Shipping

Container ships, San Francisco Bay.

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] In 2003, the international shipping industry transported 6.2 billion tonnes of cargo.[2] 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.[3]

## Types of vessel in the world merchant fleet[edit]

* 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.[4]
* Specialist vessels - These include anchor handling and supply vessels for the offshore oil industry, salvage tugs, ice breakers and research vessels.

## See also[edit]

* Shipping Terms
* Just in Time distribution systems

## References[edit]

1. ↑ British Chamber of Shipping British Shipping Accessed July 12, 2007
2. ↑ Clarkson Research Studies The Tramp Shipping Market[1] Accessed July 12, 2007
3. ↑ British Chamber of Shipping op cit
4. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Ships Glossary Accessed July 12, 2007