporation also has an extensive overseas network of agents looking after its worldwide shipping business. The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation also has several subsidiary companies.[20]

Polish Merchant Navy

Main article: Polish Merchant Navy

The Polish Merchant Navy (Polish: Polska Marynarka Handlowa, PMH) was created in the interwar period when the Second Polish Republic regained independence. During World War II, many ships of the Polish Navy joined the Allied merchant navy and its convoys as part of the Polish contribution to World War II.

After the war, the Polish Merchant Navy was controlled by the People's Republic of Poland and, after 1989, by modern Poland. As of 1999, the PMH controlled 57 ships (of 1,000 GT or over) totaling 1,120,165 gross tonnage (GT)/1,799,569 tonnes deadweight (DWT) including 50 bulk carriers, two general cargo ships, two chemical tankers, one roll-on/roll-off ship and two short-sea passenger ships.

Swiss Merchant Marine

Main article: Merchant Marine of Switzerland

Switzerland, despite being a landlocked country, has a civilian high seas fleet of merchant vessels, whose home port is Basel, on the Rhine. The first ships were purchased and operated by the government in order to ensure the supply of critical resources during World War II. After the war, a privately owned merchant fleet emerged, spurred in part by government subsidies that paid for the fleet's operation up until 1953. As of 2006, 26 ships (mostly container carriers) totalling 479,624 tons, operated by five shipping companies, flew the Swiss flag.

U.S. Merchant Marine

 
Main article: United States Merchant Marine

The United States Merchant Marine is made up of the nation's civilian-owner merchant ships and government owned ships (Military Sealift Command, NOAA, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Homeland Security), and the men and women who crew them. The merchant marine transports cargo and passengers during peacetime. In time of war, the merchant marine[21] is an auxiliary to the navy and can be called upon to deliver troops and supplies for the military.

The people of the merchant marine are called "merchant mariners", and are civilians except in times of war, when, in accordance with the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, they are considered military personnel. As of 2009, the U.S. merchant fleet numbered 422 ships[22] and approximately 69,000 people.

Not included in these numbers are the over 700 ships which are owned by American interests but are registered, or flagged, in other countries.

See also

References

  1. ^ "STCW for Seafarers - A Complete Guide". www.edumaritime.net.
  2. ^ "First World War Merchant Navy". Australian War Memorial. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Researching Australian military service: Second World War, Merchant Navy". Australian War Memorial. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Service marks merchant navy contribution". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Merchant Navy Day 3 September". Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia). Anzac Portal. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. ^ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S 321, 28 August 1996.
  7. ^ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 26, 2 July 2008.
  8. ^ Gordon Maitland, The story of Australia's flags: Our flags, standards, guidons, colours, banners, battle honours, and ensigns, Playbill Printworks, 2015, p. 259.
  9. ^ The Maritime Executive (2 September 2019). "Australia Remembers Merchant Navy Sacrifices". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  10. ^ (PDF). National Capital Authority. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Fact File : Merchant Navy". bbc.co.uk/history/. BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Shipping Fleet: 2012" (PDF). gov.uk/. HM Government. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  13. ^ "UK Chamber of Shipping - About". Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Lloyd's List Top 100 Most Influential People in the Shipping Industry. Edition 6, page 61". Lloyd's List. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  15. ^ "Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd Share/Stock Price Live Today (INR 8.2), NSE/BSE, Buy OR Sell, News & Tips - Indiainfoline". Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  16. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  17. ^ a b "The longest lifeline - The Merchant Navy | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  18. ^ Neil Atkinson, Ed, 'Hell or High Water, New Zealand Merchant Seafarers Remember the War' Harper Collins, Auckland, 2009
  19. ^ "The Merchant Navy in the Second World War - The Merchant Navy | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  20. ^ . Pakistan National Shipping Corporation. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  21. ^ Most English-speaking countries call their fleet the "merchant navy". Terms similar to merchant marine are used in, for example, the French Marine Marchande and the Spanish Marina Mercante.
  22. ^ Ships of 1,000 gross tonnage (GT) tons or over. Fleet statistics from the 2009 CIA World Factbook

