The Merchant Marine Fleet is a collection of vessels with personnel currently engaged in commercial activities.
Destination of the Merchant Navy
The unit is responsible for performing such tasks:
- maintaining peace and maintaining military order;
- protection of territorial maritime borders;
- protection of 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 engaged in.
During the existence of the structure, freight sea transport played an important role in the formation of the economic condition of the country, being a financial pillar of the state.
The fleet is the basis of shipping. Today, the merchant fleet includes not only ships and long-distance voyages, but also small water transport. Small vessels serve the coast and water.
Which boats are part of the merchant fleet
In addition to large and small vehicles, the merchant fleet of the country also includes:
- organizations and enterprises engaged in repair and towing;
- operational management bodies;
- maritime insurance agencies;
- maintenance centers for marine bunkers, shipyards, moorings.
The marine merchant fleet is a unit that for the most part belongs to private entities. 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 intervenes in the activities of the merchant fleet.
How to recognize a merchant ship
A floating vessel automatically acquires the status of official maritime transport if the national flag of the country is hung on it. This is a symbol of the status of the ship.
The flag of the state raised on a ship implies that the ship is officially registered in the register of marine navigational aids, has a confirmation of this certificate and a complete 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 every right to dispose of the private ships of the merchant fleet in case of emergency.
A merchant fleet is a unit for the management and operation of which state regulations apply.