We have a legal obligation under the Merchant Marine Act to maintain sufficient maritime capacity for national defense and commerce.

The Trump administration has cancelled plans announced under former US President Joe Biden to tighten mariner credentialing ...

Key fact Men were hired to work as seamen in all the ports where the merchant fleet stopped and ‘coloured seamen’ (the description used at the time) formed a large part of many crews.

Merchant Shipping Acts ensured that they were discriminated against with lower pay, worse conditions and harsher treatment than white seamen. Indian, Chinese, Arab and Somali men came from ...