Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)

British Merchant Navy
Badge of the Merchant Navy
Active	1835–present
Country	United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Channel Islands
Type	Civilian
Role	Create wealth for the crown, country and shipowner Support any war effort To help create and maintain diplomatic relationships
Size	10th Largest; 30 Million Gross Registered Tonnage 40.7 Million Deadweight Tonnage
Anniversaries	Merchant Navy Day (3 September)[1] Battle of the Atlantic (May) Trafalgar Day (21 October )
Fleet	Cargo Passenger Special purpose vessels
Engagements	U-boat Campaign, (1914–1918) Battle of the Atlantic, (1939–1944) Operation Pedestal, (1942) Falklands War, (1982) Gulf War, (1991)
Insignia
Red Ensign
Civil Jack

Merchant Navy of the United Kingdom
Components
International Maritime Organisation Royal Fleet Auxiliary Maritime and Coastguard Agency The Marine Society Red Ensign Maritime Colleges
History
Maritime History of the UK
Ships
Merchant Ship Types Marine Transportation
Personnel
Notable Sea Captains Notable Sailors Officers Ratings
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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.

King George V bestowed the title of "Merchant Navy" on the British merchant shipping fleets following their service in the First World War;^[2] a number of other nations have since adopted the title. Previously it had been known as the Mercantile Marine or Merchant Service, although the term "Merchant Navy" was already informally used from the 19th century.

The British Merchant Navy was historically one of the largest ship registries and source of crew in the world, with 33% of global tonnage registered in 1939. However, since the mid 20th century, the number of shipowners, ships, officers and crew have declined dramatically as a result of globalisation and the rise of flags of convenience. As of 2023, the British Merchant Navy numbered 1,054 ships.