Previous
Vessel Transportation
Overview
Ship transportation is one of the oldest and most important modes of cargo transportation in the world, and is particularly suitable for the long-distance transportation of bulk commodities. Most of the global trade volume is accomplished by sea, and ship transportation connects major ports on all continents, forming a huge maritime logistics network.
Features and Advantages
- Large capacity: ships can carry a large amount of goods, suitable for transportation of raw materials, finished products, machinery and equipment and other bulk goods.
- Low cost: compared with other modes of transportation, the unit cost of ship transportation is lower, especially suitable for long-distance transportation.
- Globalization: Almost all countries have coastlines, and ship transportation can cover almost all areas of the world.
- Energy saving and environmental protection: although ship transportation is slower, it is more energy efficient and the carbon emission per unit of cargo is relatively low.
- Stability: Ship transportation is less affected by weather, especially when sailing on the ocean, it can maintain a more stable speed.
Challenges
- Slow speed: Ship transportation is relatively slow and unsuitable for time-sensitive cargo.
- Port Dependency: Cargo must be loaded and unloaded through ports, increasing logistics time and costs.
- Unpredictability: Bad weather, sea conditions or political factors can cause ships to be delayed or re-routed.
- Infrastructure requirements: well-developed port facilities and inland transportation systems are needed to support cargo consolidation and distribution.
