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.