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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Transport and Shipping
Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet's surface and have been used as highways for trade and travel for thousands of years. Today, maritime transport is the backbone of international trade and the global economy, with over 80% of world trade by volume carried by sea.
Key Definitions:
The global shipping industry includes over 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally, registered in over 150 nations and employing more than 1.5 million seafarers. Container ships can carry over 20,000 TEUs at once, making them among the largest vehicles ever built by humans.
Maritime transport is the most cost-effective way to move goods in bulk across the globe. Without shipping, the import and export of affordable goods would not be possible. The cost of shipping a single pair of trainers from Asia to Europe can be less than £0.10, making global trade economically viable.
Global shipping follows established routes that connect major ports and pass through strategic waterways. These routes have been developed to optimise travel time, fuel consumption and safety.
Maritime chokepoints are narrow passages that connect larger bodies of water. They are critically important for global trade but can become vulnerable bottlenecks if disrupted by political conflicts, piracy, or natural disasters.
Connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, providing the shortest sea link between Europe and Asia. About 12% of global trade passes through this 193 km long artificial waterway, with approximately 50 ships passing through daily.
Links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, eliminating the need to sail around South America. The canal handles about 5% of world trade, with over 14,000 ships passing through annually. It was expanded in 2016 to accommodate larger vessels.
Located between Malaysia and Indonesia, this narrow stretch of water is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. It connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, with about 25% of all traded goods passing through.
While maritime transport is relatively efficient compared to other forms of transport, its sheer scale means it has significant environmental impacts that need to be managed carefully.
Ships emit pollutants including carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulphur oxides (SOₓ) and particulate matter. The shipping industry contributes approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Large ships often use heavy fuel oil which has high sulphur content, though regulations are now limiting this.
Ships can release oil, chemicals and waste into the ocean through operational discharges or accidents. Ballast water can transport invasive species between ecosystems. Underwater noise from ships can disrupt marine mammals' communication and navigation systems.
In March 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling approximately 11 million gallons (41 million litres) of crude oil. The oil eventually covered 1,300 miles (2,100 km) of coastline and 11,000 square miles (28,000 km²) of ocean. The spill killed an estimated 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbour seals, 250 bald eagles and billions of salmon and herring eggs. The environmental impacts were still being felt decades later and the disaster led to major changes in tanker design and oil spill response planning.
In response to environmental concerns, the shipping industry and international organisations have developed regulations and technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport.
The IMO is the United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping. Key environmental regulations include:
The shipping industry is adopting various technologies to reduce environmental impacts, including: slow steaming (reducing speed to save fuel), hull design improvements, alternative fuels (LNG, biofuels, hydrogen), shore power (connecting to electricity while in port), scrubbers (to clean exhaust gases) and ballast water treatment systems.
The future of shipping may include zero-emission vessels powered by renewable energy, autonomous ships that optimise routes and operations and digital technologies that improve efficiency. Research is ongoing into wind-assisted propulsion, solar power and fuel cells for maritime applications.
Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In 2023, they launched the first large container vessels capable of operating on carbon-neutral methanol. The company has ordered multiple dual-fuel vessels that can run on either conventional fuel or green methanol, which produces up to 95% fewer carbon emissions. Maersk is also investing in research and development of other sustainable fuels and technologies to reduce their environmental footprint.
The challenge for the shipping industry is to balance the economic benefits of maritime transport with the need to protect the marine environment. This requires cooperation between shipping companies, port authorities, governments and international organisations.
Key strategies include:
As consumers, we can also influence shipping practices by supporting companies that prioritise sustainable shipping and being aware of the environmental footprint of the products we buy, especially those transported over long distances.
Maritime transport and shipping are essential for the global economy but come with significant environmental challenges. Through a combination of regulations, technological innovation and industry commitment, the sector is working towards reducing its environmental impact while continuing to serve as the backbone of international trade. Understanding these issues is crucial for managing our oceans as a valuable but finite resource that needs protection for future generations.
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