Merchant Marine Jobs

American Merchant Marine at War is a history site. We do not know anything about jobs at sea. Please do not e-mail us. You will not receive a reply.

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The U.S. Coast Guard website has information about Merchant Mariner Licensing.

 

Number of Seafaring Jobs for Selected Years

Year

Jobs

 Active U.S. Flag Merchant Ships Mothball Fleet Ready Reserve Ships Military Sealift Command Ships
1945 (World War II peak)
168,000
-
-
-
-
1950
56,629
1,248
2,277
-
-
1952 (Korean War peak)
70,736
-
-
-
-
1953
69,125
-
-
-
-
1964
-
900
1,739
-
-
1960
49,153
-
-
-
-
1965
39,125
-
-
-
-
1967 (Vietnam War peak)
54,584
-
-
-
-
1970
37,580
-
-
-
-
1972
33,000
-
673
-
-
1980
20,188
-
-
-
-
1988
15,550
-
-
-
-
1998
-
283
307
-
-
2000
6,500
-
-
-
-
2001
-
-
-
76
-
2005
-
245
-
-
-

Source:
Forsyth, Craig J. The American Merchant Seaman and His Industry: Struggle and Stigma. New York: Taylor & Francis, Inc., 1989

U.S. Fleets 2005

Vessel Type U.S.-Flag U.S. Owned U.S. Built Jones Act
Priv. Gov. Priv. Gov. Priv. Gov. Priv. Gov.
Number of Vessels
Tanker
60
35
275
36
66
36
56
35
Double Hull
31
5
193
5
31
5
27
5
Container
74
0
86
0
29
0
29
0
Dry Bulk
62
0
201
0
59
0
51
0
Laker
48
0
48
0
54
0
48
0
RollOn-RollOff (Ro-Ro)
41
15
58
15
15
15
15
15
Car Carrier
16
0
20
0
1
0
1
0
Gas Carrier
0
0
18
0
13
0
0
0
Combination
0
0
12
0
0
0
0
0
General Cargo
8
0
38
0
2
0
2
0
All Types
245
50
688
51
184
51
153
50

Source:
World Merchant Fleet, 2001-2005 July 2006 Office of Data and Economic Analysis

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