The Merits And Demerits Of Boat Transport

By Thomas White


Transportation of commodities has been there since the beginning of domestic and global trade. Businesses have utilized various channels of transporting items. Boat transport is the most widespread mean of shipping items that has been used since ancient times. Transportation has facilitated trade in cities around water bodies. Transportation through boats has remained common despite the growth in air and ground shipping. It has made a lot of contributions to local and global trades. This article has discussed its merits and demerits.

Boat transportation is an efficient method compared to road and air methods. This is because unlike the ground transportation that can only support specific items, this method offers a wide variety of options. The vessels are made in different forms to accommodate all types or sizes of things. Carrying of trucks, industrial and agricultural machines or vehicles have been made possible by the use of boats.

Shipping using boats is cost-effective. This is because the crafts need less maintenance and operation based on where the items are originating from and where they are shipped to. Additionally, more ports are being established, making this an efficient mode of shipping goods. The overall cost of transporting items by water is less than that of good transported through air or road.

This mean of transportation is eco-friendly. Transportation by boats consumes less fuel compared to the ground or air means of transportation. This means that fewer greenhouse gases are produced. The method helps in protecting the environment, an essential thing in every industrial sector.

Lakes, seas, and rivers are natural and do not need modification to support transport. Therefore, no extra expenses are required to construct waterways. However, railways or roads bring additional costs since they must be built for cars, trucks, or trains to pass through. In the end, carrying by ship remains the best and most efficient mean since there is no need for the costly infrastructure to support boats.

Sometimes departure or arrival of airplanes can be delayed due to harsh weather conditions. This means that items take longer before arriving at the airport. However, with ships, delays are minimal. This is because these vessels are built with reliability and resistance such that they can survive any weather within the reasonable limit. Ships can sail through the complex and unsteady environment so that items do not delay in disembarking.

Then again, there are several difficulties involved in boat transportation. Sailing in water takes a considerably long time before the ship reaches the shore. Therefore, items take long before getting to the destination. As such, transporting items through water is unsuitable for consumable or fragile commodities that can spoil over time.

Still, ships experience logistical problems when they arrive in ports that do not facilitate cargo ships. A port must have particular structures depending on the type of items it receives or transports. Therefore, if the port does not have these structures, a ship must navigate to the nearest structured port. This will result in indirect transportation where items are unpacked and packed again to reach the destination.




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