We live in a global society which is supported by a global economy – and that economy simply could not function if it were not for ships and the shipping industry. Shipping is truly the lynchpin of the global economy: without shipping, intercontinental trade, the bulk transport of raw materials and the import/export of affordable food and manufactured goods would simply not be possible.
Shipping is perhaps the most international of all the world’s great industries and one of the most dangerous. It has always been recognized that the best way of improving safety at sea is by developing international regulations that are followed by all shipping nations. Regulating the maritime industry to promote safety and security and prevention of pollution from ships worldwide has been the function of the International Maritime Organization since its inception in 1959. The work of IMO is well documented through its numerous conventions and codes and on the Organization’s website.
Of all the sectors that make up the global transport infrastructure, shipping probably has the lowest public profile and the least representative public image. Its importance is not well known although not a single area of our life remains unaffected by it. The IMO Council at its 93rd session in November 2004 endorsed the proposal of Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos that the theme for World Maritime
Day 2005 would be “International Shipping – Carrier of World Trade”. The theme was chosen to provide an ideal opportunity to draw attention to the vital role that shipping plays in underpinning the international economy and its significant contribution to international trade and the world economy as the most efficient, safe and environmentally friendly method of transporting goods around the globe.
Companies in this industry provide deep sea transportation of cargo to or from foreign ports. Major companies include CMA CGM (France), COSCO (China), Crowley (US), Evergreen (Taiwan), Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), Mærsk (Denmark), and MSC Mediterranean Shipping (Switzerland).
Because of the nature of the deep sea shipping business, activity in the industry is spread throughout the world. The port of Shanghai was the largest container port in 2022, with a capacity of 47 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), according to the Maritime Executive. The busiest container ports include Singapore, Hong Kong, Busan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Rotterdam.
The US deep sea shipping industry includes nearly 270 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of around $6 billion. US coastal and Great Lakes shipping, which includes deep sea shipping between US ports, is covered in a separate industry profile, as are cruise ship operations.
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