Merchant vessel facts for kids

A container ship is one kind of merchant vessel

A merchant vessel is a special kind of boat or ship that helps move things or people around the world. These ships carry cargo (like goods and products) or take passengers from one place to another for money. They are different from pleasure craft (like small boats used for fun) and warships (which are used by the military). Merchant vessels are super important for global trade and travel!

Types of Merchant Ships

Merchant ships come in many different sizes and shapes. They can be small inflatable boats used for diving, or huge casino vessels that carry thousands of passengers. There are also powerful tugboats that help big ships in harbors, and giant oil tankers or container ships that are over 1,000 feet long!

Here are some common types of merchant ships:

• Bulk carriers - These ships carry loose items like ore, grain, or cement. Think of them as giant floating trucks for raw materials. They make up about 40% of all merchant fleets!
• Container ships - These are huge ships that carry goods packed into large metal containers. They became popular in the 1960s and are now the main way to ship manufactured goods around the world.
• Passenger ships - These ships carry people. Some are cruise ships, which are like floating hotels for vacations. Others are ferries that carry passengers on regular routes, like across a bay or to an island.
• Tankers - These ships are designed to carry large amounts of liquid cargo. This includes things like oil, liquefied natural gas, and different chemicals.
• Fishing vessels - These boats and ships are used to catch fish. Some even process the fish right on board!
• Offshore Vessels - These ships are used to transport people, goods, and supplies to oil platforms out in the ocean.

Merchant Fleets Around the World

Most countries have their own groups of merchant ships, called fleets. However, running these ships can be very expensive. Because of this, many ships today sail under the flags of other nations. These are countries that offer services and workers at lower costs. This is known as using a "flag of convenience."

For example, Liberia and Panama are two popular countries where ships register to save money. Even if a ship sails under the flag of Liberia, it might still be owned by a company from a different country.

In 2014, Japan and Greece had some of the largest merchant fleets in terms of how much cargo they could carry. Together, they moved about 30% of the world's goods by weight! Today, China owns the most merchant ships overall.

During wars, merchant ships can become very important. They might be used by the navies of their countries to deliver military personnel (soldiers) and supplies.

Images for kids

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  Historical merchant trading ship: a Dutch fluyt cargo vessel from the late 17th century

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  Roll-on/roll-off vessel Galaxy Leader

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  General cargo vessel Namibia

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  Bulk carrier Sabrina I

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  Crude oil supertanker AbQaiq

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  Cruise ship Ocean Countess

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  River cruise ship, Avalon Expression

See also

In Spanish: Buque mercante para niños