Shipping
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Fox (talk | contribs) at 11:53, July 12, 2007. It may differ significantly from current revision.
Shipping is the transportation of goods and cargo. Over 90% of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry, and without shipping the import and export of goods on the scale necessary for the modern world would not be possible.[1] The British Chamber of Shipping asserts that there are around 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally, transporting every kind of cargo, registered in over 150 nations, and manned by over a million seafarers of virtually every nationality.[2]
Types of vessel in the world merchant fleet
- Container ships - These carry most of the world's manufactured goods and products, usually through scheduled liner services.
- Bulk carriers - These transport raw materials such as iron ore, grain, fertilizers and coal.
- Tankers - These transport crude oil, chemicals and petroleum products.
- Ferries and Cruise ships - Ferries perform short journeys, carrying a combination of passengers, cars and commercial vehicles, while cruise ships operate as "floating hotels".
- Combination Passenger and Cargo Ships - These must have a capacity for 13 or more passengers.[3]
- Specialist vessels - These include anchor handling and supply vessels for the offshore oil industry, salvage tugs, ice breakers and research vessels.
References
- ↑ British Chamber of Shipping British Shipping Accessed July 12 2007
- ↑ British Chamber of Shipping op cit
- ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Ships Glossary Accessed July 12 2007