International Transport System in Maritime - Admission/Application Essay Example

International Transport System in Maritime The essay is divided into four segments and deals with the areas that involve the growth and the development of the intermodal transport system. Introduction covers the meaning of the system along with the history and the background of the transport mode. The next part comprises of the latest technologies and services used in the industry. These services and technologies would enable the development of the strategies for the growth of economy and development associated with the intermodal transport system. The reason for doing so is the major use of intermodal system in the freight services in these nations. The next segment named “Factors determining the growth of the intermodal transport” covers the hindrances in the growth of the intermodal transport system and their direct influence on the economy associated with it. Along with these, a few recommendations for the resolution of the problem are also suggested. The conclusion suggests a measure for the growth and development of the sector and once again reminds the key points in a tone of summation. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Introduction 4 Factors Affecting the Development and the Efficiency of the Intermodal Transport 5 Factors Determining the Growth of Intermodal Transport 7 Conclusion 11 References 12 Bibliography 14 Introduction With the advancement of technology and development of science, there have been relentless attempts among individuals and institutions from every corner of the globe to come closer to each other. Transport system plays a key role in this plunge. An attempt to develop the transport system is not a very recent phenomenon. This effort has been taken by human civilization since ages. With the passage of time the up - gradation in transport system has served the mankind. From land to sea and from sea to the sky, this journey in the growth of mode of transport system has resulted into immaculate revolution in the area of trade and commerce as well as human lives. Intermodal transport system dates back to eighteenth century and pre - dates the exclusive use of railways as the mode of freight transport. Intermodal transport is a huge umbrella term and within its periphery encompasses various facets of freight transport enabled by both land as well as sea. It includes transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle. This system enables multiple mode of freight transportation by rail, ship and truck. The method involves reduction of cargo handling, thereby reducing damages and losses which allow faster transportation of the freight. Focusing on the basic advantage of the intermodal transport system, it could be summed up that cost reduction over road trucking is the key advantage in the intercontinental use and the time consumption of the process more than the normal truck delivery is the key negative point of the system. ( DeBoer, 1992). Factors Affecting the Development and the Efficiency of the Intermodal Transport In order to make the strategies for the development and efficiency of the intermodal transport, it is very much essential to have a thorough knowledge about the current intermodal system. Intermodal transport involves fixed set of technologies. These technologies facilitate the transfer of loading units from a particular mode of transport to another. Intermodal transfer facilitates the “en route” change from a particular transport mode or a mode of transport given, such as roadways to another mode of transport e.g. through train or ship. This enables transportation of larger volumes of goods in a single transport operation. The fast changing context in international transport system has provoked, encouraged and prompted the leading nations of the globe to develop and adopt an innovative solution for expansion of intermodal fleets and develop a novice technique and strategy. For example, the development of the latest Roll – On – Roll - Off (RO - RO) lines between Turkey and many other European ports is an attempt to synchronize with the developing technologies in intermodal maritime transport system in particular. Present scenario provides solution with typical combination of road, sea and rolling road (Rollende Landstarse /Ro-La) transport. Next, there are very frequent but regular ferry services across Marmara Sea which links the northern industrialized portion of the Asia with the Asian side of the Turkey. These services are called RO - RO ferry services and this service is domestic in nature. The alarming and increasing traffic congestion together with the abolition of the excise tax on the prices of fuel for vessels used for ferry has increased competition in the ferry services industry in myriad regions. For example, increasing traffic congestion in the Istanbul metropolitan area is a gleaming example in this regard. International RO - RO ferry boat systems and operations towards Western European markets have prevailed since early half of 1990s. This system has lead to the conflicts between the intermodal transport system by sea and land. This can be also seen in the resultant conflict in the area of Balkan area which enabled the road transport difficulty in Turkey, to and from the Western European markets. Most of the western countries use swap - bodies or semi - trailers in the intermodal transport system of railway. Again, majority of the European countries do not prefer the use of transport units such as swap - bodies or containers and semi - trailers. There are certain reasons behind this kind of effort. Long - haul domestic road partly contribute to such decision. Generally, a distance of 500 km to 600 km is viably covered with intermodal services. Though, there are exceptions in this area too. Countries like Turkey and many other Western European nations do not feel the intermodal transport system non - viable and they do not prefer marketing for the purpose. In air transport, the intermodal system has also encountered recent developments. International air transport services do not have a lion share in terms of intermodal cargo transport. However, new strategies have been framed for the transportation of the high - value goods. Measures are also been taken for the transport of perishable goods for the purpose of export through intermodal transport system. All the major nations of the world and important airports are taking due initiatives to develop the logistic services in order to adapt and raise the standard of the prevailing system to meet the expectations of high demand for specialized air market regimes (OECD, 2009). These are the latest developments occurring world wide in the various regimes of the intermodal transport system in international market. Governmental and semi-governmental bodies along with various mercantile forums are working together for the development of the segment in different parts of the world. The above mentioned measures as executed, across the globe, provide enough scope for the development and growth of the sector. The growth prospect of the intermodal transport sector and the strategies framed for the development accordingly will lead to the suggested measures that will facilitate development and growth of the intermodal system (European Intermodal Association, 2005). Factors Determining the Growth of Intermodal Transport Various social, economic and geographical factors determine the growth and the prospect of the intermodal transport system. The major geographical factor in the path of the development of the intermodal transport system is the usage of land. Land use also includes various other factors such as density and connectivity. The environment quality of the pedestrian is also determinate factor of the land use affecting intermodal transport system. Along with these factors, there