A fully updated and revised edition of a standard Merchant Marine academic and training reference work The Merchant Marine is composed of all the commercial ships of a countryand the personnel that man them. The American Merchant Seaman's Manualhas been the primary seamanship text and reference book for the AmericanMerchant Marine for more than sixty years. Merchant mariners going tosea for the first time need to know as much about their new job, theirship, the sea, and the Merchant Marine as they can.This manual is designed to provide the knowledge that these new seamenneed to embark upon their careers at sea. Since the sixth edition waspublished in 1981, many changes have been made in each new printing.Changes in this new edition include a new chapter on Standards ofTraining, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, data on merchantfleets throughout the world, a revised chapter on wire rope, and abibliography for sources of additional reading.