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Commercial law

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Commercial law (or business law), which is also known by other names such as mercantile law or trade law depending on jurisdiction ; is the body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and organizations engaged in commercial and business activities. It is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals with issues of both private law and public law .

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89-547: Commercial law includes within its compass such titles as principal and agent; carriage by land and sea; merchant shipping ; guarantee ; marine, fire, life, and accident insurance ; bills of exchange, negotiable instruments , contracts and partnership. Many of these categories fall within Financial law , an aspect of Commercial law pertaining specifically to financing and the financial markets. It can also be understood to regulate corporate contracts , hiring practices , and

178-444: A city or village and be named as streets , serving a dual function as urban space easement and route. The most common road vehicle is the automobile; a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor . Other users of roads include buses , trucks , motorcycles , bicycles , and pedestrians . As of 2010, there were 1.015 billion automobiles worldwide. Road transport offers complete freedom to road users to transfer

267-471: A pipe ; most commonly liquid and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes can also send solid capsules using compressed air. For liquids/gases, any chemically stable liquid or gas can be sent through a pipeline. Short-distance systems exist for sewage , slurry , water , and beer , while long-distance networks are used for petroleum and natural gas . Cable transport is a broad mode where vehicles are pulled by cables instead of an internal power source. It

356-648: A tragedy of the commons , where the flexibility and comfort for the individual deteriorate the natural and urban environment for all. Density of development depends on mode of transport, with public transport allowing for better spatial use. Good land use keeps common activities close to people's homes and places higher-density development closer to transport lines and hubs, to minimize the need for transport. There are economies of agglomeration . Beyond transport, some land uses are more efficient when clustered. Transport facilities consume land, and in cities pavement (devoted to streets and parking) can easily exceed 20 percent of

445-522: A United Nations agency, and the Nautical Institute are seeking improved international standards for mariners. Satellite phones have improved communication and efficiency aboard sea-faring ships. This technology has contributed to crew welfare, although both equipment and fees are expensive. Ocean voyages are steeped in routine. Maritime tradition dictates that each day be divided into six four-hour periods. Three groups of watch keepers from

534-402: A cargo engineer works with the deck department during cargo operations, as well as being a watchkeeping engineer. A common engine crew for a ship includes: Many American ships also carry a motorman . Other possible positions include machinist , electrician , refrigeration engineer, and tankerman. Engine cadets are engineer trainees who are completing sea time necessary before they can obtain

623-490: A component for the creation of regulation policy by authorities. Transport engineering , a sub-discipline of civil engineering , must take into account trip generation , trip distribution , mode choice , and route assignment , while the operative level is handled through traffic engineering . Because of the negative impacts incurred, transport often becomes the subject of controversy related to choice of mode, as well as increased capacity. Automotive transport can be seen as

712-570: A consistent distance apart, or gauge . The rails and perpendicular beams are placed on a foundation made of concrete or compressed earth and gravel in a bed of ballast. Alternative methods include monorail and maglev . A train consists of one or more connected vehicles that operate on the rails. Propulsion is commonly provided by a locomotive , that hauls a series of unpowered cars, that can carry passengers or freight. The locomotive can be powered by steam , by diesel , or by electricity supplied by trackside systems . Alternatively, some or all

801-422: A great impact on the land, and transport is the largest drainer of energy, making transport sustainability a major issue. Due to the way modern cities and communities are planned and operated, a physical distinction between home and work is usually created, forcing people to transport themselves to places of work, study, or leisure, as well as to temporarily relocate for other daily activities. Passenger transport

890-695: A mariner's off-duty time is largely a solitary affair, pursuing hobbies, reading, writing letters, and sleeping. On modern ocean-going vessels, typically registered with a flag of convenience , life has changed immensely in the last 20 years. Most large vessels include a gym and often a swimming pool for use by the crew. Since the Exxon Valdez incident , the focus of leisure time activity has shifted from having officer and crew bars, to simply having lounge-style areas where officers or crew can sit to watch movies. With many companies now providing TVs and DVD players in cabins, and enforcing strict smoking policies, it

