Marine Science Affairs 



crease in the international exchange of goods and services inevitably enlarge 

 worldwide requirements for transporting goods and people over the principal 

 oceanic trade routes. Figure II-3 depicts the principal trade routes of par- 

 ticular importance to the United States. Furthermore, many of the develop- 

 ing" countries require increasing sea transport to carry more finished goods, 

 fossil fuels, and raw materials essential for their increasing populations. As 

 shown in Figures II-4 and II-5, the more advanced nations have considered 

 the development of maritime transportation essential, and oceanborne trade 

 will grow rapidly in the decades ahead. 



Maritime transportation is also essential to national security. While air 

 movement is becoming increasingly important, especially for high value, 

 low density cargo the bulk of worldwide intercontinental commerce and 

 military goods still move over the sea.^ Today, 97 percent of U.S. military 

 tonnage is transported to Vietnam by ship. Other military assistance and 

 foreign aid programs also rely heavily on sea transportation. 



A collateral benefit of marine transportation in some countries is the 

 shipbuilding industry's contribution to the economy. For example, by the 

 end of 1968, ships of 200,000 tons and upwards were being built in seven 

 Japanese dry docks. Two more docks will begin service in 1971. Most growth 

 in ship construction capacity during the next three to five years is expected 

 in Europe. Eight massive building ways are now being operated, planned, 

 built, or completed in Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and 

 Scandinavia. 



Because of the rapidly increasing size of ships, particularly of bulk carriers, 

 the actual number of ships in the world fleet is expected to grow more slowly 

 than in the past. The number of supertankers larger than 200,000 DWT 

 is expected to comprise one-half of the total world tonnage capacity by 

 1973. By 1983, tankers in the 400,000 to 600,000 DWT category may com- 

 prise 10 percent of total world tonnage capacity. 



' Costs per ton mile of various ships and aircraft 



Speed in Cost in 

 Vehicle knots cents per 



ton mile 



Current Airfreight 



1970 Airfreight. 



Conventional Cargo Lines. 



Container Ship 



50,000 DWT Tanker. 



100,000 DWT Tanker 



200,000 DWT Tanker 



Note: Costs for unsubsidized ship and aircraft for typical trans-Atlantic route, including handling 

 the cargo on and off the vehicle, but not including packaging or inland transportation. 



Source: Benford, H. "Ocean Transport— an Outline of Commercial Requirements for Ships," 

 Midwest Research Seminar in Meteorology and Oceanography, May 1966. 



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