The Merchant Navy is the collective term for the many commercial companies engaged in maritime trade. 

It is part of a wider maritime industry comprising shipping, ports and maritime business services. This strong, vibrant industry is vital to our national security, well-being, and prosperity. 

The size of the UK Merchant Navy has increased significantly in the last decade. It continues to expand. Today it directly employs 96,000 people.

The wider British maritime services sector is an extraordinary success story, contributing £25 billion to the nation's economy and supporting 500,000 jobs.

New entrant officer trainee numbers are at a record high.

There are exciting opportunities for capable and enthusiastic people to train to manage and operate modern and technically sophisticated ships. The prospects for development of a worthwhile and rewarding career as navigating, engineering or electro-technical officer are excellent.