26th October 2013
The Banu Merchantman was announced in the Letter from the Chairman: $25 Million stretch goal in 2013, expanding upon the Xi'An and Vanduul alien cultures. It established the Banu race along with the concept artwork developed by Emmanuel Shiu.
Banu traders are renowned for their merchant prowess, traveling the spacelanes and trading with everyone from humans to the Vanduul! Their sturdy, dedicated trading ships are prized beyond all other transports, sometimes passing from generation to generation of Banu.
26th November 2013
As part of the Star Citizen Anniversary Livestream and Sale CIG made the Xi'An Scout and Merchantman up for sale again.
Included in the accompanying post the Merchantman was given it's first stats.
| Role | Merchant Clipper |
| Manufacturer | BIRC |
| Cargo Capacity | 60 |
| Max Crew | 4 |
| Upgrade Space | 6 |
| Max Power Plant Size | 4 |
| Max Engine (Primary Thruster) | 2 x TR6 |
| Manoeuvring Thrusters | 8 x TR2 |
| Max Shield | 6 |
| HARDPOINTS | Class-1: 2x Size 4 Class-2: 5x Size 2 Class-5: 2 available |
28th November 2014
The Banu Merchantman isn’t just a ship, it’s a home and a way of life. We know that a lot of backers want to become traders and merchants in Star Citizen’s persistent universe, and we’ve created a ship that’s more than just a sterile bulk freighter for you. The Merchantman is a traveling bazar, capable of landing or docking and then inviting locals in to view what it’s cargo holds have to offer. The ship design, perfected by generations of Banu development, is intended to offer a combination of high speed and durability. While the Banu is less configurable than a Caterpillar or a Starfarer, there’s still plenty of room to take the ship in different directions. From black market trade platform to deadly q-ship, it’s a force to be reckoned with!
29th April 2015
CIG released a Cargo Chart converting older Cubic Meters metrics to SCU.
| Ship Name | Cubic Meters | SCU Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Banu Merchantman | 9800 | 5017.6 |
22nd April 2017
The Banu Defender is sold as a concept ship.
The pledge value of the Banu Merchantman was increased to 350 (300 Warbond). The price increase was to reflect the size increase of the BMM.
26th November 2017
1st October 2018
After the release of the Kraken Privateer there were some questions over whether the role of the Merchantman had been changed. CIG answered in Calling all Devs - Dude, Where's My Spaceship? under High level design goals for the Banu Merchantman.
Trading ship with shops or stalls, a great ship to serve as an organisation headquarters, with accommodation for mid to short term for guests for negotiations.
Still got the huge guns to defend itself.
6th December 2019
In Star Citizen Live: All About Spaceships - YouTube CIG discussed that the cargo capacity of the BMM would probably be reduced.
More recent information released 4th December 2020, disregard information discussed.
11th November 2020
This months Jump Point finally confirmed that the Banu Defender was a parasite fighter, and implied the Merchantman could support more than one.
The Merchantman is a cross between a lumbering freighter and a trading platform in its own right. The prize possession of many Banu traders, Merchantman ships are unique, organic looking transports that reliably move goods throughout the galaxy. Merchantman are typically protected by smaller Defender parasite fighters that tend to prevent pirates from hunting the Banu.
Like the Xi’an Khartu-al, the Banu Merchantman was part of a 2013 Star Citizen stretch goal ($27 million), aiming to expand the game’s alien cultures. As with the Khartu-al, the Merchantman helped introduce and define the Banu race early on before copious amounts of additional lore were developed for the species. The initial concept artwork for the Merchantman was developed by Emmanuel Shiu in 2013. As of publication, the Merchantman is still in concept, with the newer but smaller Banu Defender leaping ahead of it to help define Banu materials and other elements that will be necessary to build out the larger, more complex merchant ship.
This edition also stated that the BMM was 106m, but this was confirmed as a typo by CIG on 30th November.
26th November 2020
The pledge value of the Banu Merchantman was increased to 450 (425 Warbond).
4th December 2020
During Star Citizen Live: IAE Free Fly All Ships Q&A - YouTube CIG confirmed that the Banu Merchantman has gotten bigger, but it's in the same size category and cargo capacity isn't going being reduced.
11th June 2021
LIMITED TIME WARBOND UPGRADE - Become a baron of interstellar commerce with the only dedicated trading ship in the ‘verse, the legendary Merchantman.
CIG have increased the price of the Banu Merchantman yet again, it now stands at $500. Including 20% VAT that's now £480. The current Warbond Edition is $450.
Considering the 31 week Vehicle Concept Art discipline is almost finished, hopefully next week CIG will provide some more detail on the Merchantman and the finalised concept.
9th October 2021
During the Citizencon 2951 Ship Talk CIG finally revealed the reconcept for the Banu Merchantman.
22nd Novemeber
During IAE 2951 the Banu Merchantman had another price increase to $550.