Shipping basics

Maritime transport is an essential link in the global logistics chain. Almost three-quarters of the goods produced and consumed worldwide are shipped by sea. It is therefore the leading mode of transport in terms of the volume of goods carried and is especially suited to long-distance links. In the first section of this chapter we present a general overview of maritime transport. In the second section we'll outline the factors that need to be taken into account when making an optimum choice of logistics services and define cooperation agreements between shipping lines.