Time as a Factor in Increasing the Economic Efficiency of Ports and Sea—Land Transport

Abstract

The time taken in the transportation of cargo and passengers has become especially important in the economic evaluation of sea—land transport in the second half of this century. More attention is also being paid to the time which ships, barges, rail wagons and lorries spend in port. The increasing average value of cargo and the growth of international transport (Table 19.1) means that large amounts of capital are inactive during transport. It is therefore understandable that the average speed of cargo transport is increasing. By the early 1950s, most ships sailed at speeds over 10 knots, and by 1979 most of the world fleet has a speed of 20 knots or more. The speed of road, rail and air transport has also increased, and pipeline transportation is a recent development.