Maritime transport, also known as ocean freight, refers to the transportation of goods between ports in different countries and regions using ships via sea routes.
It is a crucial component of international trade, handling a large share of global freight volume. Characteristics of maritime transport include:
Large-scale transport capacity: Maritime transport can carry large quantities of goods, including dry bulk cargo (such as coal and iron ore), liquid cargo (such as oil), and containerized cargo, making it suitable for long-distance and bulky transport.
Cost-effectiveness: Compared to other modes of transport such as air freight, maritime transport has lower unit transport costs, especially for heavy and bulky goods.
Global network: Maritime routes cover the globe, with seaports in almost every country and region, forming a comprehensive transport network connecting markets worldwide.
Long transit time: Although maritime transport is inexpensive, its speed is relatively slow, with transit times ranging from days to months, depending on the distance between the origin and destination.