979-754: A member of a country's martial navy . According to the 2005 CIA World Factbook , the total number of merchant ships of at least 1,000 gross register tons in the world was 30,936. In 2010, it was 38,988, an increase of 26%, across many countries . As of December 2018 , a quarter of all merchant mariners were born in the Philippines . A ship may also be categorized as to how it is operated. Ships and other watercraft are used for maritime transport. Types can be distinguished by propulsion , size or cargo type. Recreational or educational craft still use wind power, while some smaller craft use internal combustion engines to drive one or more propellers , or in

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1068-701: A roadway, a terminal, and facilities for parking and maintenance. For rail, pipeline, road, and cable transport, the entire way the vehicle travels must be constructed. Air and watercraft are able to avoid this, since the airway and seaway do not need to be constructed. However, they require fixed infrastructure at terminals. Terminals such as airports, ports, and stations, are locations where passengers and freight can be transferred from one vehicle or mode to another. For passenger transport, terminals are integrating different modes to allow riders, who are interchanging between modes, to take advantage of each mode's benefits. For instance, airport rail links connect airports to

1157-566: A ship, including Junior Assistant Purser , Senior Assistant Purser , Purser , Chief Purser , Medical Doctor , Professional Nurse , Marine Physician Assistant , and hospital corpsman , are considered administrative positions and are therefore regulated by Certificates of Registry issued by the United States Coast Guard . Pilots are also merchant marine officers and are licensed by the Coast Guard. Formerly, there

1246-460: A slightly refined type of petroleum called bunker fuel . Some ships, such as submarines , use nuclear power to produce the steam. Recreational or educational craft still use wind power, while some smaller craft use internal combustion engines to drive one or more propellers or, in the case of jet boats, an inboard water jet. In shallow draft areas, hovercraft are propelled by large pusher-prop fans. (See Marine propulsion .) Although it

1335-465: A strategy referred to as " slow steaming ". A ship's complement can be divided into four categories: Officer positions in the deck department include but not limited to the Master and his Chief , Second , and Third officers. The official classifications for unlicensed members of the deck department are Able Seaman and Ordinary Seaman . A common deck crew for a ship includes: A deck cadet

1424-493: A time, followed by protracted shore leave. However, some seamen secure jobs on ships they like and stay aboard for years. The quick turnaround of many modern ships, spending only a few hours in port, limits a seafarer's free-time ashore. Moreover, some foreign seamen entering U.S. ports from a watch list of 25 countries face restrictions on shore leave due to maritime security concerns. However, shore leave restrictions while in U.S. ports impact American seamen as well. For example,

1513-499: A watchkeeping license. A typical steward's department for a cargo ship would be composed of a Chief Steward , a chief cook , and a Steward's Assistant . All three positions are typically filled by unlicensed personnel. The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing and serving meals; cleaning and maintaining officers' quarters and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores. On large passenger vessels ,

1602-422: Is intermodal or co-modal . A nation's shipping fleet (variously called merchant navy , merchant marine, or merchant fleet) consists of the ships operated by civilian crews to transport passengers or cargo from one place to another. Merchant shipping also includes water transport over the river and canal systems connecting inland destinations, large and small. For example, during the early modern era , cities in

1691-412: Is a key in the value chain in manufacturing. With increased specialization and globalization , production is being located further away from consumption, rapidly increasing the demand for transport. Transport creates place utility by moving the goods from the place of production to the place of consumption. While all modes of transport are used for cargo transport, there is high differentiation between

1780-406: Is a key necessity for specialization —allowing production and consumption of products to occur at different locations. Throughout history, transport has been a spur to expansion; better transport allows more trade and a greater spread of people. Economic growth has always been dependent on increasing the capacity and rationality of transport. But the infrastructure and operation of transport have

1869-422: Is a person who is carrying out mandatory sea time to achieve their officer of the watch certificate. Their time on board is spent learning the operations and tasks of everyday life on a merchant vessel. A ship's engine department consists of the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems on board the vessel. Engine staff also deal with the "Hotel" facilities on board, notably

