Shipping Industry Importance - Research Paper Example

Historical Maritime Research Introduction The shipping industry is vitally important in necessitating exchange of goods and products amongst populations inhabiting different continents. This form of transport was the single most important since historical times. Harbors and ports provide a platform through which the shipping industry pursues its operations. In essence, the success of the water transport system is highly dependent on the serviceability of the ports and harbors. Through this, contact between the land and water is attained and related business as well as social operations sustained. New York harbor is the biggest harbor with most business activities in the United States. It has several boroughs including Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens and Manhattan. This study focuses on the Manhattan locale and evaluates various transformations that this port has undergone. Notably, it was the first to emerge while the emergence of the remaining ports was triggered by intense pressure from the civil war. Historical evidence affirms that Manhattan locale has undergone significant changes since 1800. The Manhattan port is considered one of the busiest ports in the New York harbor. It is comprised on the upper and lower Manhattan and hosts various commercial and business activities. In this regard, the gross metropolitan product from this area currently stands at close to one trillion dollars per year (Ascher 44). This is partly attributed to its location within the New York harbor. Seemingly, its centralized location increases its accessibility by business persons and entities. In addition, the port is comparatively popular than the rest because it is situated at the original New York harbor. The locale has an estimated 3.2 thousand hectares as office space (Ascher 44). A century ago, water transport was solely employed by the populations that bordered Manhattan. Through shipping, they were able to transport their goods and products from one continent to other (Ascher 44). In other words, the larger New York Harbor played an instrumental role in improving interactions between various populations. It is widely agreed that the Manhattan was relatively busy and supported a host of economic and commercial activities (Miller, 36). At this point in time, the populations that were both inland and those bordering the sea relied heavily on the harbor for conveyance of important commodities. Current trends indicate that activities in the port have eased. The ship traffic has also reduced considerably and seemingly and according to Rodrigue, the port is less crowded (Rodrigue 54). Currently, statistical evidence indicates that less than 500 ships dock at the harbor on a monthly (Kellner 59). This is attributable to the technological developments that have occurred in the road and air industry. For this reason, the consumer population has shifted its perceptions and greatly appreciates the services of the road, air and rail industry as compared to the services provided by the shipping industry (Revell 38). This trend has further been enhanced by the technological advancements and especially the use of internet and mobile phones in information exchange. The mere reduction of shipping activities implies a great change in the shipping industry (Jackson and Ho 47). Arguably, this has had diverse implications for the profits and general returns of the industry. In this regard, these are less profitable than their counterparts. There have been significant demographic changes in the locale too. Likewise, these have had diverse various implications on the social and economic wellbeing of the same. In particular, the population has decreased by a significant 30% (Gannon 5). Besides indicating a change in the perceptions and attitudes of the populations about shipping, these changes also imply that the economic benefits have shifted to other areas. Most importantly, they indicate that other transport and communication options such as road and air are developing very fast (Malcom 32). Put differently, the competition in the sector has intensified, in line with the consumer expectations. Seemingly, the entire national shipping industry has been affected by the technological trends. Regardless of the impacts of the technological developments, the port remains the busiest in the country. Nonetheless, the fact that the population has reduced significantly over time is indicative of important sociological as well as economic changes and developments. Another development that has occurred within the Manhattan pertains to the changes in the ship traffic. Statistical evidence ascertains that ship traffic has also decreased significantly (Darton 51). Likewise, this is attributable to the reduction in the commercial activities that the ships used to undertake. During the early years of the last century, ships were solely being employed as a means of transport and communication in the harbor. Apart from human traffic, goods and other services greatly benefited from this industry as they were easily ferried to intended destinations in a timely manner (Duffy and William 77). As other better transport and communication options emerged, the consumer base shifted its operations and explored these. The reduction in the percentage of the consumer