what do merchant marines do

Merchant marines are civilian workers who operate and maintain deep-sea merchant ships, tugboats, towboats, ferries, dredges, excursion vessels, charter boats, and other waterborne craft on the oceans, the Great Lakes, rivers, canals, harbors, and other waterways. They transport domestic and international cargo and passengers during peacetime, and in times of war, they can be an auxiliary to the United States Navy, delivering military personnel and materiel for the military. Merchant mariners are not part of the military, but some of them run ships that support the U.S. Navy. Mariners can have a variety of jobs, from electronics to culinary work, and they help keep a vessel operating smoothly and ensure that the vessel, cargo, and passengers get safely to their destination. The Merchant Marine is managed by the Department of Transportations Maritime Administration (MARAD) . Mariners can become officers by going to one of seven "maritime academies".