The Merchant Navy refers to the fleet of commercial ships that are engaged in transporting Goods from country to others and sometimes Passengers. These ships are operated by private companies or individuals, rather than by Military or government agencies.
Merchant Navy indeed is a non-military service, a part of a global economy that impacts our daily lives by transporting over 90% of goods across the world’s oceans and seas by the Ships (from the food we eat to the things we own and use every day). That makes shipping a vital part of any Major economy!Â
Career in the Merchant Navy can be quite diverse, ranging from deck officers and engineers to catering and hospitality staff.
Origin of Merchant Navy
The history of the Merchant Navy is rich and dates back centuries. It has played a crucial role in the development of global trade and the exploration of new lands.
Ancient Times: Trade by sea has been a part of human history since ancient times, with civilizations such as the Phoenicians and Greeks known for their seafaring skills and trading networks.
Medieval and Renaissance Periods: During the medieval and Renaissance periods, maritime trade flourished in Europe, with the Hanseatic League and Italian city-states like Venice and Genoa dominating trade routes.
Age of Exploration: The 15th and 16th centuries marked the Age of Exploration, with European nations like Portugal, Spain, England, and the Netherlands sending explorers to discover new lands and establish trade routes. This period saw the beginning of long-distance trade and the growth of merchant fleets.
Colonial Era: The 17th to 19th centuries saw the rise of European colonial powers, leading to the establishment of vast empires. The Merchant Navy played a crucial role in supporting these empires by transporting goods, people, and resources between colonies and the home country.
Industrial Revolution: The 19th century Industrial Revolution transformed the Merchant Navy with the introduction of steamships and later, diesel engines. This period saw rapid advancements in shipbuilding and navigation technology, leading to larger and more efficient vessels.
World Wars: Both World Wars had a significant impact on the Merchant Navy. During World War I, many merchant ships were converted into naval auxiliaries, while in World War II, merchant ships played a crucial role in transporting troops, supplies, and equipment.
In wartime, Britain depended on civilian cargo ships to import food and raw materials, as well as to transport soldiers overseas, and keep them supplied. The title ‘Merchant Navy’ was granted by King George V after the First World War to recognise the contribution made by merchant sailors.
Britain’s merchant fleet was the largest in the world during both world wars. In 1939, a third of the world’s merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors. Many merchant seamen came from parts of the British Empire, such as India, Hong Kong and west African countries. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy.
Modern Era: In the modern era, the Merchant Navy continues to play a vital role in global trade, transporting goods across the world’s oceans. The industry has seen further technological advancements, with the use of container ships, bulk carriers, and specialized vessels for different types of cargo.
Throughout its history, the Merchant Navy has been essential for connecting the world’s economies and cultures, contributing significantly to the development of global trade and commerce.
Merchant Navy is Country Specific
Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)
The British Merchant Navy is the collective name given to British civilian ships and their associated crews, including officers and ratings. In the UK, it is simply referred to as the Merchant Navy or MN. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and the ships and crew are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), a specialist agency of the UK Department of Transport. British merchant ships are registered under the UK or Red Ensign group ship registries.
British Merchant Navy deck officers and ratings are certificated and trained according to STCW Convention and the syllabus of the Merchant Navy Training Board in maritime colleges and other training institutes around the UK.
Australian Merchant Navy
The Australian Merchant Navy has a long and storied history, dating back to the early days of European settlement in Australia. It played a crucial role in connecting the young colony to the rest of the world, facilitating trade and transportation of goods and people.
During times of conflict, such as the two World Wars, the Australian Merchant Navy played a vital role in supporting the war effort by transporting troops, equipment, and supplies. Many Australian merchant ships were lost during these conflicts, and the sacrifices of merchant mariners are commemorated in various memorials across the country.
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.
Despite its importance, Canadian Merchant Navy veterans faced challenges after the war, including being denied veterans benefits and official recognition for decades. It wasn’t until the 1990s that these issues began to be addressed, with the Canadian Parliament designating a Merchant Navy Remembrance Day in 2003 to honor their contributions
Greek Merchant Navy
The Greek Merchant Navy is one of the oldest and most prominent in the world, with a history dating back thousands of years. Greek seafaring traditions can be traced back to ancient times, with the Greeks known for their skilled sailors and advanced shipbuilding techniques.
Throughout history, Greek merchant ships played a crucial role in trade, connecting the Mediterranean region with other parts of 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.
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.
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. 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.
India has many merchant shipping companies. Some of the prominent shipping companies in India are Great Eastern Shipping, Tolani Shipping, SCI now a private company, and Seven Islands Shipping which is an ownership company.
For more Info, you can visit Indian Merchant Navy Forum Blog