base reduced the complexity of the services offered at the harbor. With respect to the activities that take place at the harbor, these have equally undergone various transformations. They have diversified and besides the traditional need for transport and communication, the port has been developed to cater for the recreational needs of the populations (Kellner 55). The overall standards of the recreational areas in the locale have also improved significantly. The current consumer base perceives recreation differently and requires better standards. As such, there are specific areas for recreation, fishing and so forth. New recreation areas such as parks have been introduced and maintained over time to meet the emergent preferences of the consumers. The technologies employed in running operations at the port have also undergone significant developments. In their review, Foner and Marszalek indicate that in the 16th century for instance, the then aboriginal populations that inhabited the region used waterways for both fishing and travel (Foner and Marszalek 68). Classic examples of commercial instruments that were employed for transport in the harbor included canoes amongst others. The ships that ferry goods and services to other continents and regions are comparatively huge and more efficient. In this respect, their engines have been improved significantly and currently, they take a relatively shorter time to deliver the goods and services to the required destinations. The physical setting of the harbor has equally changed a great deal. In his research, Doig indicates that the places of ship docking have been shifted over time (Doig 44). In this respect, initial areas of dockage have been destroyed and moved to new regions. This is in a bid to accommodate the diverse traffic and ensure that operations run smoothly. The environmental changes that have occurred to this harbor have also influenced the shifts in the areas of docking. For example, soil erosion has prompted the port authorities to shift the areas of docking to prevent further environmental degradation and allow for reconstruction of the degraded environments. In this respect, it is worth noting that the harbor has been affected by environmental problems associated with land and water pollution as well as overpopulation and urbanization. With regard to urbanization, the developments of buildings and pavements have greatly affected the natural processes that historically characterized the region. In order to safeguard the wellbeing of the environment, the harbor authority has been compelled to shift critical areas such as the docking regions to other places. The nature of activities and commercial operations in the harbor has equally been dynamic. Currently, it is widely agreed that the harbor has actually the largest oil importing port in the region. It is also the third largest port that transports containers across the nation (Miller 35). In his research, Revell cites that the port has changed its operations since the 1950s (Revell 170). Specifically, the ports do not currently place any particular attention to passenger travel; rather they concentrate more on oil and container transportations (Rodrigue 37). These are overseen by the harbor’s authority that also develops and implements important rules and regulations. The canals are a typical feature of the harbor and common ones such as Morris Canal have been imperative in necessitating delivery of freight from states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In his research, Albion affirms that certain portions of the Morris canal for instance are currently a part of the Liberty State Park (Albion 71). Undoubtedly, this is a clear indication that the harbor has indeed undergone changes. At the dawn of the 19th century, the development in the machine industry improved its urban infrastructure. In this respect, relative developments led to the emergence of bridges, subways and the park system (Revell 58). The growth that was experienced in the economic sector was also attributed to the then thriving garment industry. In this regard, Ascher ascertains that the returns that were derived from improved production were significant (Ascher 71). Its growth at this point in time led to creation of job opportunities for populations that inhabited the region. The educational system of the locale also developed in a bid to address the emergent needs. In this respect, it trained its populace and equipped them with relevant skills, knowledge and expertise. With this, they were able to work in the garment industries with ease. Ultimately, the returns reaped from employment greatly improved their standards of living. One of the social developments that have occurred in the harbor includes criminal activity. Seemingly, an increase in the commercial activities around the port attracted populations from a vast background. Business persons as well as corporations took this chance to explore the opportunities that arose. Historical evidence indicates that the interplay of these activities culminated in the rise of crime. The crimes that arose were very complex, ranging from simple crimes such as theft to more complicated ones such as murder, racketeering and fraud. This triggered the need for establishing security agencies to address the situation accordingly. The emergence and exacerbation