The Merchant Marine is a collection of ships with personnel currently engaged in commercial activities.
The Purpose of the Merchant Marine
The unit is responsible for this kind of task:
- observance of peace and maintenance of military order;
- protection of territorial maritime borders;
- protecting the national interests of citizens.
In addition to the main ones listed above, there are secondary, but no less important tasks that the merchant fleet is involved in.
During the existence of the structure, cargo sea transport has played an important role in the development of the economic condition of the country, being the financial backbone of the state.
The fleet is the backbone of shipping. Today, the merchant fleet includes not only vessels and ships of long-distance voyage, but also small water transport. Small vessels serve the sea coast and water area.
Which boats are part of the merchant fleet
Besides large and small vehicles, the country's merchant fleet also includes:
- organizations and enterprises involved in repair and towing work;
- operational management bodies;
- marine insurance agencies;
- maintenance centers for offshore bunkers, shipyards, berths.
The Merchant Marine is a subdivision, mostly belonging to private structures. Thus, their activities are carried out independently of the leadership of the head of state. But there are cases when the head of the republic interferes in the activities of the merchant fleet.
How to recognize a merchant ship
A floating facility automatically acquires the status of an official maritime transport if the country's national flag is displayed on it. This is the status symbol of a sea vessel.
The state flag hoisted on the ship implies that the ship is officially registered in the register of marine navigation facilities, has a certificate confirming this and a full package of ship documents.
Due to its national status, the vessel receives privileges in the form of diplomatic support not only of the ruling state, but also of neighboring friendly countries. The government has the full right to dispose of private ships of the merchant fleet in case of emergency.
The Merchant Marine is a unit that is governed and operated by government regulations.
