Earth Cargo Service
The Earth Cargo Service (or ECS) (founded in 2082) was the agency in charge of managing Earth's interstellar cargo fleet, prior to the formation of the United Federation of Planets in 2161. It was governed by the Earth Cargo Authority. Ships needed a license to operate under the ECS, which in some cases could be lost if a rendezvous was missed.[1] They were not, however, beholden to the authority of the United Earth Stellar Navy, nor its successor, the United Earth Starfleet.
The service was started as a means to acquire additional dilithium, which the Vulcans would not provide, as well as other agreement-limited but desired resources & technology. Available resources (such as dilithium reserves found in very limited quantities on Earth) and assets were re-oriented from colony development, following the break down in relations with the Terra Nova colony in 2181, to the development of slow but capable cargo ships to be crewed by volunteers (plentiful on ravaged Earth) for the purpose of establishing trade relations with other races, side-stepping the Vulcan restrictions.[2]
The prefix for ships operating under the authority of the Earth Cargo Service was ECS. Example: ECS Horizon, ECS North Star.
Following the formation of the Federation, merchant ships fell under the authority of the Federation Merchant Service.[3]
Notes
- The founding date is game-canon, building upon the history indicated in Federation.
- The Memory Alpha source for the Merchant Marine article is used as inspiration (only) of an authority for merchants in SFC.
References
- ↑ Memory Alpha: "Earth Cargo Service"
- ↑ Federation: The First 150 Years, p. 22
- ↑ Memory Alpha: "Merchant Marine"