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1958-424: Is a solution that makes use of a certain type of vehicle, infrastructure, and operation. The transport of a person or of cargo may involve one mode or several of the modes, with the latter case being called inter-modal or multi-modal transport. Each mode has its own advantages and disadvantages, and will be chosen on the basis of cost, capability, and route. Governments deal with the way the vehicles are operated, and

2047-453: Is able to quickly transport people and limited amounts of cargo over longer distances, but incurs high costs and energy use; for short distances or in inaccessible places, helicopters can be used. As of April 28, 2009, The Guardian article notes that "the WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time." Land transport covers all land-based transport systems that provide for

2136-406: Is also the essence of tourism , a major part of recreational transport. Commerce requires the transport of people to conduct business, either to allow face-to-face communication for important decisions or to move specialists from their regular place of work to sites where they are needed. In lean thinking , transporting materials or work in process from one location to another is seen as one of

2225-405: Is by airline, it amounts to forty percent of the value. Time has become especially important in regards to principles such as postponement and just-in-time within the value chain, resulting in a high willingness to pay for quick delivery of key components or items of high value-to-weight ratio. In addition to mail, common items sent by air include electronics and fashion clothing. Transport

2314-427: Is common to watercraft, making the hull a dominant aspect of its construction, maintenance, and appearance. In the 19th century, the first steam ships were developed, using a steam engine to drive a paddle wheel or propeller to move the ship. The steam was produced in a boiler using wood or coal and fed through a steam external combustion engine . Now most ships have an internal combustion engine using

2403-407: Is dominated by the automobile and mass transit. The latter consists of buses in rural and small cities, supplemented with commuter rail, trams, and rapid transit in larger cities. Long-haul transport involves the use of the automobile, trains, coaches , and aircraft, the last of which have become predominantly used for the longest, including intercontinental, travel. Intermodal passenger transport

2492-409: Is frequently a benefits shortfall for transport infrastructure projects. Animals used in transportation include pack animals and riding animals . A vehicle is a non-living device that is used to move people and goods. Unlike the infrastructure, the vehicle moves along with the cargo and riders. Unless being pulled/pushed by a cable or muscle-power, the vehicle must provide its own propulsion; this

2581-592: Is less critical today, the major waterways of the world including many canals are still very important and are integral parts of worldwide economies . Particularly, especially any material can be moved by water; however, water transport becomes impractical when material delivery is time-critical such as various types of perishable produce . Still, water transport is highly cost effective with regular schedulable cargoes, such as trans-oceanic shipping of consumer products – and especially for heavy loads or bulk cargos , such as coal , coke , ores , or grains . Arguably,

2670-475: Is most commonly done through a steam engine , combustion engine , electric motor , jet engine , or rocket , though other means of propulsion also exist. Vehicles also need a system of converting the energy into movement; this is most commonly done through wheels , propellers , and pressure . Vehicles are most commonly staffed by a driver . However, some systems, such as people movers and some rapid transits, are fully automated . For passenger transport,

2759-611: Is most commonly used at steep gradient . Typical solutions include aerial tramways , elevators , and ski lifts ; some of these are also categorized as conveyor transport. Spaceflight is transport outside Earth's atmosphere by means of a spacecraft . It is most frequently used for satellites placed in Earth orbit. However, human spaceflight mission have landed on the Moon and are occasionally used to rotate crew-members to space stations . Uncrewed spacecraft have also been sent to all

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2848-406: Is not surprising that the bar is now a much quieter place on most ships. In some instances games consoles are provided for the officers and crew. The officers enjoy a much higher standard of living on board ocean-going vessels. Crews are generally poorly paid, poorly qualified and have to complete contracts of approximately 9 months before returning home on leave. They often come from countries where

2937-411: Is only subject to the owner of the vehicle, who operates the vehicle themselves. For public transport and freight transport, operations are done through private enterprise or by governments . The infrastructure and vehicles may be owned and operated by the same company, or they may be operated by different entities. Traditionally, many countries have had a national airline and national railway . Since

