merchant marine
Civilian cargo ships
The merchant marine is a nation's commercial shipping fleet—the civilian ships that carry cargo and passengers, as distinct from naval vessels.
The term also refers collectively to the sailors who crew these ships.
During wartime, merchant marine vessels often support military operations by transporting supplies: His grandfather served in the merchant marine during World War II.
Vessels for transporting goods
- tankersShips transporting fluids
- container shipsVessels transporting standardized freight boxes
- freightersShips designed for hauling goods
- oil tankersVessels transporting liquid fuel
car carriers · roll-on/roll-off · coasters · supply ships · barges
Guarded traveling group
- sealiftTransport of goods by ship
- military cargoSupplies for armed forces
- troopshipShip carrying military personnel
- armed guardWeaponed protective sentry
requisition · national defense · strategic reserve · supply line · wartime service · combat zone · war memorial
Designated ocean travel paths
- trade routesPaths for exchanging goods
- port callShip's visit to harbor
- cargo handlingMoving goods onto vehicles
- stevedoringLoading and unloading ships
manifest · bill of lading · chartering · port of entry · transshipment · sea freight · containerization · loading
One who navigates oceans
- able seamanCertified deck crew rank
- deckhandShip's manual laborer
- bosunShip's deck crew chief
- chief mateSenior deck officer
second mate · third mate · ship captain · chief engineer · oiler · wiper · steward · purser
Law of the seas
- IMOAbbreviated personal-view marker
- Coast GuardArmed service protecting waterways
- tonnageShip's weight capacity
- registrationFormal recording of participation
Attestation of qualification
- licensingGranting official permission
- cadet trainingInstruction for military novices
- engineering officerTechnical systems supervisor aboard
- sea timeHours logged sailing
cargo ships
Vessels for transporting goods
- tankersShips transporting fluids
- container shipsVessels transporting standardized freight boxes
- freightersShips designed for hauling goods
oil tankers · car carriers · roll-on/roll-off · coasters · supply ships · barges
convoy
Guarded traveling group
- sealiftTransport of goods by ship
- military cargoSupplies for armed forces
- troopshipShip carrying military personnel
armed guard · requisition · national defense · strategic reserve · supply line · wartime service · combat zone · war memorial
shipping lanes
Designated ocean travel paths
- trade routesPaths for exchanging goods
- port callShip's visit to harbor
- cargo handlingMoving goods onto vehicles
stevedoring · manifest · bill of lading · chartering · port of entry · transshipment · sea freight · containerization · loading · unloading
seafarer
One who navigates oceans
- able seamanCertified deck crew rank
- deckhandShip's manual laborer
- bosunShip's deck crew chief
chief mate · second mate · third mate · ship captain · chief engineer · oiler · wiper · steward · purser · radioman
admiralty
Law of the seas
- IMOAbbreviated personal-view marker
- Coast GuardArmed service protecting waterways
- tonnageShip's weight capacity
certification
Attestation of qualification
- licensingGranting official permission
- cadet trainingInstruction for military novices
- engineering officerTechnical systems supervisor aboard
- maritimeships, ship, boat, boats, anchors
- occupationsdoctor, teacher, baker, lawyer, nurse
- maritime historysailors, ships, seamen, sailing ships, celestial navigation
- Maritime Industryshipping lines, container ships, steamships, sea charts, port authorities
- maritime tradesea trade, container ships, cargo ship, shipping routes, ocean trade
- nauticalanchor, anchor chain, anchors, boat, boats
merchant marinenavy
Maritime military force
naval forces · naval fleet · warships · naval service · naval vessels
market, marine, merchant, commercial, merchandise, maritime, mariner, merchants, merchantman