The term “Merchant Marine” can be confusing if you’re not familiar with it. Simply put, the Merchant Marine refers to the commercial ships—whether privately or publicly owned—that are used for global trade. Unlike a country’s Navy, which is part of the military, these ships are focused on transporting goods and supporting commerce. While the Merchant Marine isn’t an official branch of the U.S. military, it plays a crucial role both in peacetime and during conflicts, making it an essential part of national and international trade.
The slogan on the official Merchant Marine flag boasts “In Peace and War”.
The privately owned ships of a nation are essential for the flow of global commerce and wartime logistics. There are a variety of different types of public and private vessels owned by many different countries and companies around the world.
Ships of the Merchant Marine are crewed by Merchant Mariners: the men and women who live on board and physically operate the vessel. While the Merchant Marine and Maritime industry is a vital service in today’s world, it is still misunderstood. If you are a Merchant Marine, and someone thanked you for your service after explaining what you do, you know what I mean!
Why is it Important in Peace?
71% of the earth is covered by ocean and even more is covered by navigable rivers and lakes. As a result, over 80% of global trade is done by sea!
International seaborne trade is what allows the modern globalized economy to move goods efficiently and cost effectively. Without global trade, people around the world would not have energy, food, appliances, iPhones, computers or any other modern pieces of equipment or technology.
Modern shipping is the most efficient way to transport goods and materials around the world. Modern container ships carry over 20,000 containers and the tankers carry millions of barrels of oil in a single transit. Planes, trains and automobiles cannot move as much cargo as efficiently over long distances as ships can.
Modern shipping companies take advantage of “Economies of Scale”. In simple terms,“economies of scale” for the shipping industry means that larger ships or fleets can carry more goods at a lower cost per item. This lower cost per item is what allows companies to have global supply chains, access specialized labor and sell goods for the lowest price. If shipping costs go up, so do prices for consumers.
If you forgot about the importance of Merchant Mariners and the Maritime Industry, think back to the “Supply Chain Issues” of COVID-19 or the Suez Canal Blockage.Yes, Mariners were stuck onboard for months and months without relief.
Why is it Important in War?
Just as an everyday person needs stuff, so does the military. Unless the war is fought at home, which hasn’t been the case for the United States, soldiers need food, clothes, bullets and bombs in theatre. It is tough to fight a war without any of the necessary supplies, and you guessed it, the most efficient way to get armored vehicles, tanks and bombs into a war zone is by sea.
Today, not only is sea power necessary for war time logistics but is also critical for force projection and global stability. The United States Navy is deployed globally to ensure commercial shipping lanes are secure and commerce continues.