External links

  Media related to Merchant marine at Wikimedia Commons

  • Merchant Navy UK Education

January 10, 2023
merchant, navy, this, article, about, merchant, navies, merchant, marines, various, countries, more, general, article, subject, ship, transport, racehorse, merchant, navy, horse, merchant, navy, merchant, marine, fleet, merchant, vessels, that, registered, spe. This article is about merchant navies and merchant marines of various countries For a more general article on the subject see ship transport For the racehorse see Merchant Navy horse A merchant navy or merchant marine is the fleet of merchant vessels that are registered in a specific country On merchant vessels seafarers of various ranks and sometimes members of maritime trade unions are required by the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers STCW 1 to carry Merchant Mariner s Documents A United States World War II recruiting poster for the merchant marine King George V bestowed the title of the Merchant Navy on the British merchant shipping fleets following their service in the First World War since then a number of other nations have also adopted use of that title or the similar Merchant Marine The following is a partial list of the merchant navies or merchant marines of various countries In many countries the fleet s proper name is simply the capitalized version of the common noun Merchant Navy Contents 1 Merchant navies by country 1 1 Australian Merchant Navy 1 2 British Merchant Navy 1 3 Canadian Merchant Navy 1 4 Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic 1 5 Greek Merchant Marine 1 6 Indian Merchant Navy 1 7 New Zealand Merchant Navy 1 8 Pakistani Merchant Navy 1 9 Polish Merchant Navy 1 10 Swiss Merchant Marine 1 11 U S Merchant Marine 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksMerchant navies by country EditAustralian Merchant Navy Edit During the First World War the government requisitioned Australian merchant vessels for use as transport ships hospital ships and cargo ships 2 During World War II they were commissioned for use as hospital ships supply ships and armed merchant cruisers 3 in particular in the Pacific campaign 4 5 Since 2008 3 September has been officially commemorated as Merchant Navy Day on the same day as the pre existing Australian National Flag Day 6 7 4 which allows the Australian Red Ensign to be flown on land for the occasion as a matter of protocol 8 9 as an official recognition of the merchant navy s contribution in wartime 4 5 The Australian Merchant Navy Memorial in Canberra the national capital city of Australia is a memorial honouring the Australian Merchant Navy s involvement in both world wars 10 British Merchant Navy Edit Main article Merchant Navy United Kingdom A recent example of British Merchant Navy officers graduating at their passing out ceremony from Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton with former First Sea Lord Alan West Baron West of Spithead in 2011 The British Merchant Navy comprises the British merchant ships that transport cargo and people during times of peace and war For much of its history the merchant navy was the largest merchant fleet in the world but with the decline of the British Empire in the mid 20th century it slipped down the rankings In 1939 the merchant navy was the largest in the world with 33 of total tonnage 11 By 2012 the merchant navy still remaining one of the largest in the world held only 3 of total tonnage 12 As of the year ending 2012 British Merchant Marine interests consists of 1 504 ships of 100 GT or over This includes ships either UK directly owned parent owned or managed by a British company This amounts to 59 413 000 GT or alternatively 75 265 000 DWT 12 This is according to the annual maritime shipping statistics provided by the British government and the Department for Transport British shipping is represented nationally and globally by the UK Chamber of Shipping 13 Canadian Merchant Navy Edit Main article Canadian Merchant Navy Canada like several other Commonwealth nations created its own merchant navy in a large scale effort in World War II Established in 1939 the Canadian Merchant Navy played a major role in the Battle of the Atlantic bolstering the Allies merchant fleet due to high losses in the British Merchant Navy Eventually thousands of Canadians served in the merchant navy aboard hundreds of Canadian merchant ships notably the Park Ship the Canadian equivalent of the American Liberty Ship A school at St Margarets Bay Nova Scotia trained Canadian merchant mariners Manning pools merchant navy barracks were built in Canadian ports Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic Edit Main article Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping Greek Merchant Marine Edit Main article Greek Merchant Marine Greece controls 23 2 of the world s total merchant fleet making it the largest in the world The Greek maritime fleet is today engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience Greece is a maritime nation by tradition as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since ancient times In 2015 the Greek Merchant Marine controlled the world s largest merchant fleet in terms of tonnage with a total DWT of 334 649 089 tons and a fleet of 5 226 Greek owned vessels according to Lloyd s List 14 Greece is also ranked highly regarding all types of ships including first for tankers and bulk carriers Indian Merchant Navy Edit The birth of the modern Indian Merchant Navy occurred before independence from the United Kingdom when in 1919 SS Loyalty sailed from India to Britain 15 Today India ranks 15th in the world in terms of total DWT India currently supplies around 12 8 of officers and around 14 5 of ratings to the world seafaring community This is one of the highest of any country 16 India has many merchant shipping companies known Some of them are Shipping Corporation of India Essar etc New Zealand Merchant Navy Edit A portrait of a New Zealand Merchant Navy captain of a Fairmile submarine chaser as he holds it up and looks through a small coloured screen This disc allows him to look into the sky to search for dive bombers without damaging his eyes In December 1939 3 000 seafarers were employed and 186 merchant vessels were on the New Zealand Registry many larger New Zealand vessels were however registered in London for insurance purposes Some foreign vessels were impressed including the four masted barque Pamir New Zealand like several other Commonwealth nations created a merchant navy However the wartime Merchant Navy was neither a military force nor a single coherent body instead it was a diverse collection of private companies and ships 17 Although some ships were involved in the Atlantic and North Pacific trade mostly this involved domestic and South Pacific cargos New Zealand owned ships were involved in trade with the United Kingdom 84 of all New Zealand exports in 1939 17 and the majority of New Zealand seamen had served with the British Merchant Navy Over the course of the war 64 ships were sunk by enemy action on the New Zealand UK route 18 and 140 merchant seafarers lost their lives a similar number were also taken prisoner 19 Pakistani Merchant Navy Edit Main article Pakistan Merchant Navy The Pakistan Merchant Navy was formed in 1947 The Ministry of Railways and Communication Port and Shipping Wing Mercantile Marine Department and Shipping Office established by the Government of Pakistan Who were authorized to flag the ships and also ensured that the vessels were sea worthy All of the private shipping companies merged and formed the National Shipping Corporation NSC and the Pakistan Shipping Corporation PSC and as a result they had a common flag Among these companies were the Muhammadi Steamship Company Limited and the East amp West Steamship Company In the Indo Pak war of 1971 Pakistan suffered a great loss and most of Pakistani vessels were left in Bangladesh because of having Bengali speaking crew on them On 1 January 1974 President of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto nationalized the National Shipping Corporation and Pakistan Shipping Corporation and formed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation PNSC with the intent of reestablishing the Pakistan Merchant Navy Later the company was incorporated under the provisions of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Ordinance of 1979 and the Companies Ordinance of 1984 Today the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation is the national flag carrier The corporation s head office is located in Karachi A regional office based in Lahore caters for upcountry shipping requirements The corporation also has an extensive overseas network of agents looking after its worldwide shipping business The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation also has several subsidiary companies 20 Polish Merchant Navy Edit Main article Polish Merchant Navy The Polish Merchant Navy Polish Polska Marynarka Handlowa PMH was created in the interwar period when the Second Polish Republic regained independence During World War II many ships of the Polish Navy joined the Allied merchant navy and its convoys as part of the Polish contribution to World War II After the war the Polish Merchant Navy was controlled by the People s Republic of Poland and after 1989 by modern Poland As of 1999 update the PMH controlled 57 ships of 1 000 GT or over totaling 1 120 165 gross tonnage GT 1 799 569 tonnes deadweight DWT including 50 bulk carriers two general cargo ships two chemical tankers one roll on roll off ship and two short sea passenger ships Swiss Merchant Marine Edit Main article Merchant Marine of Switzerland Switzerland despite being a landlocked country has a civilian high seas fleet of merchant vessels whose home port is Basel on the Rhine The first ships were purchased and operated by the government in order to ensure the supply of critical resources during World War II After the war a privately owned merchant fleet emerged spurred in part by government subsidies that paid for the fleet s operation up until 1953 As of 2006 26 ships mostly container carriers totalling 479 624 tons operated by five shipping companies flew the Swiss flag U S Merchant Marine Edit Main article United States Merchant Marine The United States Merchant Marine is made up of the nation s civilian owner merchant ships and government owned ships Military Sealift Command NOAA Army Corps of Engineers Department of Homeland Security and the men and women who crew them The merchant marine transports cargo and passengers during peacetime In time of war the merchant marine 21 is an auxiliary to the navy and can be called upon to deliver troops and supplies for the military The people of the merchant marine are called merchant mariners and are civilians except in times of war when in accordance with the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 they are considered military personnel As of 2009 the U S merchant fleet numbered 422 ships 22 and approximately 69 000 people Not included in these numbers are the over 700 ships which are owned by American interests but are registered or flagged in other countries See also Edit Transport portal Oceans portalAffreightment List of merchant navy capacity by country Maritime history Maritime flag Flag of convenience Seafarer s professions and ranks Ship transport World War II United States Merchant NavyReferences Edit STCW for Seafarers A Complete Guide www edumaritime net First World War Merchant Navy Australian War Memorial 3 March 2021 Retrieved 22 February 2022 Researching Australian military service Second World War Merchant Navy Australian War Memorial 9 October 2012 Retrieved 22 February 2022 a b c Service marks merchant navy contribution ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 3 September 2008 Retrieved 22 February 2022 a b Merchant Navy Day 3 September Department of Veterans Affairs Australia Anzac Portal Retrieved 22 February 2022 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S 321 28 August 1996 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No GN 26 2 July 2008 Gordon Maitland The story of Australia s flags Our flags standards guidons colours banners battle honours and ensigns Playbill Printworks 2015 p 259 The Maritime Executive 2 September 2019 Australia Remembers Merchant Navy Sacrifices The Maritime Executive Retrieved 22 February 2022 Kings Park Memorials PDF National Capital Authority p 1 Archived from the original PDF on 21 February 2017 Retrieved 7 September 2016 Fact File Merchant Navy bbc co uk history BBC Retrieved 21 May 2014 a b Shipping Fleet 2012 PDF gov uk HM Government Retrieved 21 May 2014 UK Chamber of Shipping About Retrieved 3 July 2016 Lloyd s List Top 100 Most Influential People in the Shipping Industry Edition 6 page 61 Lloyd s List Retrieved 22 December 2015 Scindia Steam Navigation Co Ltd Share Stock Price Live Today INR 8 2 NSE BSE Buy OR Sell News amp Tips Indiainfoline Retrieved September 2 2019 1 permanent dead link a b The longest lifeline The Merchant Navy NZHistory New Zealand history online nzhistory govt nz Retrieved 2018 08 12 Neil Atkinson Ed Hell or High Water New Zealand Merchant Seafarers Remember the War Harper Collins Auckland 2009 The Merchant Navy in the Second World War The Merchant Navy NZHistory New Zealand history online nzhistory govt nz Retrieved 2018 08 12 Company Profile Pakistan National Shipping Corporation 17 March 2009 Archived from the original on 17 April 2009 Retrieved 2009 08 28 Most English speaking countries call their fleet the merchant navy Terms similar to merchant marine are used in for example the French Marine Marchande and the Spanish Marina Mercante Ships of 1 000 gross tonnage GT tons or over Fleet statistics from the 2009 CIA World FactbookExternal links Edit Media related to Merchant marine at Wikimedia Commons Shipping Companies Merchant Navy UK Education Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merchant navy amp oldid 1114784873, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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