The Evolution of World Shipping

Did you know that the shipping industry handles more than 90% of the world’s trade? Shipping has long been used to import and export goods and food stuffs from all over the world. Ships are used to transport the raw materials which are used in world production and manufacturing. This among many other reasons explains why the world’s economy greatly depends on the shipping industry.

 Evolution of Shipping

Image Courtesy of Steve Gibson

Today, there are more than 50,000 merchant ships which are performing various trading activities all across the globe. These ships are transporting different kinds of cargo from commercial products to personal household items for people who are moving abroad. Today, more than 150 countries are registered members of the world fleet. These nations have local ports where the shipments are received and dispatched.

There are a number of challenges which the shipping industry has experienced over the years. One of the main challenges is natural disasters and poor weather. When the weather is not favourable, goods cannot be transferred at sea. Furthermore, natural disasters and political instabilities also affect the shipping industry the same way that affects other sectors of the economy. The other major challenge of the shipping industry has to do with pollution. When the containers which carry oil or toxic chemicals experience leakages at sea, there is the risk of polluting water.

 Evolution of Shipping

Image Source: NOAA’s National Ocean Service

Strict regulations have been put in place on the kind of containers which should be used to carry toxic substances, oil and petroleum. These substances are not transported using the usual containers used to transport cargo. The shipping industry has imposed stringent terms which must be followed by businesses and people looking to transport toxic substances using these containers.

Additionally, the shipping industry utilises advanced technologies in order to detect weather challenges and plan ahead. Poor weather can be predicted early enough and the shipping time will be modified to suit these changes. The shipping industry has also invested in state of the art ships which are designed to reduce the leakage of oil and petroleum during transit. The regulations set by customs and other departments within the shipping industry are very strict in order to minimise the risk of water pollution.

The other items in the shipping industry which have undergone numerous improvements are the shipping containers. Shipping containers are used to transport the goods in a safe and effective manner. These containers are built in standard sizes and they are designed to transport cargo effectively over long distances. The containers can be stacked, in order to minimise on space. Today, there are very large containers available which are loaded and unloaded in a very rapid manner. The diverse cargo handling tools are also very advanced and can be used on any size or type of container.

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