1. What is maritime transport?
Maritime transport is an early form of transportation that continues to develop today. Its growth is closely linked to the expansion of import and export activities. Maritime transport involves using infrastructure and marine transport vehicles, which includes utilizing land and water areas associated with maritime routes connecting different countries, regions, or areas within a country, as well as using ships and loading equipment to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods along these maritime routes.
Historically, maritime cargo transport emerged relatively early compared to other transport methods (after river transport). As early as the 5th century BC, ancient civilizations like Egypt, China, and Japan exploited the sea as trade routes to connect various regions and nations around the world. Today, with advancements in science and technology, maritime transport has become a modern sector within the international transport system, playing a crucial role in import and export activities.
2. Characteristics of maritime transport:
– Maritime transport can carry all types of goods.
– Most maritime routes are natural.
– It has a very high carrying capacity.
– It is not restricted like other transport methods.
– It is highly dependent on weather conditions.
– The speed of transport vehicles is relatively low, leading to longer journey times.
*The standout advantage of maritime transport is its low cost, making it suitable for transporting large volumes of goods over long distances without requiring fast delivery times.*
3. The impact of maritime transport on international trade:
– It is an integral factor in international trade, especially in import and export activities.
– It promotes the development of international trade.
– It contributes to changing the structure of goods and markets in international trade.
– It affects the international balance of payments.
4. Key physical and technical factors of maritime transport:
– Maritime routes: These are pathways connecting two or more ports along which ships transport passengers or goods.
– Ports: These are places for docking and mooring ships, serving vessels and cargo, and are important transportation hubs for maritime nations.
– Transport vehicles: Mainly consist of ships, which can be categorized into commercial ships and military vessels:
– Commercial ships are used for economic purposes in maritime activities, with cargo ships being the most prevalent type.
– Military vessels are equipped for military purposes.
5. Methods of shipping goods by sea:
a) Charter shipping methods:
– Chartering bulk carriers,
– Chartering voyage-specific vessels,
– Time-chartering vessels,
– Bareboat chartering.
b) Container shipping methods:
– Full Container Load (FCL),
– Less than Container Load (LCL),
– Combined shipping (FCL/LCL – LCL/FCL).
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