[alexander_busek]

I wonder if by “press”, they mean to force into service, the way the British navy used to do, centuries ago.

You are undoubtedly referring to the practice known as gangpressing.

Britain’s ports and harbours were once menaced by the dreaded press-gangs. Impressment, to give it its proper name, was the scourge of maritime communities across the British Isles and Britain’s North American colonies for 150 years from 1664–1830 and involved bands of thugs headed by naval officers being sent ashore from Royal Navy (RN) warships to kidnap the King’s subjects to serve on the high seas.

Press Gangs, by Alistair Lee

Regards,

[Hootowl99]

British press gangs at sea after the Revolutionary War and against American flagged ships was a major factor leading to the War of 1812.

[catnipman]

also called “impressment”, “pressing” for short ...

https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/british-navy-impressment/

a significant cause of the war of 1812 ...