Source: adapted from A. Ashar (2002), Revolution now, Containerization International, January.

Shifts in Containerized Maritime Transshipments

The scope of maritime containerized operations has substantially improved since the introduction of the container. Among the most significant shifts are:

• Containerization itself permitted the improvement of maritime transshipments (ship to shore).
• Intermodal transportation mostly concerned the development of inland transportation made accessible to containers. In the United States, the landbridge is a relevant example of this process applied to long distance inland containerized shipments. Containers were thus able to move in and out of ports more efficiently.
• The emergence of offshore terminals created a new hierarchy within the port system, acting as intermediate locations. Additionally, the efficiency and capacity of container cranes improved, enabling port to handle larger ships and a higher containerized throughput, particularly in the context of efficient inland distribution.
• The application of maritime logistics and the setting of global port holdings permits a truly global management of maritime containerized freight distribution.

The question remains about vessel size that has surged in the 1990s and what will be the optimal containership size as well as the composition of the global maritime fleet.

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