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Merchant Marine

The Federation Merchant Marine (sometimes referred to as the Starfleet Merchant Marine and the Merchant Marine Corps) was a service organization of the United Federation of Planets, a civil agency charged with the duty of moving cargo and goods vital to the survival and expansion of the Federation. Merchant Marines were a critical part of the Federation’s interstellar transportation network since the early days of warp flight. It complemented thousands of freighters of various types and tonnages used for transport of cargo and passengers across the quadrant. The Merchant Marine was distinct from the Starfleet, but works with Starfleet as a complementary organization with definite associations and personnel answering to both services. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

History and specifics[]

Aside from shipping vital cargo, Merchant Marines were additionally tasked with enforcing interstellar law, transporting Starfleet Marines troops, providing emergency assistance, and maintaining infrastructure items such as navigation beacons and communications arrays. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

They conducted rescue operations, undercover assignments, and worked to reduce Orion pirate smuggling. (FASA RPG module: Game Operations Manual)

Established by the Federation Council not long after the Federation's founding, it was overseen by the council's Merchant Marine Committee. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Its command authority was called Starfleet Merchant Marine Command. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook) Its headquarters were based out of Alpha Centauri, which maintained a spaceport and a number of drydocks. In the 2380s, Admiral Jenidox Parl was its most senior officer, supervising various vice-admirals, each of whom directed segments of the fleet. Additional HQ staff included officers, administrators, civil servants, and ministers. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Federation citizenship was not required to join. Prerequisites were far less stringent than joining Starfleet, though applicants did need to pass an entrance exam as well as mental and physical tests. For additional training, one might "step up" by graduating from a qualified merchant school such as the Merchant Marine Academy or attending Starfleet Academy. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom) One fourth of Federation Starfleet officers were assigned to service roles in this division. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Uniforms and ranks[]

Merchant Marine uniforms.

24th century Merchant Marine uniforms.

In the 24th century, Merchant Marine uniforms were similar in design to the Starfleet uniform (2366-2373), with a jumper and trouser style that had a black midriff and one's division color by the neck and shoulders, with an optional pocketed duty jacket. A service variant uniform came with pocketed sleeves and pants. As most vessels did not have science personnel, uniform colors denoted command (green), operations (red), and quartermaster (maroon) divisions. Rank was indicated via stripes at sleeve ends. Merchant Marine ranks were equivalent to those in Starfleet. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Starships[]

The Merchant Marines operated thousands of transports, freighters, and police vessels of various types and tonnages. (SNW novel: Toward the Night; FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Merchant Marine vessels were generally not designed for combat, outside of dealing with thieves and pirates. They had less powerful weaponry and sensor arrays than Starfleet vessels. A typical Merchant Marine freighter could ferry up to 2,000 passengers at a cruising speed of warp six. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Merchant Marines maintained several standardized freighter classes. (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)

Some Starfleet starships were temporarily assigned to Merchant Marine service, such as the Chandley-class frigate USS Niwen. (FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?)

Vessel classes/types[]

Notable vessels[]

Military forces[]

History[]

The Stafleet Training Center on Earth had been used for longer than a century by such organizations as the Merchant Marines, MACOs, UESPA, and Earth Starfleet. (TOS novel: Academy: Collision Course)

The 22nd century Earth Cargo Service and similar civilian operations were merged into the Merchant Marines once the Federation was founded. (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)

Other services, such as on Andor and Vulcan, were exempt from being absorbed. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

When Christopher Pike was displaced in time to the year 2166, he posed as a Merchant Marine in front of the USS Baldwin's crew in order to prevent disrupting the timeline. (SNW novel: Toward the Night)

In the early 23rd century, Merchant Marine rescue teams were unable to save personnel after an asteroid destroyed the Faraway Observation Station beyond Pluto. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Captain R.M. Merik, after failing to complete the required courses at Starfleet Academy, became an officer in the Merchant Marine. He was commander of the SS Beagle. (TOS episode: "Bread and Circuses")

Lee Sterling served for nine years in the division after graduating from Starfleet Academy before his promotion to chief science officer of the USS Lexington. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Some Maquis members were disgruntled former Merchant Marines officers. (Adventures RPG module: Alpha Quadrant Sourcebook)

Notable personnel[]

Merchant Marine personnel[]

Starfleet officers detailed to Merchant Marine service[]

Complementary local organizations[]

Appendices[]

Connections[]

Divisions and agencies of Starfleet
Seal of the Federation Starfleet Academy • Administration • Advanced Starship Design Bureau • Advanced Technologies • ALLANGTRANS • Appeals Board • Astronomics • Bureau of Information • Bureau of Standards • Casualty Notification • Command • COMMSATTRAC • Communications • Control • Corps of Engineers • Criminal Investigative Service • Cultural Affairs • Cultural Analysis • Cultural Survey Bureau • Dental • Diplomatic protection group • Exploratory Division • GALVEGRE • Headquarters • Humanoid Resource Records • Humanoid Resources • Information • Inspector General • Institute Press • Intelligence • Internal Affairs • Judge Advocate General • Legal Services • Marine Corps • Materiel Supply Command • Medical • Medical Forensics • Merchant Marine • MI • Mission Operations • Navigational Research • Operations • OSHC • Orbital Operations • Propulsion Technologies • Psychological • Records • Research and Development • Regulatory • Science • Science Operations • Scouts • Sector Guard • Security • Shipyards Operations • Special Security Division • Special Services • Stellar Imaging • Strategic Command • Tactical • Tactical Operations • Technical Intelligence • Technology Assessment Directorate • TechSupDiv • Temporal Integrity • Training Command • War College Seal of the Federation Starfleet

References[]

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