Definition: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries.
Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of cargo, plus bunkers, stores, etc., that a ship can carry when immersed to the appropriate load line. GRT or gross register tonnage is a figure obtained by measuring the entire sheltered volume of a ship available for cargo and passengers and converting it to tons on the basis of 100 cubic feet per ton; there is no stable relationship between GRT and DWT.
Ships by type includes a listing of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, chemical tankers, combination bulk carriers, combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers, multifunctional large-load carriers, petroleum tankers, passenger ships, passenger/cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships, specialized tankers, and vehicle carriers.
Foreign-owned are ships that fly the flag of one country but belong to owners in another.
Registered in other countries are ships that belong to owners in one country but fly the flag of another.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 1, 2012
See also: Merchant marine mapRelated News
Veteran joined Merchant Marine during World War II to 'help save the country’
Star-Banner - 5/6/2013 12:45:26 AM
Elmore "Elmo" Berthelot joined the Merchant Marine at age 16. Just months after signing up, he was on the high seas en route to England and France with troops and critical supplies, vulnerable to enemy attack during World War II. “I wanted to see the ...
MICHAEL JEWELL, Boston: Support jobs through U.S. Merchant Marine
Patriot Ledger - 5/14/2013 1:47:32 AM
It guarantees our country a base of highly skilled merchant mariners prepared ... It’s time to support pro-job policies and stop attacking the U.S. Merchant Marine. Every day American workers face threats to the security of their jobs.
Letters: IRS, sex abuse and the Merchant Marines
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com (blog) - 5/17/2013 1:32:39 PM
Don’t forget Merchant Marines Memorial Day will soon be here and tributes to those who currently serve our nation and those who have served during our past wars will be made. However, rarely if ever are the veterans of the Merchant Marines ever mentioned.
Anniversary: Joseph Lappin & Harriet Lappin
Asbury Park Press - 5/19/2013 3:43:17 AM
They have had three sons, Jay, Steven and Douglas (deceased) who, along with their wives, Joyce & Libby & their 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, wish them back all the years of love they've received. Happy Anniversary!
Merchant Marine Academy alumni to honor National Maritime Day
theday.com - 4/29/2013 7:34:36 AM
New London — The Connecticut Shoreline Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation will honor National Maritime Day at New London’s Merchant Marine Memorial on Wednesday, May 22. The public is invited to attend the memorial service at ...
US Marines pack up in Afghanistan as Taliban wages spring offensive
NBCNews.com - 5/11/2013 11:55:22 PM
By July this year, Afghan forces will be in charge of security throughout the country. And by the end of 2014, U.S. Marines will be out of Afghanistan and back at their home bases. As the rest of the U.S. military draws down, it must grapple ...
Marine Le Pen plays down spine injury after swimming pool accident
The Guardian - 5/19/2013 12:54:29 PM
Marine Le Pen has rushed to reassure party activists and supporters of the far-right Front National that she is fine after her father revealed she had fractured her back falling into an empty swimming pool. On Sunday, party officials joined in the chorus ...
XCAT World Series, Marinepool join forces in three-year deal
ameinfo.com - 5/18/2013 2:43:02 PM
Founded in 1991 by German sailors, the company now boasts sales in 43 countries worldwide, an extensive global network of retail partners and is official supplier to a host of watersport events, racing circuits, grand prix sailing teams and national ...
Marines train for expanded embassy guard program
CNN - 5/16/2013 9:11:57 PM
Marine security guards are currently posted at embassies and consulates in 137 countries, with a total of 152 compounds being protected. The Corps works directly with the State Department to determine locations Marines will guard. State ...
Obama Aims Budget Torpedo at Merchant Mariner Unions
Democratic Underground.com - 5/13/2013 10:31:16 AM
Unions believe the Obama administration's proposed changes to a U.S. humanitarian food aid program could mean a loss of jobs for upward of 1,200 Merchant Marine personnel ... a way to benefit undernourished countries, would idle U.S. shipping ...
New Logan Heights Veterans Memorial dedicated in Chicano Park
KGTV 10 - 5/19/2013 12:30:01 AM
SAN DIEGO - After more than four and a half years of waiting, a new veterans memorial was dedicated Saturday at Chicano Park. The Logan Heights Veterans Memorial has the insignias of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, along with the ...
10 Years and Another World Later
The Huffington Post - 5/16/2013 7:17:26 PM
Ten years ago, I was a 20-year-old Marine who was about to cause a world of trouble by ... and sentenced to six months in military prison -- but not before I was able to travel around the country informing people in the military their right to dissent ...
Environmental group says marine phosphate mining cannot be sustained by Namibia
Miningweekly.com - 5/16/2013 9:26:16 PM
The Namibian marine environment cannot accommodate a viable fishing ... of the ocean are the most productive and biologically beneficial areas for the country,” the group notes. Swakopmund Matters notes that Article 95(1) of Namibia’s ...
The Mississippi Marine Brigade
New York Times Blogs - 5/17/2013 4:45:55 PM
Porter replied that he would find them but informed Fox that the Marine Brigade had been “the most expensive affair, for the little done, ever got up in the country.” “If it should be permitted to operate independently,” he said ...
Kenneth K. Christopher 1927-2013
Warren Tribune Chronicle - 5/18/2013 10:42:39 PM
He enjoyed pheasant hunting, camping and following the West Virginia University basketball and football teams. Ken loved life and ... will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Mount Zion Church. Military honors will follow in the Mount Zion Cemetery, where Ken ...
