Editing Merchant Vessel

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
A [[Merchant Vessel]] is a [[ship]] and [[crew]] engaged primarily in trade and commerce. 
* Sometimes, they are referred to simply as [[Merchant]]s, which is technically the term for the [[crew]] of the [[vessel]].
* ''Merchant Vessels'' include a spectrum of mercantile ships and smallcraft including [[A-class]], [[M-class]], [[R-class]], and [[T-class]] conveyances.
* They are typically operated under the aegis and registration of the [[Trader's Guild]], [[SPA]], and/or a [[polity]]'s merchant marine force. The term marine is often still used despite the fact that interstellar traders ply the vacuum instead of liquid water seas.
* Vessels under military service are classified as I-class [[Combat Transport]]s or Q-class [[Military Auxiliaries]] ([[Combat Support Ship]]s).
* Sometimes they are the same hulls with only the mission taskings differing. Many a [[tramp vessel]] has been pressed into military service when needed. 
* The [[Supraclass]] designation is also known as [[Ship Mission]], [[Ship Mission Code]], Mission, or [[Ship Hull Designation]]. 
* It is a [[starship]] [[supraclass]].
[[File: Wiki Navy.png|right]]
 
=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br>
'''[[Starship]]:'''
{{:Referral-Tree-Starship-User-Types}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Advanced-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Basic-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Ships-by-Function}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Speed-of-Travel}}
----
* [[Interstellar Commerce]]
** [[Merchant]]
** [[Galactic Stock Exchange]]
** [[Interstellar Currency]]
** [[Interstellar Banking]]
** [[Resource Unit]]
** [[UWP]]
* Business Entities
** [[Cartel]]
** [[Corporation]]
** [[Megacorporation]]
** [[Merchant Line]]
** [[Merchant Service]]
** [[Trade Organization]]

== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
Merchant ships range in size from small 100 or 200 ton [[Far Trader|Far]] and [[Free Trader]] class ships to large [[liner]]s and [[cargo vessel]]s of up to 10,000 tons displacement or more. The crews of these ships are also referred to as [[Merchant]]s.
 
=== Image Repository ===
# An early model [[Beowulf class Free Trader|''Beowulf'']] under [[spaceflight]]. <br> [[File: Free-Trader-WH-Keith-MT-Imp-Encyclo-Pg-36 03-July-2018a.jpg]]
# One of the most common [[subsidized liner]] types. <br> [[File: Sub-Liner-WH-Keith-MT-Imp-Encyclo-Pg-36 03-July-2018a.jpg]]
# A prototypical [[Far Trader]], the Type A2. <br> [[file: Far-Trader-WH-Keith-MT-Imp-Encyclo-Pg-44 03-July-2018a.jpg|400px]]
# A [[Salamander class Far Trader|''Salamander-class'']] coming into a [[starport]] to trade. <br> [[File: Salamander-class-Far-Trader-D20 30-May-2019a.jpg|400px]]
# A [[Hercules class Cargo Transport|''Hercules'' class Cargo Transport]] under spaceflight. <br> [[File:Hercules class Cargo Transport WTH.jpg|400px]]
# A [[Corporate class Range Carrier|''Corporate'' class Range Carrier]]. <br> [[File:J2 75000dT Range Carrier.jpg|600px]]
# A commercial ''Endeavor'' class Ship Transporter mounting two [[Bluestone class Cargo Barge|''Bluestone'' class Cargo Barge]]s. <br> [[File:J2 30000dT Civilian Ship Transporter.jpg|600px]]
# A huge [[Mariner class Frame Carrier|''Mariner'' class Frame Carrier]]. <br> [[File:J2 90000dT Frame Carrier.jpg|600px]]

=== Spectrum of Civil Shipping in Charted Space ===
{{:Referral-Table-Spectrum-of-Civil-Shipping}}

=== Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine) ===
No information yet available.

=== Supraclass Roles ===
''Merchant Vessel''s typically serve the following roles:
# [[Bulk Cargo Carrier]] (T)
# [[Bulk Freighter]] (T)
# [[Clipper]] (RI)
# [[Far Trader]] (A)
# [[Free Trader]] (A)
# [[Freighter]] (M)
## [[Heavy Freighter]] (MH)
## [[Light Freighter]] (ML)
## [[Medium Freighter]] (MM)
# [[Frontier Merchant]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Liberty Ship]] (MC)
# [[Liner]] (R)
## [[Cargo Liner]] (RC)
## [[Luxury Liner]] (RL)
## [[Passenger Liner]] (RP)
# [[Merchant]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Merchantman]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Merchant Trader]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Merchant Vessel]] (A, M, R, T) (Namesake)   
# [[Modular Merchant]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Provincial Merchant]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Speculative Trader]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Tanker]] (TG)
# [[Trader]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Trader Craft]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Trader Ship]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Trader Vessel]] (A, M, R, T)
# [[Transport]] (T)

=== Supraclass Archetypes ===
Merchant Ship Types include the following:
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"|Merchant Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
! Exemplar
! Remarks
|-
| [[Armored Merchant]]
| A, R, M and T
| TBD
| Any starship used for interstellar trade, and commerce that has been set up with weapon systems for defense.
|-
| [[Merchant Liner]]
| R
| TBD
| Merchant Liners are general-purpose design starships, intended to carry both passengers and freight. They are larger than the Far Traders intended for cargoes over 200 tons and over a dozen passengers 
|-
| [[Subsidized Merchant]]
| R
| TBD
| 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.
|-
| [[Far Trader]]
| A2
| TBD
| 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]]
| A1
| TBD
| A Free 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 or R
| TBD
| A heavily armed transport normally doing business with fringe systems.
|-
| [[Merchant Cruiser]]
| A, M, R, or T
| TBD
| 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 completion 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.
|-
|}

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
No information yet available. 

