ABSTRACT
The merchant mercantile is the official maritime register of the UK and comprises all UK commercial registered ships and their crews. Many people refer to this as the merchant navy though in fact no such organisation exists. Sea trade has forever been a necessity as well as a way of life. In terms of the modern merchant mercantile, its origins can be traced as far back as the 17th century. Despite best efforts to maintain a position of dominance after the end of WWII, from the mid-1950s to the 1980s the merchant mercantile underwent a process of gradual decline. Many other countries have their own merchant fleets, with ships sailing under their own flag or under flags of convenience. Denmark is a world leader in container shipping. Container ships, like all ships, come in many different sizes though the shape is almost always universal. In addition to their type, container ships are categorised according to their size.
