How advances in Ocean/Sea transport have lead to

reductions in distance friction & time-space convergence

History of Ocean TransportationX000 BC- Rafts made by tying logs together- Steered by one person - Used to cross rivers and lakes- transported goods/ took people across the river

4000 BC- Egyptians made reed boats that had a mast and sails - Used on River Nile

2500 BC- Egyptians built wooden boats that could sail across oceans1550 BC to 300 BC- Ancient Greeks used the galley, a man-powered

sailing vessel, to travel and trade and fight with their neighbours1000 AD - Viking longboats- had sails and up to 60 people who rowed the

ship. The ship was long and narrow - able to travel on the open sea as well as along rivers

1100 AD- Chinese Junks- sailing boats with a rudder for steering boats, battens on the sails to give them greater strength. Had watertight compartments - Used for fighting and transporting

1450 AD onwards- three and four masted wooden sailing ships - Used as battleships, exploring, trade vessels

1800 AD- Clipper Ships- fast sailing ships with long, slim hulls and tall masts

Ocean Transportation after industrialization

1819 AD- Steamships- combined steam and wind power - Used to cross the Atlantic

1845 AD- Ocean-going liners made of iron- Driven by a propeller1880 AD- Stern wheelers- Steam driven river boat with rear paddles1910 AD- Sailing ships used diesel power instead of coal (using oil)1955 AD- Hovercraft- capable of high speed (up to 140 km/hr)1959 AD- Nuclear-powered cargo ships- can sail 3 and a half years

without refuelling 1980 AD- Hydrofoil- used as ferries or water taxis

- Container ships- carry cargo in huge metal boxes - Supertankers- one of the largest ships- used to transport oil

1990 AD- Cruise liners- Can carry hundreds of people - used for floating holidays - have restaurants, shops, cinemas etc. - Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers- used for protecting the country - Nuclear-powered submarines- used for protecting the country

Overview of sea transport Advantages Disadvantages

Ready-made transport (Oceans) Slower than air transport

Cheap over long distances as costs are spread over a large volume (modern supertankers can carry thousands of containers) OR 3.5 million barrels of oil

Low fuel economy coupled with high fuel costs make sea transport expensive Possibility of environmental damage (oil spills, reef damage)

Containerisation reduces time friction in loading and unloading

Does not work for landlocked countries High initial costs to build and startup ships

Modern development of refrigerant containers allows for transport of perishables e.g. food

Containerization• First used in the 18th century but was not

popularised until after World War 2, when container sizes were standardised

• Greatly increased speeds (reducing travel time- time space convergence)

• in 2009, 90% of the world’s non-bulk cargo was transported by ship

Other purposes of Ocean Transportation

• Tankers-transports fluids such as crude oil, petroleum, chemicals, vegetable oil, wine and other foods

• Ferries (water taxi)-a form of transport carrying passengers and sometimes their vehicles

• Cruise Ships-cruising has become a major part of the Tourism industry. Passenger ships

• Cable layer-a deep sea vessel used to lay underwater cables for telecommunications and electricity.

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