International liner shipping is a sophisticated network of regularly scheduled services that transports goods from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world at low cost and with greater energy efficiency than any other form of international transportation.
EFFICIENCY
Liner shipping is the most efficient mode of transport for goods. In one year, a single large containership might carry over 200,000 container loads of cargo. While individual ships vary in size and carrying capacity, many container ships can transport as many as 10,000 containers of goods and products on a single voyage. Similarly, on a single voyage, some car carrier ships can handle 7,600 cars. It would require hundreds of freight aircraft, many miles of rail cars, and fleets of trucks to carry the goods that can fit on one large liner ship. Learn more about the efficiency of liner shipping.
GLOBAL ECONOMIC ENGINE
Liner shipping connects countries, markets, businesses and people, allowing them to buy and sell goods on a scale not previously possible. Today, the liner shipping industry transports goods representing approximately one-third of the total value of global trade. Additionally, as a major global enterprise in its own right, the international shipping industry is responsible for millions of existing jobs and plays a crucial role in stimulating new jobs. It contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to the global economy annually thereby increasing gross domestic product in countries throughout the world. Moreover, as the lifeblood of global economic vitality, ocean shipping contributes significantly to international stability and security. Learn more.
LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Ocean shipping is the most carbon-efficient mode of transportation and produces fewer grams of exhaust gas emissions for each ton of cargo transported than air, rail, or road transport. In addition, new International Maritime Organization regulations establish strict standards for vessels’ NOx, SOx, and particulate matter emissions. Also, the millions of containers that are used around the world are now 98 percent recyclable. Learn more.