merchant marine: see shipping.

United States Merchant Marine Academy, at Kings Point, N.Y.; for the training of merchant marine officers; established 1936, opened 1943. The academy became coeducational in 1974. Candidates must be between the ages of 17 and 22, be nominated for candidacy by their U.S. Representative or Senator, and pass a competitive examination. The four-year course, emphasizing maritime and naval specialties, includes tours of service aboard a merchant vessel. Midshipmen receive free tuition and room and board, as well as a monthly stipend for books, uniforms, and personal expenses. Upon graduation they receive a commission in the naval reserve as well as a merchant marine license.

Commercial ships of a nation, whether privately or publicly owned, and the personnel who operate such ships, as distinct from the personnel of naval vessels. Merchant ships are used to transport people, raw materials, and manufactured goods. Merchant fleets can be important economic assets for nations with limited natural resources or a small industrial base. By carrying the commerce of other nations on the seas, a merchant fleet contributes to its home nation's foreign-exchange earnings, promotes trade, and provides employment. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (founded 1943) is in Kings Point, N.Y.

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