Conference Discussion

Abstract

There is a need to consider sea power in all its aspects, rather then simply its naval variant. The actual importance of the Merchant Navy to the UK, and to Western Europe as a whole is a subject which deserved serious study. But it is necessary to realise that the defence role of the Merchant Navy is an incidental, almost accidental aspect of its activities: this fact dominates the solution of such vexed problems that of ‘flagging out’ — a commercial practice with considerable social as well as defence implications. The overriding consideration, though, has to be commercial. Although there are similarities to the problems facing the Royal and the Merchant Navy, there are also profound differences. The Merchant Navy is at war with our competitors now, not planning to deter it or counter it should it occur. For this reason commercial imperatives will naturally prevail. Flagging-out is justified in these circumstances because it makes money for the country, whereas staying British would not. Of course there remain defence contributions such as providing ships for sea-lift and participating in exercises. The possibility of arming merchant ships with containerised weapons systems was another hardy annual, although in the past less attractive in practice than it had seemed in theory.