3026-729: Is performed by high-capacity tramways and rapid transits , often making up the backbone of a city's public transport. Freight trains traditionally used box cars , requiring manual loading and unloading of the cargo . Since the 1960s, container trains have become the dominant solution for general freight, while large quantities of bulk are transported by dedicated trains. A road is an identifiable route , way, or path between two or more places . Roads are typically smoothed, paved , or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel; though they need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance . In urban areas , roads may pass through

3115-440: Is slow compared to other transport, modern sea transport is a highly efficient method of transporting large quantities of goods. Commercial vessels , nearly 35,000 in number, carried 7.4 billion tons of cargo in 2007. Transport by water is significantly less costly than air transport for transcontinental shipping ; short sea shipping and ferries remain viable in coastal areas. Pipeline transport sends goods through

3204-774: Is the transport of people ( passengers ) or goods ( cargo ) via waterways . Freight transport by sea has been widely used throughout recorded history . The advent of aviation has diminished the importance of sea travel for passengers, though it is still popular for short trips and pleasure cruises . Transport by water is cheaper than transport by air or ground, but significantly slower for longer distances. Maritime transport accounts for roughly 80% of international trade , according to UNCTAD in 2020. Maritime transport can be realized over any distance by boat, ship, sailboat or barge , over oceans and lakes, through canals or along rivers. Shipping may be for commerce , recreation , or military purposes. While extensive inland shipping

3293-728: Is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air , land ( rail and road ), water , cable , pipelines , and space . The field can be divided into infrastructure , vehicles , and operations . Transport enables human trade , which is essential for the development of civilizations . Transport infrastructure consists of both fixed installations, including roads , railways , airways , waterways , canals , and pipelines , and terminals such as airports , railway stations , bus stations , warehouses , trucking terminals, refueling depots (including fuel docks and fuel stations ), and seaports . Terminals may be used both for

3382-455: Is used for large volumes of durable items. Transport plays an important part in economic growth and globalization , but most types cause air pollution and use large amounts of land . While it is heavily subsidized by governments, good planning of transport is essential to make traffic flow and restrain urban sprawl . Human-powered transport, a form of sustainable transport , is the transport of people or goods using human muscle-power, in

3471-439: Is where a journey is performed through the use of several modes of transport; since all human transport normally starts and ends with walking, all passenger transport can be considered intermodal. Public transport may also involve the intermediate change of vehicle, within or across modes, at a transport hub , such as a bus or railway station . Taxis and buses can be found on both ends of the public transport spectrum. Buses are

3560-1135: The Hanseatic League began taming Northern Europe 's rivers and harbors. Similarly, the Saint Lawrence Seaway connects the port cities on the Great Lakes in Canada and the United States with the Atlantic Ocean shipping routes, while the various Illinois canals connect the Great Lakes and Canada with New Orleans . Ores, coal, and grains can travel along the rivers of the American Midwest to Pittsburgh or to Birmingham , Alabama. Professional mariners are known as merchant seamen, merchant sailors, and merchant mariners, or simply seamen, sailors, or mariners. The terms "seaman" or "sailor" may also refer to

3649-484: The Industrial Revolution had its first impacts where cheap water transport by canal, navigations, or shipping by all types of watercraft on natural waterways supported cost-effective bulk transport . Containerization revolutionized maritime transport starting in the 1970s. "General cargo" includes goods packaged in boxes, cases, pallets, and barrels. When a cargo is carried in more than one mode, it

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3738-554: The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots notes a trend of U.S. shipping terminal operators restricting seamen from traveling from the ship to the terminal gate. Furthermore, in cases where transit is allowed, special "security fees" are at times assessed. Such restrictions on shore leave, coupled with reduced time in port, translate into longer periods at sea. Mariners report that extended periods at sea living and working with shipmates, who for

3827-543: The Occupational Safety and Health Act in the United States), and food and drug laws are some examples. Commercial law covers the following legal areas : This broad area of law covers many topics, from forming new companies, drafting business contracts, employment processes, corporate mergers, consumer rights to commercial litigation. It also provides a comprehensive legal framework that supports

3916-557: The Steward's Assistant , the chief cook , and other Steward's Department crewmembers. In the United States Merchant Marine , a chief steward must have a Merchant Mariner's Document issued by the United States Coast Guard . Because of international law , conventions, and agreements , all chief cooks who sail internationally are similarly documented by their respective countries. Staff officer positions on

