Maritime transport, as the name implies, is the transport of people and things through the sea. It has been an accessible mode of transportation since ancient times. Transport by water has its pros and cons. Even with the initiation of other ways of transport, it is still one of the sought out modes.
Maritime transport can cover any distance, no matter how long, using cargos, boats, and ships through the various water bodies of sea, oceans, rivers, or canals. With time, there has been a lot of improvement in maritime transport; the sizes and reliability of ships have also increased. It has become a lot more automated and quicker.
Benefits Of Maritime Transport
With new aviation modes in the picture, a lot of people do not realize the advantages of maritime transport and the work that goes into them. Let us discuss some of the benefits that make it a reliable mode.
Size
This is a massive advantage of maritime transport. With time, the vessels that carry people and things over water have become vast and accommodating. There are ships and boats of all sizes as suited for an occasion. Be it for luxury cruises or small fun motorboats; water transport is effective in all sizes.
Economical
Water transport is one of the most economical modes of transportations. The charges, even after including the freight, are still lower than the aviation transport mode. Also, the number of good that gets transported in each time is more than what would be done in other ways. Water bodies are relatively free until you cross international water boundaries.
Location
Water transport can opt for any place. The water bodies connect all countries globally. The goods and people can be transported to any place around the world, regardless of the distance between the locations. While it might take time, it is still accessible.
Pleasure Cruise
Not just commercial, but they are good for travel as well. The travel is made pleasurable with the help of enormous cruises. There is nothing a cruise doesn’t have. You can stay on the cruise for a week, and there will still be something that would be missed out.
Environment-Friendly
Ships, boats, and cargos are all environmentally friendly. This is because they use less fuel as compared to other modes of transport. The fuel efficiency of ships is high meaning they provide more result by covering more distance and still using less amount of fuel.
Risks Of Maritime Transport
While maritime transport has numerous advantages, it is also subjected to a lot of risks. Let us take a look at some of these:
Weather
This plays a crucial role in maritime transport. If the weather is not favorable, it can hamper the speed of the ship or cargo transporting from one place to another. Similarly, weather could be dangerous for people traveling by a small boat or to fishermen exploring the sea. Storms, hurricanes, and even strong winds are all conditions which affect sea travel.
Handling
The bigger the size of the ship, the higher would be the handling and maintenance required. Larger vessels and cargos have heavy materials, and the same can cause serious damages if not handled properly.
Time-Consuming
This is the most common drawback of maritime transport. Water transport could be the slowest transport mode throughout. While all water bodies are connected, the distance is long, and the speed of the ship cannot be matched with that of a cargo plane. Water transport can’t be used for products that are subjected to perishability.
Technical Problem
This is also a significant disadvantage. If there is any technical glitch, it can lead to dangerous situations. The other side is, if it can’t be fixed, it will take a lot of time for help to arrive, which makes it an even more waste of time. A cargo stopping in the middle of nowhere is a nightmare no one wants to have, and that explains the gravity of the entire situation. While ships today are highly equipped to deal with such things, it is still a big issue if it happens.
Moreover, to control and regulate fuel inside these transportations, resilient gate valves are installed. There should be regular technical follow up to prevent any mishaps. The quality of the valves is of utmost importance as they go through a lot of rough weather conditions. 
Conclusion
As you can see, the advantages of maritime transport still outweigh the drawbacks. This mode of transportation is still one of the most ideal, especially if the budget is a concern. Hopefully, this has helped you decide whether or not to go with maritime transport or consider other options.
