Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)

British Merchant Navy
Badge of the Merchant Navy
Active1835–present
Country United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Channel Islands
TypeCivilian
Role
  • Create wealth for the crown, country and shipowner
  • Support any war effort
  • To help create and maintain diplomatic relationships
Size10th 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
Insignia
Red Ensign
Civil Jack
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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.

  1. ^ "Merchant Navy Day". The Seafarer's Charity. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Merchant Navy Day, the fourth service remembered". 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017. In 1928 King George V announced that, in recognition of its service and sacrifice, it would henceforth be known as the Merchant Navy