Navigation
The geography of transportation, focusing on how goods move via sea, air, and land.
Have you ever wondered how a $1,000 smartphone travels 8,000 miles across the ocean for less than the cost of a pizza delivery?
Global trade relies on three main modes: Sea, Air, and Land. Maritime transport (sea) is the backbone of the global economy, carrying over 90% of world trade. It is the most cost-effective for bulk cargo like oil, grain, or ores because of the massive economies of scale. Air freight is the fastest but most expensive, reserved for high-value or perishable items like electronics and fresh flowers. Land transport (rail and trucking) serves as the 'last mile' connection. The choice of mode depends on the ratio of value to weight. If the transport cost exceeds the profit margin of the good, the trade is not viable.
Quick Check
If you need to move 50,000 tons of iron ore from Australia to China, which transportation mode is most efficient?
Answer
Maritime (Sea) transport, because it handles massive bulk at the lowest cost per ton.
Before the 1950s, goods were loaded piece-by-piece in 'break-bulk' shipping—a slow, labor-intensive process. The invention of the standardized shipping container changed everything. This is measured in TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). A standard container is 20 feet long (). Because these boxes are identical, they are intermodal, meaning they can move seamlessly from a ship to a train to a truck without being unpacked. This reduced loading costs from over 0.15 per ton, effectively 'shrinking' the world.
A modern 'Ultra Large Container Vessel' (ULCV) can carry approximately 24,000 TEUs. 1. If a ship carries 10,000 containers that are 20 feet long and 7,000 containers that are 40 feet long, what is the total TEU count? 2. Calculation: (for the 20ft) (for the 40ft). 3. Total: .
Quick Check
What does it mean for a transport system to be 'intermodal'?
Answer
It means goods can move across different modes of transport (ship, rail, truck) using the same standardized container without being unpacked.
Geography creates natural 'bottlenecks' known as chokepoints. These are narrow channels along widely used sea routes. The Suez Canal (Egypt) and the Panama Canal (Panama) are man-made shortcuts that save thousands of miles. Natural chokepoints include the Strait of Malacca (between Indonesia and Malaysia) and the Strait of Hormuz (Middle East). Because so much trade passes through these tiny areas, any blockage—whether by a stuck ship, conflict, or piracy—can cause global prices to spike instantly.
Imagine the Suez Canal is blocked. A ship traveling from Singapore to Rotterdam must now go around the Cape of Good Hope (Africa). 1. The detour adds kilometers to the trip. 2. If the ship travels at a speed of km/h, how many extra days does the trip take? 3. Time . 4. of extra fuel and labor costs.
A logistics company must choose between a route through a politically unstable chokepoint or a longer, safer route.
1. Route A (Chokepoint): 15 days, cost $C_1 = \$200,000\ extra).
2. Route B (Longer): 22 days, cost $C_2 = \$240,000200,000 + (0.10 \times 50,000) = \.
4. Even with risk, Route A is cheaper, but the 7-day time difference might affect 'Just-in-Time' manufacturing schedules.
Which mode of transport carries the highest percentage of global trade volume?
A standard 40-foot shipping container is equal to how many TEUs?
The Strait of Malacca is considered a chokepoint because it is a narrow waterway through which a high volume of global trade must pass.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the names of the four major chokepoints mentioned and explain why a 'standard box' changed the world economy.
Practice Activity
Look at the labels on five items in your house. Research the most likely shipping route and chokepoints they passed through to reach you.