by John Konrad (gCaptain) Contrary to popular belief, Maersk is not the world’s largest shipping company, nor is Delta the world’s largest airline. However, both companies have substantial transportation contracts with an organization that is a major player: the Pentagon.
Many in the shipping industry may not fully grasp the vast scale of the US Military’s air and ocean logistics and frieght operations. The United States Department of Defense stands as the world’s largest ship owner, the world’s largest employer, the foremost logistics organization, and the topmost consumer of energy.
This colossal entity boasts a workforce of nearly 3 million, encompassing active-duty troops, civilian employees, US Merchant Mariners, and National Guard personnel. Serving in various locations globally on a rotational basis, their operations necessitate extensive air and ocean military logistics support.
The world’s best-funded military is global, so it needs a transportation network that exceeds that of legitimate, well-known ocean shipping companies but few people understand how military logistics professionals at organizations like Transcom, Military Sealift Command, Air Mobility Command, and MARAD move equipment around the world.
*NOTE The video does get a few small details about prepositions ships wrong. MPSRON One – the prepositioned fleet in the Mediterranean – was deactivated due to budget cuts in 2012 and the US Marine Corps has its own prepositioned ships (they are the ones painted black), which they are in the process of deactivating, apart from the Navy.
The definition of the US Merchant Marine is also not accurate but Wendover can’t be blamed for this considering even top National Security think tanks routinely conflate the US Merchant Marine, US Merchant Service, Strategic Sealift Officers, and Military Sealift Commands’ CIVMARS.
More Maritime An Military Logistics Videos
For more excellent videos on maritime logistics gCaptain suggests subscribing to the following youtube channels:
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in Norway’s capital, wrapping up a month-long joint exercise with NATO in the Norwegian and Barents Sea in a show of strength. The drills in the Sub-Arctic and Arctic region serve to reinforce NATO’s High North posture. A flotilla of naval vessels, including Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, escorted the aircraft carrier into Oslo fjord.
U.S. naval forces continue to step up their engagement in the Arctic. While the Coast Guard now has two icebreakers operating in the Bering Sea simultaneously for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. Navy together with Norwegian allied forces dispatched a four-vessel flotilla to the North Cape at the very top of Norway.
By Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) – A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the...
August 30, 2025
Total Views: 5258
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 107,245 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 107,245 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Join The Club
