For example, during the early modern era, cities in the Hanseatic League began taming Northern Europe's rivers and harbors. Merchant shipping also includes water transport over the river and canal systems connecting inland destinations, large and small. When a cargo is carried in more than one mode, it is intermodal or co-modal.įurther information: Merchant navy, Sea lane, Sea transport systems, ship canal, and canalĪ nation's shipping fleet ( merchant navy, merchant marine, merchant fleet) consists of the ships operated by civilian crews to transport passengers or cargo from one place to another. 'General cargo' includes goods packaged in boxes, cases, pallets, and barrels. Arguably, the industrial revolution took place best where cheap water transport by canal, navigations, or shipping by all types of watercraft on natural waterways supported cost-effective bulk transport.Ĭontainerization revolutionized maritime transport starting in the 1970s.

Still, water transport is highly cost effective with regular schedulable cargoes, such as trans-oceanic shipping of consumer products – and especially for heavy loads or bulk cargos, such as coal, coke, ores, or grains.

Virtually any material can be moved by water however, water transport becomes impractical when material delivery is time-critical such as various types of perishable produce. While extensive inland shipping is less critical today, the major waterways of the world including many canals are still very important and are integral parts of worldwide economies. Shipping may be for commerce, recreation, or for military purposes. Maritime transport can be realized over any distance by boat, ship, sailboat or barge, over oceans and lakes, through canals or along rivers.

Maritime transport accounts for roughly 80% of international trade, according to UNCTAD in 2020. Transport by water is cheaper than transport by air, despite fluctuating exchange rates and a fee placed on top of freighting charges for carrier companies known as the currency adjustment factor. The advent of aviation has diminished the importance of sea travel for passengers, though it is still popular for short trips and pleasure cruises. Freight transport by sea has been widely used throughout recorded history. Maritime transport (or ocean transport) and fluvial transport, or more generally waterborne transport, is the transport of people ( passengers) or goods ( cargo) via waterways. For the transportation of ships, see Heavy-lift ship.

Capital ship concept art