The information refers to oceangoing, self-propelled, cargo-carrying vessels of 1,000 gross tons and above, including offshore drill ships and Floating Production, Storage and Offloading units (FPSOs). Military vessels, yachts, waterway vessels, fishing vessels, and offshore fixed and mobile platforms and barges are excluded.
*Ships registered outside of the U.S.
**Ships registered in the U.S.
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U.S.: number of merchant ships in beneficial ownership by registration type 2014-2022
The United States-controlled merchant fleet was decreasing between 2018 and 2022, amounting to ships in 2022. That year, about *** of these vessels were registered in the United States (U.S.), while some 1,000 ships were registered outside of the U.S.
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UNCTAD. (December 7, 2022). Number of merchant vessels in the beneficial ownership of the United States (U.S.) from 2014 to 2022, by type of registration [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved August 05, 2026, from /statistics/1350555/united-states-number-of-merchant-ships-in-beneficial-ownership/
UNCTAD. "Number of merchant vessels in the beneficial ownership of the United States (U.S.) from 2014 to 2022, by type of registration." Chart. December 7, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed August 05, 2026. /statistics/1350555/united-states-number-of-merchant-ships-in-beneficial-ownership/
UNCTAD. (2022). Number of merchant vessels in the beneficial ownership of the United States (U.S.) from 2014 to 2022, by type of registration. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 05, 2026. /statistics/1350555/united-states-number-of-merchant-ships-in-beneficial-ownership/
UNCTAD. "Number of Merchant Vessels in The Beneficial Ownership of The United States (U.S.) from 2014 to 2022, by Type of Registration." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 7 Dec 2022, /statistics/1350555/united-states-number-of-merchant-ships-in-beneficial-ownership/
UNCTAD, Number of merchant vessels in the beneficial ownership of the United States (U.S.) from 2014 to 2022, by type of registration ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1350555/united-states-number-of-merchant-ships-in-beneficial-ownership/ (last visited August 05, 2026)
Number of merchant vessels in the beneficial ownership of the United States (U.S.) from 2014 to 2022, by type of registration [Graph], UNCTAD, December 7, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1350555/united-states-number-of-merchant-ships-in-beneficial-ownership/