of crime as had adverse impacts on the holistic wellbeing of populations that run their operations in the region. In particular, such crimes have threatened the economic development in the region and compromised the quality of life of individuals inhabiting the area (Ascher 77) The introduction of the railroads in the harbor is also an important development. According to Albion, this was implemented by the Department of Docks that was established in 1870 (Albion 53). The main aim of this department was to promote waterfront development. In the 19th and 20th century however, the department spearheaded the development of various railroad terminals to be used for transporting increasing number of passengers as well as freight. Nonetheless, the developments in the road networks and relative rising need for containerization and trucking reduced the need for railroads. This was a key development as contained shipping by sea is interconnected with rail & truck shipping by sea. A specific example of road network in this region is the lower Manhattan Expressway that was used for connecting the Holland Tunnel with Brooklyn. Another important highway is the Manhattan Crosstown Highway- a cross-town connection that links Manhattan to Holland tunnel and Williamsburg bridges. Currently, Manhattan is serviced by a host of commuted ferries, tourist excursion boats and cruise lines. Unlike in the past, a significant percentage of ferry service is run by private agencies. The main aim for the changes in administration was to enhance the quality of services offered at the harbor. There are also a couple of passenger ship facilities that include Brooklyn Cruise terminal, MOTBY and New York Ship Terminal (McKay 66). Although passenger operations have decreased significantly, these still provide timely services to the populations that require them at different times. Another significant development in the Manhattan harbor which had direct impacts on its wellbeing was the political changes. In his research, McKay indicates that at the beginning of the twentieth century, political activities emerged and intensified in the region (McKay, 68). These had direct impacts on the administration of the port. In particular, the emergence of the popular Tammany Hall and the Democratic Party ended the domination of the locale by merchant aristocrats. Reportedly, these had ruled the region for a significant 200 years. Their mode of leadership was faulty and contributed to unequal distribution of wealth. The party fought for changes and when in rose in power, it supported popular reforms that advocated for equal distribution of wealth. Its leadership ideologies were particularly beneficial to the poor immigrants who were flocking the region by then. They had a chance to share in the resources and improve their standard of living. Conclusion In sum, there have been significant changes in the Manhattan locale as well as the larger New York harbor since 1800. Notably, these have been triggered by the changes in the population dynamics as well as technological advancements. As aforementioned, development of machinery and industrialization in the region had direct effects on the changes experienced in the region. The development of important infrastructure such as canals, road network and so forth has aided in the linkage of the port with other geographical regions. Of great importance however are the social changes in the education and political sphere. Notably, these have triggered significant transformations in decision making, standard of living of the local populations and the policies and laws employed in governance. At this point, it cannot be disputed that indeed, the locale has undergone different positive changes that are in line with societal expectations and population preferences. Works Cited Albion Robert. The rise of New York port (1815-1860). Northeastern: University Press, 1967. Print. Ascher Kate. The works: Anatomy of a city. New York: Penguin press, 2005. Print. Darton Eric. Divided we stand: A biography of New York’s world trade center. USA: Basic Books, 1999. Print. Doig Jameson. Empire of the Hudson. Columbia: University Press, 2001. Print. Duffy, Francis and Miller William. The Manhattan book. UK: TBW Books, 1986. Print. Foner Jack and Marszalek John. Blacks and the military in American history; A new perspective. History: Reviews of New Books, 2.10 (1974): 256-257. Print. Gannon Michael. Operation Drumbeat. USA: Harper & Row, 1991. Print Jackson Kenneth and Hodges Graham. Encyclopedia of New York City. History: Reviews of New Books, 24.2 (1996): 63. Print. Kellner Arthur. Manhattan: A geographical and historical survey. USA: McFarland Publishers, 2006. Print. Malcolm Johnson. On the waterfront. USA: Chamberlain Bros, 2005. Print McKay Richard. South street: A maritime history of New York. Oxford: University Press, 1971. Print. Miller William. Great ships in Manhattan: 175 historic photographs, 1935-2005. New York; Dover Books, 2005. Print. Morrison John. History of New York Shipyards. New York: Sametz & Co., 1909. Print. Revell Keith. Cooperation, capture and autonomy: The interstate commerce commission and the port authority in the 1920s. Journal of Policy History 12.1 (2000): 177-214. Print. Rodrigue, Jean. Shipping and ports in the twenty first century. USA: Routledge, 2004. Print. Read More