TRAMGT: Transportation Management

Lesson 3 Water Transportation

History of Water Transportation Classification of Bodies of Water

Water transportation has a long tradition, The world's bodies of water consist of ocean, seas,
stretching back thousands of years. Civilizations rivers, lakes, and canals. These bodies of water
have always been settled near and around water are vital in accessing major tourist destinations
because water is the only thing that humanity and, oftentimes, are the only avenue for an
requires to live. Historically, communities have individual or tourists to arrive at the destination.
often been attracted to places near water, mainly
because traveling by water is more efficient than 1. The Ocean - It is a huge body of water
traveling by land. The movement of people and between continents that covers more than
goods around the world relies heavily on 70% of Earth's surface. The world's major
waterways. The intricate web of links between oceans are the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic
coastal points, inland ports, rail, air, and truck Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and
routes is the backbone of global economic the Arctic Ocean.
prosperity.
2. Seas - These are bodies of salt water. The
During ancient history, stone age people used major seas of the world are the Arabian
dugout canoes made from hollowed tree trunks for Sea, South China Sea, Carribean Sea,
fishing. It is said that a raft made by tying logs Mediterranean Sea, and the Bering Sea.
together with creepers was the first kind of water
transport a man can maneuver. 3. Rivers - These are fresh bodies of water
that run toward huge bodies of water like
Major Water Transportation Projects in seas. The world's longest rivers include Nile
History River, Amazon River, Yangtze River,
Mississippi River, and Yenisei River.
• China's Grand Canal stretches for 1,794
kilometers and was completed in the 7th 4. Lakes - These are large bodies of water
century AD (1,115 miles). surrounded by land. Lakes can either be
natural or artificial (man-made). The
• The California Aqueduct is 715 kilometers biggest natural lakes in the world are the
(444 miles) long and is located near Caspian Sea, Lake Superior, Lake Victoria,
Sacramento. Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.

• The Great Manmade River is a huge 5. Canals - These are artificial waterways built
underground network of pipes in the for irrigation or to shorten navigation time.
Sahara Desert that transports water from The major canals in the world include the
an enormous aquifer to the region's largest Grand Canal, Suez Canal, Panama Canal,
cities (1600 kilometers/994 miles). Kiel Canal, and Erie Canal.

Nature of Water Transportation TYPES OF WATER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• Suitable for heavy goods or commodities
Water transportation consists of two types: inland
• Used for long distances water transportation and ocean transportation.

• Typically used where transportation time is Inland water transport consists of transportation
not a critical factor or element via rivers, canals, and lakes. It provides a cost-
effective, logistically efficient, and
environmentally friendly mode of transportation,
and its development as a supplementary mode
would allow traffic to be diverted away from another at the cheapest cost. There are
congested roads and railways. three types of vessels employed in
overseas shipping:
Advantages of Inland Water Transport o Liners - These are ships that have
System regular fixed routes, times, and
charges. They are usually a
• Greater fuel efficiency collection of vessels under one
• Cheaper capital cost ownership (i.e., a fleet). Liners sail
• Less maintenance cost on scheduled dates and times
• It carries goods smoothly due to the whether full or not.
absence of shaking and jolting during o Tramps - These are ships that have
transit. It is eminently suitable for the no fixed routes. They have no set
carriage of fragile goods without causing rules or rate schedule. They do not
damage. sail until they have full cargo, and
• Most suitable to transport heavy loads they can be chartered by exporters.
• Can easily be integrated with sea transport They are ready to sail anywhere at
• Less risky due to less traffic and slow speed any time.
• Lesser pollution o Tankers - These are vessels that are
• Helps develop the tourism potential of a specially designed to carry oil,
place or site petrol, and other liquids.

Disadvantages of Inland Water Transport Major Types of Commercial Ships

System
The following are major commercial ships that are
• Few navigable inland water transportation classified based on their functions:
• Low speed 1. General Cargo Ship - This is a ship that
• Inland waterways are less flexible unlike carries goods or cargo from a particular
roads port going to another.
• Seasonality
• Uncertainty of usage due to changes over 2. Bulk Carriers - As of 1999, the
time International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea defined a bulk carrier as, "A ship
Ocean transport to maritime traffic that crosses constructed with a single deck, top-side
oceans. This type of water transport is tanks in cargo spaces and intended to carry
indispensable for foreign trade as it has brought dry cargo in bulk primarily; an ore carrier;
the different parts of the world closer and has or a combination carrier." This is a type of
knitted all the nations of the world into one big ship that generally transports dry cargoes
world market. in bulk quantities. Goods transported are
done without any specific packaging (e.g.,
Types of Ocean Transport food grains, ores, and coals).

