Maritime transport: a major player in the globalisation of the economy - pt.1

In an increasingly interconnected world, maritime transport emerges as the essential pillar of global trade, acting as the backbone of the world economy. From ancient times to the present day, the oceans have witnessed the constant evolution of maritime transport, playing a crucial role in the exchange of goods and economic development.

Most of the world trade (around 90% according to the IMO, International Maritime Organisation) is conducted through maritime transport. Without shipping, goods could not be imported and exported on the scale needed to sustain today's world.

It is estimated that there are more than 50,000 merchant ships engaged in international trade, carrying all types of cargo. The current world fleet is registered in more than 150 nations and employs more than one million seafarers of almost every nationality.

The history of shipping is as old as human civilisation itself. From the earliest attempts to navigate bodies of water to modern cargo ships and cruise ships, its evolution has been key to the development of societies and global trade.

The first vessels were simple rafts and canoes made of logs or animal skins, whose use was limited to fishing and local transport on rivers and lakes.

As ancient civilisations expanded, more advanced ships emerged for coastal navigation in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Aegean Sea. The Phoenicians (1500-330 BC), skilled navigators, played a crucial role in the expansion of maritime trade in antiquity.

Sailing and exploration

The invention of the sail enabled navigation on the high seas, which facilitated travel over longer distances. This is when the first merchant ships arrived, the cogs, used for this purpose in medieval times. But not only that, these first ships also played a leading role during the Crusades (between 1085 and 1291).

But man wanted to go further. During the 15th and 16th centuries, global maritime exploration in search of better routes to India changed the history of shipping forever. European navigators, such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, undertook voyages that expanded known horizons and established global sea routes that are still in use today.

Privatisation of maritime exploration

The successful campaigns of Columbus, Vasco de Gama or Magellan, always backed by a state, were the object of desire in private hands. The 17th century marked the expansion of maritime trade in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. European trading companies, such as the East India Company, established trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

At this time came the industrial revolution and with it came steamships in the early 19th century. These steam-powered ships gradually replaced sailing ships, improving the efficiency and speed of maritime transport.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the Panama Canal in 1914 facilitated transit between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, significantly reducing travel times and improving global connectivity.

We are now entering the 20th century. World wars drove technological development in shipping. World War II saw the introduction of specialised cargo ships and container ships, laying the foundations for modern shipping.

The widespread introduction of containers in the mid-20th century revolutionised shipping. This efficient approach allowed for easier cargo handling and intermodal transport, connecting ports with railways and roads.

In recent decades, globalisation has led to an exponential increase in the volume of maritime trade. Modern shipping incorporates advanced technologies, such as global positioning systems (GPS) and satellite communications.

Today, shipping remains essential to global trade, connecting economies and facilitating the exchange of goods on an unprecedented scale. Its history reflects mankind's ability to overcome challenges, using the oceans as a vital means to progress and prosperity.

To be continued...