What is the merchant marine? (Honorverse version)

Here is something I wrote up for tRMN and it's promised merchant marine track.

Welcome to the Royal Manticoran Merchant Service.

The merchant marine, whether Star Empire of Manticore, Republic of Haven or of any other star nation, is a civilian industry. The ships are owned by private companies or individuals in free market societies. In places like the old People’s Republic of Haven, where the government owned every major capital intensive business, the ship’s are government owned and are operated by a civilian bureaucracy, usually associated with the Ministry of Trade or similarly named non-military agency.

The merchant marine is also known as the merchant navy, mercantile marine, merchant service and hansemarine (Andermani Empire). The people who work on the ships are referred to as merchant seaman, merchant mariners, merchant spacers and never as merchant marines.

I have the privilege to welcome you to our industry and am pleased that you have chosen to sail with us. I'm sure you know that when you choose a space going career, you become part of an established industry and vital part of the Star Empire's war effort and economy.

The Manticoran merchant marine is the single largest merchant navy in the galaxy. The hundreds of companies that own and operate the thousands of ships that fly the Manticoran flag operate a wide variety of ships, from small 100,000 ton couriers to 8 megaton freighters with a crew of 20 to 22, to passenger liners with crews of 600 and up to 5,000 passengers. We serve the carrying trade not only between the Star Empire of Manticore and other star nations, but also within the many star systems of the galaxy including the Solarian League.

Working as a merchant spacer can be exciting and enjoyable career. You can start as an trainee and work your way up via the hawsepipe or you can apply for the Royal Manticoran Merchant Marine Academy located on the Bagaduce river on Gryphon.

Games

I'm looking for games.  Specifically games that used to be played by merchant seamen, board games that emulate running a merchant ship, or computer versions of what it might be like to run a merchant trading ship.

I found one so far.  It's in beta-testing and is based upon Nathan Lowell's Trader's Tales books

https://boardgamegeek.com/article/19942703#19942703

So far I've only looked at the Board Game Geek page.

Book Review - Take the Star Road (The Maxwell Saga Book #1)

Take the Star Road was been readable.  Parts seem stilted, but not a show stopper.

It's depiction of the merchant marine shows the author's military background and lack of background in the merchant marine.

On the plus sides - he got crew sizes reasonable.  A 500 meter long, and 80 meter by 80 meter cross section with a crew of 40.  One person to a room, which is pretty normal for modern real world merchant ships.

Down sides - military ranks and terms.  The ship's bosun is a warrant officer - although so far the book hasn't said what sovereign has issued the warrant.  The regular officers are commissioned officers - again, a military term.  Merchant officers are licensed (US) or certificated (UK).  They don't hold a commision from a government. The other crew members have Navy style ranks - Spacer 3rd, Bosun's mate, etc. For a small crew the potential range of ranks is pretty wide.

The main character, Steve Maxwell is signed on as an Apprentice.  The ship he is on rarely has an apprentice, but he manages to get  berth.  I find that odd.  Real world ships sail with the minimum number of permanent crew - either they'd normally carry an apprentice or never. While a ship will sail short handed, it's not the norm.  For hundreds of years ships have carried an entry level person - it being the way new people are trained. I don't see a ship not having an apprentice for most trips, and then being willing to take one on for the story.

Historically, UK ships were required to carry at least one apprentice. For US ships it was a required number of entry level in each department.

Crewing - single cook for 40 people, but there is apparently really good cleaning automation. The cleaning automation is explicitly mentioned, so one cook is probably reasonable.

Gripping hand - uniforms. He's using the US merchant marine wreath, but it's in gold for the Bosun.  I'd expect gold to be for officers, and if the Bosun wore it, it would be in silver at best.

Book - Take the Star Road (The Maxwell Saga book #1)

New book purchased for Amazon Kindle.  It's supposed to be about a kid on a merchant space ship.  I hope to have a review up in a few days. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CS52I32?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o00_