Merchant Marine Jobs

Number of Seafaring Jops 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


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

World Merchant Fleet
2001-2005
July 2006
Office of Data and Economic Analysis
www.marad.dot.gov/marad_statistics

American Merchant marine at War is a history site and we know nothing about jobs or any kind of employment at sea.

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