United States Merchant Marine

• 1. Colonial Shipping Roots

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  The North American shipping industry developed as colonies grew and trade with Europe increased. As early as the 16th century, Europeans were shipping horses, cattle and hogs to the Americas. Spanish colonies began to form as early as 1565 in places like St. Augustine, Florida, and later in Santa Fe, New Mexico. English colonies like Jamestown began to form as early as 1607. The connection between the American colonies and Europe, with shipping as its only conduit, would continue to grow unhindered for almost two hundred years.

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• 2. Wartime Auxiliary Roles

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  The first wartime role of an identifiable United States Merchant Marine took place on the 12th of June 1775 at the Battle of Machias. A group of Machias residents, hearing the news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, captured the British supply sloop HMS Margaretta. Word of the capture reached Boston, where the Continental Congress and the various colonies issued letters of marque to American privateers. These actions by the privateers predate both the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy, which were formed in 1790 and 1797, respectively. During World War II ships with deck guns had United States Navy Armed Guard to man the guns. At wars end 144,857 men would serve in the Navy Armed Guard on 6,200 ships. Between 1939 and 1945, 9,521 merchant mariners died, a per capita casualty rate greater than those of each U.S. Armed Forces branch.

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• 3. Fleet Composition And Statistics

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  As of the 31st of December 2016, the United States merchant fleet had 175 privately owned, oceangoing, self-propelled vessels of 1,000 gross register tons and above that carry cargo from port to port. One hundred fourteen (114) were dry cargo ships, and 61 were tankers. Ninety seven (97) were Jones Act eligible, and 78 were non-Jones Act eligible. In 1950, for example, U.S. carriers represented about 43 percent of the world's shipping trade. By 1995, the American market share had plunged to 4 percent, according to a 1997 report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The report states, "the number of U.S.-flag vessels has dropped precipitously , from more than 2,000 in the 1940s and 850 in 1970 to about 320 in 1996." As of 2005, there were also 77 passenger ships. Of those American-flagged ships, 51 were foreign owned.

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• 4. Training And Academy Systems

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  Maritime academies include the federal United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York; Maine Maritime Academy in Castine; Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzard's Bay; State University of New York Maritime College in the Bronx; Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston; California Maritime Academy in Vallejo; and Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan. Freshmen, known as "plebes," upon reporting in June or July of each year as the incoming class, begin a three-week indoctrination period, also known as "Indoc." This high stress period involves physical training, marching, and an intensive introduction to regimental life at the academy. After earning it, the plebes are recognized, henceforth accorded privilege of the title Midshipman, which gives them more privileges, known as "rates." U.S. citizen candidates for admission must sign a service obligation contract as a condition of admittance to the USMMA.

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• 5. Legislative Frameworks

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  The Seaman's Act The full name of the "Seaman's Act" is "Act to Promote the Welfare of American Seamen in the Merchant Marine of the United States" (Act of the 4th of March 1915, ch. 153, 38 Stat. 1164). Among other things, the Act abolished the practice of imprisonment for seamen who deserted their ship; reduced the penalties for disobedience; regulated working hours both at sea and in port; established minimum food quality standards; regulated the payment of wages; required specific levels of safety, particularly the provision of lifeboats; required a minimum percentage of the seamen aboard a vessel to be qualified able seamen; and required a minimum of 75% of the seamen aboard a vessel to understand the language spoken by the officers. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as The Jones Act, requires U.S.-flagged vessels to be built in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and documented ("flagged") under the laws of the United States.

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• 6. Notable Figures And Achievements

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  Richard Jaeckel an American actor of film and television. His career spanned over six decades on the big screen. John Paul Jones sailed as both third mate and chief mate, then went on to become the "Father of the American Navy." Douglass North went from seaman to navigator to winner of the 1993 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. After completing service in the Merchant Marine, two merchant mariners earned the Medal of Honor: George H. O'Brien Jr., earned the award in the Korean War; and Lawrence Joel earned the honor in the Vietnam War. Hugh Mulzac, who in 1942 became the first African-American to captain a Merchant Marine ship. Sadie O. Horton, who spent World War II working aboard a coastwise U.S. Merchant Marine barge, posthumously received official veteran's status for her wartime service in 2017, becoming the first recorded female Merchant Marine veteran of World War II.

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