Fleet Size and Composition:
- In 2023, the fleet consisted of 177 oceangoing, self-propelled vessels of 1,000 gross tons and above. Of these, 153 were considered militarily useful, and only 93 were eligible for Jones Act service (down from 193 in 2000).
- As of early 2025, there were reportedly 185 oceangoing U.S.-flagged vessels, including 59 containerships. This number is considered small compared to the global fleet.
Operational Status and Reserve Fleet:
- The Ready Reserve Force (RRF), which is part of the strategic sealift fleet maintained by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), consists of 108 vessels in an inactive state with varying activation times.
- There’s also the Maritime Security Program (MSP), which includes around 60 commercially viable, militarily useful vessels active in international trade but on-call for national needs.
Age and Condition:
- The average age of commercial ships globally was over 22 years old as of early 2023, and many of the ships in the RRF are nearing or exceeding 50 years of age. This aging fleet necessitates significant recapitalization efforts.
Personnel:
- There are approximately 13,000 active merchant mariners, with around 7,500 employed by commercial companies and another 6,000 working for the federal government, primarily in the Military Sealift Command.
- The Merchant Marine Reserve Program includes around 3,000 licensed officers, but many lack sufficient sea time for higher-level licenses.
Economic and Strategic Significance:
- The Merchant Marine is considered the nation’s “fourth arm of defense,” crucial for enabling seaborne trade and providing logistics support for military operations.
- Commercial ocean-going ships are vital for national security, economic security, food and energy security, climate security, and workforce security.
- There are concerns about the fleet being underfunded and undermanned, with the current shipbuilding rate in the US being relatively low (around five ships per year).
In conclusion, while the US Merchant Marine continues to play a vital role, it faces challenges related to fleet size, aging vessels, and the need to maintain a sufficient pool of qualified mariners. There’s ongoing discussion and initiatives aimed at revitalizing and rebuilding the fleet to ensure its future viability.
