Abstract
This chapter evaluates the role on container shipping and development of ports and terminals around the world on globalization and consumer behavior. Container shipping is the unsung hero of globalization. It is remarkable that despite containerization and container shipping having such an all-encompassing impact and consequences on consumption, consumption patterns, consumer behavior, and societies in every corner of the world, container shipping is simply invisible to the world at large. The chapter also looks at impact of ever-growing large ports on the society and economy of the cities the ports are located in.
TopBackground
Let’s begin with the start of transportation. In its very basic sense, transportation is the movement of goods, animals and humans from one point to another. There can be different modes of transportation – rail, road, air, water, cable, pipes and so forth. The very first means of transportation for humans was through walking running and swimming. The domestication of animals was a significant milestone on history of transportation for humans. It allowed heavier weights to be carried for longer distances. It also allowed humans to be carried to large distances on animals as well. This increased the speed and duration of humans to transport goods. The invention of the wheel was another significant milestone in the development of means of transportation. Along with the wheel, the development of sleds helped better the transporting of goods, other animals and humans by animal-power.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Conventional Shipping: Conventional shipping, merchandise is loaded unit by unit, either manually or with low-tech machines into the belly of the ship.
Trade Routes: Shipping routes, which connected one geography to another.
Triangular Trade: Network of maritime trade formed in the Atlantic, connecting Europe, Africa and the Americas in the 17-19 century.
Green House Gases: These are emissions which adversely impact the environment.
Container Terminals: Place where cargo is unloaded from ships onto land or vice versa.
Container Shipping: Carriage of cargo in standardised steel containers.
Refrigerated Containers: Cargo containers which carry perishable goods like meat, fish, vegetables at controlled temperatures.