National Maritime Day

Since those early days, the Merchant Marine has been there to support the maritime needs of both the civilian maritime industry and the U.S. navy. In recognition of the Merchant Marine, the U.S. Congress created National Maritime Day in 1933. Congress chose this date, to also commemorate the anniversary of the first trans-Atlantic voyage of a steamship. On May 22, 1819, the U.S. steamship Savannah, left from Savannah, Georgia, bound for Liverpool, England.

The Merchant Martine supports maritime interests, charged with overseeing the movement of people and goods over the seas, in times of both peace and war. In times of peace, it supports commercial U.S. maritime interests. During peacetime, the Merchant Marine is a civilian organization, managed by both the public and the U.S. government. In times of war, it is part of the U.S. military