4005-482: The manufacture and sales of consumer goods . Many countries have adopted civil codes that contain comprehensive statements of their commercial law. In the United States, commercial law is the province of both the United States Congress , under its power to regulate interstate commerce, and the states, under their police power. Efforts have been made to create a unified body of commercial law in

4094-436: The sewage , lighting, air conditioning and water systems. They deal with bulk fuel transfers, and require training in firefighting and first aid , as well as in dealing with the ship's boats and other nautical tasks- especially with cargo loading/discharging gear and safety systems, though the specific cargo discharge function remains the responsibility of deck officers and deck workers. On LPG and LNG tankers , however,

4183-491: The 1980s, many of these have been privatized . International shipping remains a highly competitive industry with little regulation, but ports can be public-owned. As the population of the world increases, cities grow in size and population—according to the United Nations, 55% of the world's population live in cities, and by 2050 this number is expected to rise to 68%. Public transport policy must evolve to meet

4272-718: The 4 month mark for officers, with generous leave. Most ocean-going vessels now operate an unmanned engine room system allowing engineers to work days only. The engine room is computer controlled by night, although the duty engineer will make inspections during unmanned operation. Engineers work in a hot, humid, noisy atmosphere. Communication in the engine room is therefore by hand signals and lip-reading, and good teamwork often stands in place of any communication at all. The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse gas emissions , acoustic , and oil pollution . The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping were equal to 2.2% of

4361-753: The Catering Department is headed by the Chief Purser and managed by Assistant Pursers. Although they enjoy the benefits of having officer rank, they generally progress through the ranks to become pursers. Under the pursers are the department heads – such as chief cook, head waiter, head barman etc. They are responsible for the administration of their own areas. The chief steward also plans menus and compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records. They may requisition or purchase stores and equipment. They may bake bread, rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries. A chief steward's duties may overlap with those of

4450-542: The International Sale of Goods (CISG). The lex mercatoria concept still exists in the form of general principles and trade usages that govern cross-border contracts when specific national laws are not applied. This body of rules, which draws from both historical and contemporary sources, provides the legal infrastructure needed for complex global trade. Maritime transport Maritime transport (or ocean transport ) or more generally waterborne transport ,

4539-548: The United States; the most successful of these attempts has resulted in the general adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code , which has been adopted in all 50 states (with some modification by state legislatures), the District of Columbia , and the U.S. territories. Various regulatory schemes control how commerce is conducted, particularly vis-a-vis employees and customers. Privacy laws, safety laws (e.g.,

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4628-420: The air generates lift. A gyroplane is both fixed-wing and rotary wing. Fixed-wing aircraft range from small trainers and recreational aircraft to large airliners and military cargo aircraft. Two things necessary for aircraft are air flow over the wings for lift and an area for landing . The majority of aircraft also need an airport with the infrastructure for maintenance, restocking, and refueling and for

4717-424: The animals directly, use them as pack animals for carrying goods, or harness them, alone or in teams , to pull sleds or wheeled vehicles . A fixed-wing aircraft , commonly called an airplane, is a heavier-than-air craft where movement of the air in relation to the wings is used to generate lift. The term is used to distinguish this from rotary-wing aircraft , where the movement of the lift surfaces relative to

4806-733: The attraction is a life unencumbered with the restraints of life ashore. Seagoing adventure and a chance to see the world also appeal to many seafarers. Whatever the calling, those who live and work at sea invariably confront social isolation. Findings by the Seafarer's International Research Center indicate a leading cause of mariners leaving the industry is "almost invariably because they want to be with their families." U.S. merchant ships typically do not allow family members to accompany seafarers on voyages. Industry experts increasingly recognize isolation, stress, and fatigue as occupational hazards. Advocacy groups such as International Labour Organization,

4895-461: The average industrial wage is still very low, such as the Philippines or India . Officers however, come from all over the world and it is not uncommon to mix the nationality of the officers on board ships. Officers are often the recipients of university degrees and have completed vast amounts of training in order to reach their rank. Officers benefit e.g. by having larger, more comfortable cabins and table service for their meals. Contracts average at