Coastal shipping is the movement of cargo and 3. Container Ships - These are designed to
passenger mainly by sea along a coast. It is one hold huge quantities of cargo compacted in
of the most important means of transport for different types of container vessels (ships).
carrying goods from one port to another in a Here, cargoes are sent in special
country. It includes point-to-point cargo containers. This procedure is known as
movements from inland to ocean ports for containerization. The following are types of
transshipment over oceans. service range of container ships:
a. Feeder ships - These are used for
• Overseas shipping carries a lot of the short routes and trades in coastal
world's trade, the majority of the bulky areas only.
goods, materials, and passengers, through
ocean waterways from one country to
 b. Mother ships - They are bigger than 7. Offshore Vessels - These are used in oil
feeder ships, and they are involved exploration and construction works at sea.
in international trading. The following are the main types of
offshore vessels:
4. Tankers - These are specialized ships for o Supply ships - These vessels are
carrying large amounts of cargo. These are used to store supplies and
specialized ships for carrying large materials.
amounts of liquid cargo. The following are o Pipe-laying ships - These vessels
the main types of tanker ships: are used for laying pipes and
o Oil tankers - These carry crude oil connectors.
and its by-products. o Crane barges or floating cranes -
o Liquefied gas carriers - These are These vessels with cranes are used
designed to transport LPG, LNG, or for lifting heavy loads.
liquefied chemical gases in bulk. o Drill ships - These vessels are
o Chemical and product carriers - designed to explore and drill for new
These are tanker ships designed to oil and gas wells.
transport chemicals and different o Accommodation barges - These
liquid products in bulk. vessels are used for accommodation
purposes.
5. Roll-On Roll-Off Ships or Ro-Ro - These are o Production platforms - These
vessels that are used to carry wheeled vessels are used as storage areas
cargoes. This type of ship is also known as for extracted oil and gas until it is
"car carriers" with special ramps to transported to refineries.
conveniently load and unload vehicles and o Anchor handling vessels - These are
cargoes. Below are the types of Ro-Ro used for offshore construction and
ships: installation operations.
o Container vessel + Ro-Ro (ConRo) o Diving vessels - These vessels are
ship - This is a combination of a used by divers for underwater jobs.
traditional container ship and a
RoRo. Its loads are balanced and 8. Passenger Ships - These are used for
distributed equally. transiting passengers. Below is the
o General cargo + Ro-Ro (GenRo) classification of passenger ships:
ship - This is a RoRo with a cargo- o Ferries are used to transport
carrying vessel that is similar in passengers on short routes or
size. distances. In some countries,
o RoPax - This is a ferry that ferries are known as "water taxies"
transports vehicles together with or "water buses". They have specific
passengers. routes and schedules that normally
make intermittent stops.
6. Fishing Vessels - These are ships used for o Cruise ships are known as floating
commercial or recreational fishing. hotels with state-of-the-art facilities
o Trawlers are also known as used for vacation and recreation.
draggers, the commercial fishing They are popular due to their
vessels designed to operate fishing service onboard that promotes
trawls. luxury and complete amenities.
o Factory ships are also known as fish
processing vessels equipped with 9. Specialized Ships/Vessels - These are
facilities to process and freeze fish designed to serve specific purposes. Below
products. are the types of specialized ships/vessels
o Tugs/tugboats are boats or ships
that help maneuvers vessels. This is
done by pushing or towing them,
 serving as a guide until the vessel • Montenegro - Its routes are from Batangas
reaches its destination. and Lucena in the north as far as Surigao
o Tenders are used generally by ships and Dumaguete.
to transport people and/or supplies
from the vessel to the quayside. • Oceanjet - It is sailing from Bacolod, Cebu,
o Pilot craft are transportation used Dumaguete, Iloilo, Ormoc, Siquijor, and
by harbor pilots. Tagbilaran.
o Research vessels are used to carry
out a variety of research at sea. • Supercat 2GO - It is part of the 2GO group
with ferry services between Batangas,
Water Transportation in the Philippines Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Ormoc, Calapan, and
As an archipelagic nation consisting of 7,641 Tagbilaran.
islands, it is expected that some parts of the
country depend on water transportation for • Super Shuttle Roro - It is owned by Asian
transporting goods and people. In the Philippines, Marine Transportation Corporation and
there are many amazing destinations and services a wide number of ports and
attractions that are only accessible by water. For islands.
example, the Puerto Princesa Underground River
National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can • Trans-Asian Shipping Line - It operates
be seen and enjoyed by a paddleboat (bangka), primarily around the Visayas and Mindanao
and the Island Garden of Samal in Davao del Norte areas.
can be reached via ferry from Sasa Wharf or Santa
Ana Wharf. Ferry and paddle boats are just a few
The following are prefix that are commonly
of the water transport being used in the country.
attached to ship names:
Types of Water Transport in the Philippines
1.Passenger Liners - These are ships that carry
large numbers of passengers, as well as vehicles.

2. RO-ROs (Roll-On, Roll-Off) - These are ferries

used for cars and other types of land vehicles.

3. Fast Craft - These are used between big islands,

usually in the form of moder, air-conditioned
catamarans.

4. Small Boats - These are used for transportation

between islands located near each other.

Water Transportation Companies in the

Philippines

• 2GO Travel - One of the largest travel

providers in the country, following the
merger of four former ferry companies. It
links the major islands of the country with
the most comprehensive coverage.

• 2GO Travel-El Greco - It operates between

Manila and Bataan.