India’s Waterways: Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly Transport

Since the ancient period, India was one of the seafaring countries. One of the great advantages of water transportation is that it does not require route construction. It is much cheaper because the friction of water transport is far less than that of land. The energy cost of water transportation is lower. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods. It is fuel-efficient and environment friendly. 

Waterways is an important mode of transport for both passenger and cargo traffic in India. It is a fuel-efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport.

The types of water transport are of two types– Oceanic waterways, and Inland waterways. 

Oceanic Waterways/Sea Routes 

• Seas as Global Highways: The oceans offer a smooth highway traversable in all directions with no maintenance costs. 
  • It is a cheaper means of haulage (carrying of load) of bulky material over long distances from one continent to another.
  • The development of refrigerated chambers for perishable goods, tankers and specialised ships have improved cargo transport.
• India’s Maritime Advantage: India has a vast coastline of approximately 7,517 km, including islands. 
  • 13 major and 205 notified minor ports provide infrastructural support to these routes. 
  • Oceanic routes play an important role in the water transport sector of India’s economy. 
  • Approximately 95 percent of India’s foreign trade by volume and 70 percent by value moves through ocean routes. 
• Apart from international trade, these are also used for the purpose of transportation between the islands and the rest of the country.

Important Sea Routes: Vital Links in International Trade

• The Northern Atlantic Sea Route: This links North-eastern U.S.A. and Northwestern Europe. 
  • The foreign trade over this route is greater than that of the rest of the world combined. One fourth of the world’s foreign trade moves on this route.
  • It is, therefore, the busiest in the world and also called the ‘Big Trunk Route’. 
• The Mediterranean–Indian Ocean Sea Route: This sea route serves more countries and people than any other route. 
  • Port Said, Aden, Mumbai, Colombo and Singapore are some of the important ports on this route. 
  • The construction of the Suez Canal has greatly reduced the distance and time on this route. 
• The Cape of Good Hope Sea Route: This trade route connects the industrialised Western European region with West Africa, South Africa, South-east Asia and the commercial agriculture and livestock economies of Australia and New Zealand. 
  • Trade across the vast North Pacific Ocean moves by several routes which converge at Honolulu. 
  • The direct route on the Great Circle links Vancouver and Yokohama and reduces the travelling distance (2,480 km) by half.
• The North Pacific Sea Route: This sea route links the ports on the west-coast of North America with those of Asia. 
  • These are Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles on the American side and Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore on the Asian side. 
• The South Pacific Sea Route: This sea route connects Western Europe and North America with Australia, New Zealand and the scattered Pacific islands via the Panama Canal. 
  • This route is also used for reaching Hong Kong, Philippines and Indonesia. 
  • The distance covered between Panama and Sydney is 12,000 km. 
  • Honolulu is an important port on this route.

Major Sea Routes and Ports in the World

Gateways of International Trade: Types of Ports

• Based on the types of traffic they handle: Industrial, Commercial, and Comprehensive

• • Industrial Ports: These ports specialise in bulk cargo-like grain, sugar, ore, oil, chemicals and similar materials. 
  • Commercial Ports: These ports handle general cargo-packaged products and manufactured goods. 
    • These ports also handle passenger traffic.
  • Comprehensive Ports: Such ports handle bulk and general cargo in large volumes.
    • Most of the world’s great ports are classified as comprehensive ports. 

• Based on location: Inland Ports and Strategic Out Ports

• • Inland Ports: These ports are located away from the sea coast. 
    • They are linked to the sea through a river or a canal. 
    • Such ports are accessible to flat bottom ships or barges. 
    • Example: Manchester is linked with a canal,and Kolkata is located on the river Hooghly, a branch of the river Ganga. 
  • Out Ports: These are deep water transport built away from the actual ports. 
    • These serve the parent ports by receiving those ships which are unable to approach them due to their large size. 
    • Example: Athens and its out port Piraeus in Greece. 
• Based on specialised functions: Oil, Commercial, Naval, and Specialized Ports
  • Oil Ports: These ports deal in the processing and shipping of oil. 
    • Some of these are tanker ports and some are refinery ports.
    • Example: Maracaibo in Venezuela, Esskhira in Tunisia, Tripoli in Lebanon are tanker ports. Abadan on the Gulf of Persia is a refinery port.
  • Ports of Call: Ports where ships stop for refuelling, watering and taking food items. 
    • They have developed into commercial ports. 
    • Example: Aden, Honolulu and Singapore are examples. 
  • Packet Station: These are also known as ferry ports. They water transport passengers and mail across water transport bodies covering short distances. 
    • Example: Dover in England and Calais in France across the English Channel. 
  • Entrepot Ports: These are collection centres where the goods are brought from different countries for export. 
    • Example: Singapore is an entrepot for Asia, Rotterdam for Europe, and Copenhagen for the Baltic region. 
  • Naval Ports: These are ports which have only strategic importance. 
    • These ports serve warships and have repair workshops for them. 
    • Example: Kochi and Karwar are examples of such ports in India.

Also Read: Evolution of Communication System: Drums to Satellites & Connecting the World

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