Merchant Vessel

Capital Ship Combatants			Escort Combatants			Military Smallcraft				Support Ships
Battleship	Cruiser	Carrier	Destroyer	Escort	Frigate	System Defense Boat	Fighter	Assault Transport	Smallcraft	Auxiliaries

Commercial Mercantile Ships			Non-Mercantile Commercial Ships		Non-Commercial Ships			Civilian Smallcraft	Highports & Satellites
Merchant	Liner	Transport	Commercial Industrial	Commercial Ships	General	Research	Private	Auxiliary	Orbital Complexes	Satellites

Merchant Vessel (Starship) Synopsis

A Merchant is an individual or ship engaged primarily in trade and commerce.

Merchant ships range in size from small 200 ton Far and Free Trader class ships to large liners and cargo vessels of up to 10,000 tons displacement. The crews of these ships are also referred to as Merchants.

Merchant Vessel (Starship) Vessel Classifications

Merchant Ship Types include the following:

Armored Merchant	Any starship used for interstellar trade, and commerce that has been set up with weapon systems for defense.
Far Trader	A Far Trader is a small starship commonly used for interstellar trade and commerce that is capable of jump 2. Hundreds of variants exist. The typical size equals 200 tons.
Free Trader	A Far Trader is a small starship commonly used for interstellar trade and commerce that is capable of jump 1. Hundreds of variants exist. The typical size equals 200 tons.
Frontier Trader	A heavily armed transport normally doing business with fringe systems.
Merchant Cruiser	A generic term applied to vessels specifically assigned to independent missions, the prime objective of which is market discovery and acquisition, either in isolation or in competion with other merchant operators. Design parameters for such vessels usually include a high level of weaponry and auxiliary boats in proportion to their cargo capacity and all possible back-up systems, along with high structural integrity. Also called an Armed Merchantman, as merchant cruisers are unusally armed. A starship merchant primarily intended for independent cruising in undeveloped trade areas where high survivability is also a design factor.
Merchant Liner	Merchant Liners are general-purpose design starships, intended to carry both passengers and freight. They are larger than the Far Traders intended for cargos over 200 tons and over a dozen passengers
Subsidized Liner	A starship primarily for transporting passengers and mail subsidized by local government.
Subsidized Merchant	In subsidized commerce, a local government (or a group of several worlds) agree to subsidize the construction of commercial starships in return for their servicing established routes. Ideally, the route will be profitable, and the subsidy can soon be ended. But, even without profits, the route provides a channel for interstellar trade, helping to provide markets for resources and finished goods as well as, enabling people from different world to share their cultures. Typically, governments expect subsidized merchants to try to establish routes to make at least marginal profits to diminish the government expense burden. Although individual ports of call may not always provide sales at high margins, at least initially, the ultimate goal is to make the ship self-sufficient. Unfortunately all subsidized merchants are not all profitable and these ships may be recipients of government subsidies for years. Governments have to factor in the benefits derived from the established routes against the costs of maintaining the subsidy. This often becomes the deciding factor with somewhat isolated worlds with limited markets.

Merchant Vessel (Starship) Representative Classes

TL	Class	Tonnaaage	Jump
15	Panam Ajax Class Transport	6,000	J-4
15	Type TJ Frontier Trader	2,000	J-6
15	Type TI Frontier Trader	2,000	J-2
15	Leviathan Class Merchant Cruiser	1,800	J-3
15	Mauripo Class Merchant	600	J-2
15	Star Class Armored Merchant	300	J-3
15	Type TC(S) Free Trader	200	J-1
14	Aslan Khtukhao Class Clan Transport	600	J-2
14	Aslan Eakhau Class Trader	400	J-2
14	Solomani Sundowner Class	400	J-2
13	Aslan Ihatei class Transport	50,000	J-3
13	K'kree Xeekr'kir! Class Merchant	6,000	J-2
13	Anhk Class Merchant	1,200	J-2
13	Vargr Khershawn Class Trader	300	J-2
13	Highlander Class Exploratory Merchant	500	J-3
13	Type A2 LSP Far Trader	200	J-2
13	Princess Gunnhilde Class	200	J-2
13	Manta Class	200	J-2
12	Caledonian Dakaar Class Freighter	1,800	J-2
12	Annic Nova Class Far Trader	600	J-2/-3
12	Caccil Iceship	500	J-2
12	Type R Subsidized Merchant (Plans)	400	J-1
12	Petty Class Subsidized Merchant	400	J-1
12	Type A3 Trojan Reaches Trader	300	J-2
12	Jayhawk Class Far Trader	200	J-2
12	Basil Class Merchant	200	J-1
12	Type A Regni Yards Free Trader	200	J-1
11	Type RL2 "Stretched" Subsidized Merchant	600	J-2
11	Type R2 "Stretched" Subsidized Merchant	500	J-2
11	Yeoman Class Attack Cargo Vessel	400	J-1
11	Athelstan Class Merchant	400	J-1
10	Venture Class Frontier Trader	500	J-2
10	Akkigish Class Subsidized Merchant	400	J-1
10	Akkigish Class Far Trader	400	J-2
10	Ziru Sirka Hero Class Private Merchant	200	J-2
9	Type RL "Stretched" Subsidized Merchant	600	J-1
9	Paya Light Freighter	100	J-1