Welcome to the world-wide fleet!

Vessels and vessel types of the Merchant Navy

What kind of ship can you expect to find yourself on? The answer is just about any kind. It's the variety that makes your career so interesting. You could find yourself in charge of everything from a ferry travelling to Orkney, a huge oil tanker plying its trade between the Gulf and the USA, a high speed ferry going to the Continent or a massive container ship sailing from Hong Kong to Seattle.

The British Merchant Fleet consists of a large number of ships operated by individual shipping companies. These ships look after the needs of industry and commerce all over the world, and support exploration and production of off-shore resources like gas and oil. The Merchant Navy operates worldwide and includes: