scheepstransport

Scheepstransport, or sea transport, refers to the movement of goods and people by ships over sea routes. It is a core element of international trade, handling the majority of world cargo by volume. Shipping enables the long-distance transfer of bulk commodities, manufactured goods, and energy products at relatively low costs compared with other modes of transport, albeit with longer transit times.

Ship types include container ships for general freight, bulk carriers for dry commodities like grain and ore, tankers for liquids such as crude oil and chemicals, gas carriers for liquefied gases, roll-on/roll-off vessels for vehicles, and passenger ships. Many shipments rely on intermodal connections at ports to road or rail networks, forming integrated supply chains.

The shipping industry operates on a global scale, with major ports, shipping routes, and a system of flag states and classification societies that oversee safety and technical standards. International regulations, including SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), MARPOL (pollution), and the ISM Code for management responsibility, aim to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally responsible operations. Environmental concerns focus on emissions, ballast water management to prevent invasive species, and the ongoing shift toward lower-carbon fuels and energy efficiency, such as slow steaming and the use of LNG or other alternative fuels.

Trends in scheepstransport include increased digitalization (ship tracking, electronic documentation), automation and, in some cases, autonomous ships, as well as ongoing efforts to decarbonize and to adapt infrastructure and ports to changing trade patterns and weather risks.