Unit 4 - Maritime Transport - Transport Development

Question 1

How much of non-bulk cargo is transported in containers worldwide?

Answer 1

• 90%

Question 2

How much of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry?

Answer 2

• 90%

Question 3

How many merchant ships trading internationally are there?

Answer 3

• 50,000 - transporting every kind of cargo

Question 4

What were the changes in speed of maritime transport over time?

Answer 4

• since 1850s, increased by 5.6 knots (from 18 knots to 23.6 knots)
• range of vessels has increased, which means that a ship can reach any port in the world often without stopping for fuel - ship can arrive to its destination without having to take a break

Question 5

What were the changes in speed of (un/)loading maritime transport over time?

Answer 5

• up to 1956, containerisation did not exist - goods were placed in much smaller boxes, meaning more boxes - takes longer
• in 1937 took 16 days to load and unload goods onto a ship, now it only takes a day (16 times quicker)

Question 6

What were the changes in the goods capacity of maritime transport over time?

Answer 6

• first container ship was 160 metres long, now the largest container ship is 400 metres long (can hold 21413 containers)

Question 7

What is maritime transport?

Answer 7

• the shipment of goods (cargo) and people by sea and other waterways.

Question 8

What is containerisation?

Answer 8

• a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers