6.1 Ocean Transport海上运输

6.1 Ocean Transport海上运输

Ocean transport refers to the shipping of goods by sea and broadly speaking,also include transport by inland waterways such as rivers or canals.It plays an important role in the development of international trade.More than two thirds of export and import goods worldwide and 90% of China’s are shipped by sea.Ocean transport has obviousadvantages compared with other modes of transport.Construction and maintaining costs are very low as most shipping routes are naturally formed.Therefore,it is comparatively economical for shipping bulky or low-valued goods such as coal,ore,grain,cotton,timber,salt,building materials,steel and petroleum,etc.However,it is less speedy and could be affected by bad weather or seasonal factors such as freezing of water in winter or reduction of water level in dry season.The varied depth of oceans,canals and ports also affects the navigation of some large vessels.Ocean transport is generally classified into two categories based on the business model:liner shipping and charter shipping.The former is like a bus,while the latter a taxi.