One of the more difficult conversations I come across is trying to explain to people exactly what it is Lucas does, or rather, will be doing for work once he’s done with school. I have used every possible term and have used every configuration of basic description to try and get the information across. No matter what combination of words and definitions I use, the same comment will, without fail, come up.
In fact, I can see the words forming in their brain as they allow the information to sink in before the person I’m speaking to inevitably says, “Oh, so he’s in the military.”
I’ve gotten myself to the point where I just give a small sigh and a giggle, tell the person, “No,” and attempt to explain his job once more. Usually this winds up leaving the person I’m talking to even more confused.
So, to try and make things easier, here’s a short little very unofficial guide from the partner left on land that will hopefully make things a little clearer.
What is a merchant mariner?
First and foremost – a merchant mariner is not someone who is in the military. While the merchant mariners, or merchant navy, has played a significant part within military history across the globe, those who are merchant mariners are not a military branch.
Those working in this field are regular civilians who work aboard seagoing vessels such as cargo ships and tankers. While there are multiple offshore roles that a mariner can undertake, a merchant mariner is directly involved with the export and import of goods and products to different countries. They are a major component to the shipping, or logistics, industry as moving goods by ship is still the most popular form of travel for freight due to a ship’s ability to carry exceptionally large cargo loads efficiently.
A very brief history of the merchant navy and the shipping industry
The term “merchant mariner” is actually a fairly modern Americanism that dates back to the early 1850s. The term “merchant seaman” was first recorded between 1895 to the 1900s. The terms of olden days that are still in use today to refer to those working within the merchant navy are seafarer, mariner, sailor, and seaman. Within these words are different definitions that often refer to a mariner’s ranking on a vessel and their abilities. There are other words that are used to refer to those working in this industry and aboard ships and other vessels, but those can be covered at a different time.
It is important to note that mariners are not marines.
Despite such modernized terms used for the seafarers that are in charge of making sure that our goods get to where they need to be, the very concept of the shipping industry is not a new one. The earliest shipping trade routes can be traced back to very early ancient civilization. In fact, it’s noted in an article by Robert Carter, Boat remains and maritime trade in the Persian Gulf during the sixth and fifth millennia BC, that signs of early sea trade of obsidian can be found as early as 7000-6000 BC within the Aegean sea.
However, much like the term “merchant mariner,” the concept of the merchant navy as a term can be considered relatively new. Despite the usage of ships to transport goods existing since very early days of our world, the current merchant navy and fleets that we know today started to form in the early 1800s. Of course, the installation of these concepts varies between countries where their history could be started much earlier.
Globally, the merchant navy played a significant role in both World Wars I and II and even in the Vietnam War. While the merchant navy is not directly a part of the military, merchant navy fleets were drafted to assist in the war efforts, transporting troops and necessary goods. Unfortunately in times of war it was common for merchant vessels to be attacked and many of the crews aboard these ships lost their lives. In World War II, it’s stated that the casualty rates were much higher for men working on merchant marine ships than in any formal military branch.
Luckily, there hasn’t been a need to draft these vessels into another war meaning seafarers could return to what they had always been doing – ensuring that the global economy functions.
However, modern day shipping isn’t without its flaws, and instances have happened where the shipping industry has been forced to come to a standstill. One major example of this is the Ever Given, a container ship operated by the Evergreen Marine company, being stuck in the Suez canal, a major shipping passage. The nearly week-long blockage prevented a large amount of ships from getting through the passage in a timely manner, disrupting the maritime shipping industry as a whole. The shipping industry, already affected by the major ripple effect started by the COVID-19 pandemic, suffered another bout of good shortages globally in an already stretched economy.
While each country’s investment within the shipping industry differs, it’s safe to say that the world, as a whole, runs off of the industry due to its ability to carry such a vast amount of goods both cheaply and efficiently. Current trends within the shipping industry have also started to lead towards innovations in becoming more eco-conscious by utilizing things such as biofuel to power vessels. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, these companies have also started investing more in the general welfare and especially in the mental health of their crews. After many ships were unable to enter ports with the inability to contact home, changes started to be made to ensure that the issue could be avoided in the future. While not perfect, progress is being made for the betterment of all.
While the time away from home for seafarers can be long, the jobs they are doing are incredibly important. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the things that we have today.
What types of ships can be considered part of a merchant fleet?
Some of the ships that make up the largest merchant fleets in the world are:
- Passenger ships (cruises and ferries)
- Container ships of all sizes
- Tankers that carry different kinds of fluids
- Bulk carriers that carry things such as ore and grains
- General cargo ships that can transport just about anything that can be fit inside of a ship, whether that be a windmill or something like grain
There are other types of ships that are more specialized that are part of the merchant navy fleet. The jobs done utilizing specialized ships is equally as important as the others! Some examples of these include ships for building on water and ships that handle “exceptional cargo” which involve oversized loads or loads that require special assistance for transport.
This is all great, but what exactly does Lucas do?
Right at this very moment, Lucas is an apprentice aboard one of these ships so that he earn the time required that he needs to gain his credentials. To prepare for this apprenticeship, Lucas has spent two years undergoing full-time education in a classroom setting where he has learned the theory behind concepts such as navigation and engineering. Through the use of specialized simulations and practical lessons, Lucas has also been able to learn many of these theories in a pseudo-real life setting. In between these lessons, Lucas has also undergone specialized training in things such as basic medical care and basic training for life on board a ship (which has given me anxiety more times than I care to admit).
While an apprentice, Lucas gets to apply the information he’s learned while in school to the actual real life setting of working on a merchant vessel. Much like other apprenticeships that exist within the trade industry, the time he spends on board prepares him for the role that he’ll have once he has completed his 10 months on a ship and his formal school education.
Once everything is completed, Lucas will start off his career as a third officer aboard one of these ships. Whether that will be on deck or as an engineer hasn’t been decided just yet, but luckily this apprenticeship gives him the chance to make the decision and figure out where his skills and interests fit best.
While there are a lot of trade-offs to this career path, such as not being home for important events, time away from family, and other things that many of us on land take for granted, it helps to remember just how crucial these jobs truly are. It involves a lot of hard work and is taxing both mentally and physically. This career path can be exceptionally dangerous, and a lot of care must be taken to ensure that everyone comes home safely. But without these incredible seafarers, the world would come to a complete standstill.
It’s a career path that’s difficult for everyone involved, but I’m beyond proud of Lucas and what he does. I know that he’s happy with what he’s doing, and while I know that our life together once we close the distance will have its own challenges, I know it’ll be worth it in the end. We have gotten this far and we can continue on the path that we’ve forged together.
I hope that this little guide cleared up some of what Lucas does and will be doing for his career path. It’s not a typical career to have, but it’s a fascinating one. I’m still learning as I go along, but the more I learn, the more interesting it becomes. The information I shared really only shares the smallest bits of information regarding the field, but it’s a basic rundown.
If you have questions, please feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer! It might take me some time so that I can receive clarification from Lucas on some questions as his internet while at sea isn’t that great and he is very busy, but I will try to respond as soon as possible.
Until next time.
With love from abroad,
Cat
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