4984-597: The cars can be powered, known as a multiple unit . Also, a train can be powered by horses , cables , gravity , pneumatics , and gas turbines . Railed vehicles move with much less friction than rubber tires on paved roads, making trains more energy efficient , though not as efficient as ships. Intercity trains are long-haul services connecting cities; modern high-speed rail is capable of speeds up to 350 km/h (220 mph), but this requires specially built track. Regional and commuter trains feed cities from suburbs and surrounding areas, while intra-urban transport

5073-545: The case of jet boats, an inboard water jet. In shallow-draft areas, such as the Everglades , some craft, such as the hovercraft , are propelled by large pusher-prop fans. Most modern merchant ships can be placed in one of a few categories, such as: Ocean liners are usually strongly built with a high freeboard to withstand rough seas and adverse conditions encountered in the open ocean, having large capacities for fuel, food and other consumables on long voyages. These were

5162-436: The changing needs of the market, and it often functioned outside the bounds of national legal systems, providing a framework that was more consistent for cross-border commerce. The codification of commercial law during the 19th century was a significant turning point, as various regions began to formalize commercial regulations into comprehensive codes. The adoption of legal codes allowed for greater uniformity and reliability in

5251-444: The changing priorities of the urban world. The institution of policy enforces order in transport, which is by nature chaotic as people attempt to travel from one place to another as fast as possible. This policy helps to reduce accidents and save lives. Relocation of travelers and cargo are the most common uses of transport. However, other uses exist, such as the strategic and tactical relocation of armed forces during warfare , or

5340-481: The cheapest mode of transport but are not necessarily flexible, and taxis are very flexible but more expensive. In the middle is demand-responsive transport , offering flexibility whilst remaining affordable. International travel may be restricted for some individuals due to legislation and visa requirements. An ambulance is a vehicle used to transport people from or between places of treatment, and in some instances will also provide out-of-hospital medical care to

5429-414: The city centres and suburbs. The terminals for automobiles are parking lots , while buses and coaches can operate from simple stops. For freight, terminals act as transshipment points, though some cargo is transported directly from the point of production to the point of use. The financing of infrastructure can either be public or private . Transport is often a natural monopoly and a necessity for

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5518-481: The civilian mobility construction or emergency equipment. Passenger transport, or travel, is divided into public and private transport . Public transport is scheduled services on fixed routes, while private is vehicles that provide ad hoc services at the riders desire. The latter offers better flexibility, but has lower capacity and a higher environmental impact. Travel may be as part of daily commuting or for business , leisure, or migration . Short-haul transport

5607-553: The collective practices of merchants, known as the " lex mercatoria " or law of merchants during the Middle Ages . The development of these rules was largely a response to the needs of the international trade community, which needed standardized rules to facilitate business across different regions and legal systems. The lex mercatoria laid the foundation for modern commercial law and was characterized by its flexibility, simplicity, and ability to adapt to changing trade practices. In

5696-518: The commercial sector, reducing uncertainties and disputes. A key feature of modern commercial law is its reliance on general principles such as the freedom of contract, which remains a central tenet in commercial relationships. International commercial law today is shaped by multiple sources, including national laws, international conventions, and principles such as those derived from the United Nations Convention on Contracts for

5785-400: The early modern period, commercial law continued to evolve through a combination of local customs and emerging legal frameworks that supported the growth of international trade. Notably, many elements of commercial law developed independently of formal state control, instead arising from community enforcement mechanisms among traders themselves. This allowed commercial law to remain responsive to

5874-539: The engine and deck departments work four hours on then have eight hours off watch keeping. However, there are many overtime jobs to be done daily. This cycle repeats endlessly, 24 hours a day while the ship is at sea. Members of the steward department typically are day workers who put in at least eight-hour shifts. Operations at sea, including repairs, safeguarding against piracy , securing cargo, underway replenishment , and other duties provide opportunities for overtime work. Service aboard ships typically extends for months at