are few other factors such as ‘Smart Growth, Access Management, Transit-Oriented Development, Location-Efficient Development, Road Space Reallocation, Downtowns and Roadway Connectivity’ which have become key determining factors for the intermodal transport system (Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2010). Often, socio-economic factors become more crucial than geographical elements in the development of the intermodal transport System. Many European and other western countries have the potential to use maritime and railway resources along with other modes of transport in order to increase the rate of their international freight volumes and viability. Lack of promotion in this regard and a proper maintenance of emerging needs for intermodal demands through the provision of a legal or financial framework along with proper exercise of the regulatory incentives envisaging and fostering intermodal transport is essential. A lack of these measures can affect the growth curve of the intermodal transport system. Lack of framework or national master plan in particular for the intermodal transport system may affect the future growth. In many of the nations, shortage of logistic incorporated in the system’s framework with ineffective collaboration and similar interest of both public and private sector can harm the development of a sector as complicated and delicate as intermodal transport system. The most effective hindrance in the path of the development for the intermodal transport is the process of isolated decision and its implementation in the sector. Rather than being treated as an isolated sector, the intermodal transport system should be treated as a part of a progressive and global transport policy. Isolation may cause disinterest of the stakeholders and lack of misbalanced interest of the public and private stakeholders in the process of promoting and facilitating growth in the sector of intermodal transport system can be fatal. A lack in any of these policies may grossly affect the growth of the intermodal transport system. Detachment of the private sector from the area is a notable problem in the development of the intermodal transport system. This is a consequence of a lack of establishment of a clear policy and legal framework. The operative measure of both transparent policy as well as a strong legal framework would ensure a level playing field for the operation of the private sector in the area. Moreover, measures pertaining to financial regulation and incentive structure for the promotion of intermodal transport system can be quite effective. But a lack of all these measures can notably affect the sector. Long distances and high cargo volume corridors are essential for the intermodal transport in order to provide oxygen to the industry. In many countries there are a notable lack in identification of such corridors and their market analysis. These may result in a blockage of the growth in the sector and limit the scope for its development. A vital lack in the infrastructural facility and development of the key ports create a major problem in the development of the transport system. The increasing future demand for the growth in the sector should be well supported and co-ordinated with good infrastructure in the major ports which would act as a terminal point for major intermodal transaction and transport. Many important ports are not enabled with Ro - La services. Lack of operational issues and non - recommendation of such important and useful service can create a major problem in the smooth operation of the intermodal transport system thereby hindering its growth potential. In many parts of Europe the RO - RO system and its extension to Southern Europe is highly successful. This service is quite essential for the domestic flow of trade and to the different areas of Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. An improper manifestation of these services in the highly viable area can diminish the trade flow thereby causing major problem in its growth potential. In certain extensively competitive intermodal system, the essential lineages to and from the maritime and air freight logistic centers along with their co-ordination and integration with the urban distribution system is not checked and taken into account thoroughly. This may lead to a disintegrated distribution system in the sector and can cause major harm to the industry. An improper hinterland connection of ports with several other modes of transport with a major focus on the railway would definitely hinder the advantage of the logistic markets which would obviously have a direct affect on the Intermodal transport industry. Railway provides a major support to the networking of intermodal transport system. But often this area is neglected. Improvement of the railway network along with its up gradation is essential for the growth of the industry. An implementation of the competitive and reliable service for transportation of good is essential and an utter negligence in this area may grossly affect the growth possibilities of the intermodal transport system. Lack of priority in the financial support enabling rolling of stock and terminals are also bad signs for the development of the intermodal transport system. The uncertainty in the perspective for the development of the intermodal services needs to be resolved abruptly and the active participation of the international organizations in the sector is very much essential. A lack of active participation of this kind of organizations in the sector and their disinterest might result in the series of disagreement and failure in the identification of the international transport corridors. This has divided the market for the intermodal transport into various segments as a result of the drift and lack of collaboration among the leading international organizations across the globe. A serious and supportive attitude towards the economic growth and inclusion of the promotional policy is very essential. A failure to these policies may result in the lack of transit traffic. This is not at all a good sign for the growth of the economy pertaining to this particular market as transit trade could be always instrumental for catering additional growth of trade and economy. A lack of scheduled and an improper process of monitoring may lead to the non-implementation and may not ensure a necessary changes that require a special care and effort. This may consequently end up into a messed-up situation with lots of lacunas and superfluities in the operational system. Conclusion Intermodal transport system is a very feasible option in the area of goods trade. A considerable development has to be executed in the domain world - wide. A proper care in the areas which needs attention with good and systematized recommendations would help a lot. This would facilitate a proper networking and identification of international corridors to enable the service to be smoothly operated. Various disintegrating factors and improper distribution of money and labor in the sector should be essentially resolved. Only identification of the corridors would not enable expected growth in the sector. A proper logistic management along with quality infrastructural facility in the intermodal transport terminals, ports and airports will enable growth in the industry and economy associated with in the industry. The implementation of the innovated services in the sector and the upgradation of the prevailing system are also essential for the growth and development of the intermodal transport system. References DeBoer, David J. Piggyback and Containers: A History of Rail Intermodal on Americas Steel Highway. Golden West Books, 1992. European Intermodal Association. Intermodal Transport in Europe. Brussels, 2005. OECD, 2009. Intermodal Transport. 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