what does the merchant navy do

The Merchant Navy is the civilian, non-military shipping fleet of a country, engaged in international commercial transport of goods and people by sea. It comprises merchant vessels operated by civilian companies and crewed by civilian seafarers, and it plays a central role in global trade and supply chains. Key activities include transporting containers, bulk commodities, oil and gas products, passengers on cruise or ferry services, and supporting offshore industries in some cases. The leadership on board is the master or captain, with officers in charge of navigation and engineering, and a hotel or catering team to service crew and passengers. In short, it keeps international commerce moving by sea.