The Lifestyle of the Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine is described as the fleet of US civilian-owned merchant ships, operated or controlled by either the government or the private companies, that are engaged in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States.
The Merchant Marine is responsible for transporting cargo and passengers during peace time; Such as container ships, oil tankers, bulk freighters, and even passenger ships or ferries. In time of war,however, the Merchant Marine participates as an auxiliary to the Navy, and can be called upon to deliver troops and supplies for the military. Therefore, the Merchant Marine Industry is sometimes called the ’sixth branch of the armed services’.
And like the Navy,as I’ve been on some auxiliary vessels going to various hot spots such as the Persian Gulf, there are zones that dictate what sector are militarized and therefore, all mariners get an “imminent danger pay” of some $250 per month!
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law making veterans of merchant mariners who serve in war eligible for similar benefits as soldiers who braved their lives. Up until this point, the mariners were considered civilians and did not receive any of the veteran’s benefits given to members of the U.S. armed forces.
Again, the Merchant Marine is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Navy. We don’t necessarily wear uniforms even if contracted with the Navy, however, I’ve been known to bring a set of khakis with me just in case a superior officer from the military were to serve as guest, aboard. In which case, a respect of regiment is in order. Except in times of war when, in accordance with the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, mariners are considered military personnel, but mostly, a set of button up shirts and jeans while, On Watch, and on the bridge. During cargo operations, a set of work attire like coveralls or work jeans are required along with the usual hard hat and steel toed shoes.
A figure I researched as of 2006, the United States merchant fleet numbered 465 ships of a thousand gross registered tons and approximately 69,000 members. This is shadowed by ships owned by other countries and the total count across the world amounts to tens of thousands of ships. The American Merchant Fleet only counts for three percent of the world’s total.
As volume of cargo carried by the Merchant Marine in time of war, it was estimated that eleven million metric tons comprising of helicopters, ammunition and fuel were delivered during the first Gulf War! At one point, over two hundred ships were working in joint effort to supply such a need.
The efficiency of a ship, compared to train or truck, is far greater. And in cases where commerce between nations may not be practical since truck nor train can compete when there is water involved, the only form of transportation of cargo is either plane or ship. Whereby fifty tons of cargo can be carried by one truck, thousands of tons can be carried by trains, but tens of thousands of tons of cargo by ship! A ship doesn’t stop until it reaches its destination.
A truck might be limited by the governed amount of time a driver is required to rest in between hauls, and a train might have various stops before her destination due to traffic or other concerns. However, a ship is run twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, and the operations are controlled at every leg of the journey as the ship continues to turn her propeller!
Have a great day!
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