The Flota Mercante del Estado (English: State Merchant Marine) was a public agency in Argentina that provided maritime transport services from its creation in 1941 until its dissolution in 1960 with the establishment of the Argentine Maritime Lines Company (ELMA).

103316 on October 16, 1941, by the Vice President, acting as Executive Power, Ramón S. Castillo.

Initially, the State Merchant Fleet operated under the Ministerio de Marina (English: Ministry of the Navy).

[2][3] The fleet initially consisted of sixteen Italian-origin ships that were in Argentine ports.

[6] During the presidency of Arturo Frondizi, the Empresa Líneas Marítimas Argentinas (ELMA) was created by law, integrating the State Merchant Fleet and the Flota Argentina de Navegación de Ultramar.