When we refer to maritime transportation we are talking about the shipment of goods (cargo) and people by sea and other kinds of waterways. In order to enable maritime trade between trading partners, port operations are needed, says an article published on FONASBA website.
Special dates on the maritime transportation
Maritime transport has been historically at the latest regarding changes, however, nowadays they are facing new challenges. The new technologies and the automation are transforming from politics, society , economy.
Maritime transport throughout our evolution has played a crucial role, there is no doubt that the seaway is the oldest road in the world. First movement is dated when the Austronesians between 3000- 1500 BC. (Rodrigue, 2020) The objective was trading and colonizing, thus producing the development of humanity.
From this date to the present day, maritime transport has been growing since its beginning. It was of vital importance in economic development and globalization.
While we could go deeper into the subject, I would rather focus on the latest developments of the century, which are truly related to the industrial revolutions.
Why do they advance fast and with technification in maritime transport?
Going back to 1956 when the intermodal shipping container was built, by Malcom Mclean (American Entrepreneur) which revolutionized shipping as we know it nowadays. First container ship was in 1956 its cargo was 58 containers and it went from Newark to Houston. The container by then was 20 foot long, 8 foot high and 8 foot wide. (Thompson, 2018).
Moving forward we have the first international container ship voyage which took place from the US to the Netherlands and it was in 1966 and it carried 236 Containers(Nowadaysit would be impossible to make such a trip with such a small quantity of containers).
All of the above could had been a completely chaos, nevertheless it was not due to the ISO back to January of 1968 issued the first notice defining what a shipping container was, with terminology, dimensions and ratings. (ISO, 2020)
Maersk did the next important movement that we could see, was the first Triple-E ultra large container ship in 2013. The vessel, which was named after the late Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller (who passed away in 2012), was able to carry up to 18270 TEU, and was the largest ship in the world with 400 meter in length upon delivery (Maersk, 2020).
Nowadays, as of January of 2020 the latest and biggest ship containers is HMM Algeciras. It is 400 meters long, and its bean is 61 meters. It has a capacity of 24.000 TEU.
Sea lanes begin and end at ports. Around 3,000 ports participate in the commercial maritime interchange, that is the reason why they advance fast and with technification in the maritime transport.
It makes workers develop at the same speed, and both the carrier and the user must know the transport techniques, however it does not mean its workers are capable.
How technology is supposed to be implemented equally worldwide & When we do not have the same resources or available budgets?
What I believe that it could be an answer is that in maritime transport, the adoption of novel technologies has happened in gradual steps, but it does not mean that it has been done or that it will be done equally.
Looking worldwide, there is a need for investments in high-technological products which will help into the manufacturing productions to be able to increase efficiency. The world is nowadays more connected than ever with the global commerce, which is creating new jobs or even impacting in the current ones.
We, as a society, can do many things to stop the harmful effects of technology, like securing regulations.
Workers as well, should use the new technology to organize. By working together with all stakeholders, we can ensure that the technologies make working and living life better.
Summary
- Maritime transport has been historically at the latest regarding changes, however, nowadays they are facing new challenges.
- First container ship was in 1956 its cargo was 58 containers and it went from Newark to Houston.
- Nowadays, as of January of 2020 the latest and biggest ship containers is HMM Algeciras.
- Looking worldwide, there is a need for investments in high-technological products which will help into the manufacturing productions to be able to increase efficiency.
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Source: fonasba.com
