Marine Science Affairs 



duce greater efficiency and effectiveness in ship operation, and perhaps 

 lower capital costs for ocean-going ships. 



To these ends, the Maritime Administration has prepared three pre- 

 liminary model simulations for evaluating ocean transport vehicles, studying 

 the optimization of barge-feeder systems, and analyzing the financing of ships 

 and shipping. Research directed to construction of sophisticated models for 

 analyzing shipping demands and competing supply systems is planned. 



The development and use of containerization is perhaps the single most 

 important trend in international transport — affecting interchanges between 

 transport modes and efficiency of carriage by each mode. By using container 

 vessels, shipping lines can significantly reduce the number of port calls and 

 time spent in port. A single automated tenninal occupying a small space 

 can take the place of large facilities which use substantial amounts of valu- 

 able waterfront land, if rapid transfer to carriers or to in-transit storage 

 away from the waterfront can be provided. Most U.S. ports are not yet 

 adapted to serve container traffic efficiently, as is the port shown in Figure 

 VI.3. 



Research and development on containerization has been proceeding for 

 some time, through both private and Government efforts. The results have 

 proved sufficiently promising to bring into service 40 United States flag con- 

 tainer ships to date. Moreover, about 100 container ships are now under con- 

 struction or on order, world-wide. These developments have occurred in 

 spite of the fact that the full potential benefits of containerization have not 

 yet been achieved. 



Figure VI.3. First of the 30 leading U.S. ports to be highly automated to handle 

 container traffic efficiently was Port Elizabeth, New Jersey. Most authorities call 

 the development and use of containerization the single most important trend in 

 international transport. {Photo courtesy of Traffic Service Corporation.) 



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