=== Selected Variant Types & Classes ===
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-A1-Free-Trader}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-A2-Far-Trader}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-A3-Deep-Trader}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-AA-Armored-Merchant}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-AH-Heavy-Tramp}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-AL-Light-Merchant}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-AM-Medium-Merchant}}
----
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-MC-Cargo-Freighter}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-MF-Provincial-Freighter}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-MH-Heavy-Freighter}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-ML-Light-Freighter}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-MM-Medium-Freighter}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-MP-Passenger-Freighter}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-MS-Superheavy-Freighter}}
----
''[[Passenger Liner]]:''
# [[Type R class Luxury Liner]]
## [[Animal class Liner]]
## [[Astral Splendour class Luxury Liner]]
## [[Brilliant Gem class Cruise Liner]]
## [[Celestial Star class Liner]]
## [[Codori Prime class Luxury Liner]]
## [[Fringian Cruise Liner]]
## [[Fringian Passenger Liner]]
## [[Independence of the Stars class Liner]]
## [[King Richard class Interstellar Liner]]
## [[Royal class Liner]]
## [[Shianjo class Liner]]
## [[Stellar class Liner]]
## [[World class Luxury Liner]]
# [[Type RT class Longliner]]
## [[Bright Conclave class High Liner]]
## [[Brilliance class Long Liner]]
## [[Jelmirt Marquis class High Liner]]
## [[Mapepire Dream class Jumpliner]]
## [[Nebula class Starliner]]
## [[Pride of Vland class Long Liner]]

''[[Cargo Liner]]:''
# [[Type RC class Cargo Liner]]
## [[Anhk class Merchant]]
## [[Bastien class Merchant Liner]]
## [[Bloodwell class Merchant]]
## [[Caccil class Merchant]]
## [[Dakaar class Merchant Transport]]
## [[Fringian Cargo Barge]]
## [[Garrett Durant class Cargo Hauler]]
## [[Hercules class Cargo Transport]]
## [[Jose Cadiz Royal Galleon class Cargo Carrier]]
## [[Vespir class Large Freighter]]
## [[Xeekr'kir! class Merchant]]
# [[Type RM class Merchant Liner]]
## [[Gamma Haden class Liner]]
## [[Highlander class Exploratory Merchant]]
## [[Khtukhao class Clan Transport]]
## [[Kolomyia class Merchant Liner]]
## [[Orowani Deep Space class Light Liner]]
## [[Soho class Light Freighter]]
## [[Star Merchant class Liner]]
## [[Triad class Merchant]]
## [[Yeoman class Attack Cargo Vessel]]

''[[Clipper]]:''
# [[Type R class Clipper]]
## [[Aurora class Clipper]]
## [[Maggart class Clipper]]
---- 
''[[Subsidized Merchant]]:''
# [[Type R class Subsidized Merchant]] AKA [[Fat Trader]] AKA [[Subsidized Merchant]]
## [[Akkigish class Subsidized Merchant]] 
## [[Gyro Cadis class Subsidized Merchant]]
## [[March class Subsidized Merchant]]
# [[Type R2 class Subsidized Merchant]]
## [[Athelstan class Merchant]]
## [[Khtukhao class Clan Transport]] {{Page cite|name= Aslan |page= 32 |version= Classic Traveller}}
## [[Petty class Subsidized Merchant]]
# [[Type RAX class Protected Merchant]]
# [[Type RL class Subsidized Merchant]]
# [[Type RL2 class Subsidized Merchant]]
# [[Type RQ class Subsidized Merchant]]
# [[Type RX class Merchant Trader]]
----

=== Ship Summary List ===
{{Ship summary list|name= Tramp Vessel |tdes= A}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Freighter |tdes= M}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Liner |tdes= R}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Transport or Tanker |tdes= T}}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Detail}}
{{Sources
|S1= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium}}
|S2= {{Ludography cite|name= Traveller: The New Era|page=374}}
|S3= Subsidized Merchant Deck Plans [[SGS: Subsidized Merchant|Seeker Gaming Systems: Subsidized Merchant]] 
|S4= Type A2 Far Trader Deck Plans [[SGS: Empress Marava|Seeker Gaming Systems: Empress Marava]] 
|S5= Garu class Type A2 Far Trader [[The Flaming Eye]]
|S6= Garu class Type A2 Far Trader [[MegaTraveller Journal 4]]
|S7= Soho class Light Freighter [[Traveller Chronicle 13]]
|S8= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
|S9= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]] 
}}


[[Category: Ship Organization]]
[[Category: Ship type definitions]]
[[Category: Supraclass]]
{{LE|}}
{{LEN|}}