5963-404: The engine department. Mariners spend much of their life beyond the reach of land. They sometimes face dangerous conditions at sea or on lakes – the fishing port of Gloucester, Massachusetts has a seaside memorial listing over 10,000 fishermen who lost their lives to the sea, and the Great Lakes have seen over 10,000 lost vessels since the 1800s, yet men and women still go to sea. For some,

6052-432: The form of walking , running , and swimming . Modern technology has allowed machines to enhance human power. Human-powered transport remains popular for reasons of cost-saving, leisure , physical exercise , and environmentalism ; it is sometimes the only type available, especially in underdeveloped or inaccessible regions. Although humans are able to walk without infrastructure, the transport can be enhanced through

6141-412: The global human-made emissions in 2012 and expects them to rise 50 to 250 percent by 2050 if no action is taken. The IEA forecasts that ammonia will meet approximately 45% of shipping fuel demands by 2050. For a port to efficiently send and receive cargo, it requires infrastructure : docks, bollards, pilings, cranes, bulk cargo handling equipment, and so on – equipment and organization supporting

6230-402: The interchange of passengers and cargo and for maintenance. Means of transport are any of the different kinds of transport facilities used to carry people or cargo. They may include vehicles, riding animals , and pack animals . Vehicles may include wagons , automobiles , bicycles , buses , trains , trucks , helicopters , watercraft , spacecraft , and aircraft . A mode of transport

6319-760: The key driving factors in international trade and globalization since the 1950s. Bulk transport is common with cargo that can be handled roughly without deterioration; typical examples are ore , coal, cereals , and petroleum . Because of the uniformity of the product, mechanical handling can allow enormous quantities to be handled quickly and efficiently. The low value of the cargo combined with high volume also means that economies of scale become essential in transport, and gigantic ships and whole trains are commonly used to transport bulk. Liquid products with sufficient volume may also be transported by pipeline. Air freight has become more common for products of high value; while less than one percent of world transport by volume

6408-414: The loading and unloading of crew, cargo, and passengers. While the vast majority of aircraft land and take off on land, some are capable of take-off and landing on ice, snow, and calm water. The aircraft is the second fastest method of transport, after the rocket . Commercial jets can reach up to 955 kilometres per hour (593 mph), single-engine aircraft 555 kilometres per hour (345 mph). Aviation

6497-431: The main source of harmful noise and air pollution in cities; buses allow for more efficient travel at the cost of reduced flexibility. Road transport by truck is often the initial and final stage of freight transport. Water transport is movement by means of a watercraft —such as a barge , boat , ship , or sailboat —over a body of water, such as a sea , ocean , lake , canal , or river . The need for buoyancy

6586-601: The main stay of most passenger transport companies, however, due to the growth of air travel, the passenger ships saw a steady decline. Cruise ships later filled the void and are primarily used by people who still have a love of the sea and offer more amenities than the older passenger ships. A cargo ship sailing from a European port to a US one will typically take 10–12 days depending on water currents and other factors. In order to make container ship transport more economical, ship operators sometimes reduce cruising speed, thereby increasing transit time, to reduce fuel consumption,

6675-443: The most part are strangers, takes getting used to. At the same time, there is an opportunity to meet people from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Recreational opportunities have improved aboard some U.S. ships, which may feature gyms and day rooms for watching movies, swapping sea stories , and other activities. And in some cases, especially tankers, it is possible for a mariner to be accompanied by members of his family. However,

6764-431: The movement of people, goods, and services. Land transport plays a vital role in linking communities to each other. Land transport is a key factor in urban planning . It consists of two kinds, rail and road. Rail transport is where a train runs along a set of two parallel steel rails, known as a railway or railroad. The rails are anchored perpendicular to ties (or sleepers) of timber, concrete, or steel, to maintain

6853-408: The nature of the cargo transport, in which mode is chosen. Logistics refers to the entire process of transferring products from producer to consumer, including storage, transport, transshipment, warehousing, material-handling, and packaging, with associated exchange of information. Incoterm deals with the handling of payment and responsibility of risk during transport. Containerization , with

6942-532: The operations of businesses regardless of their size. It ensures that businesses or other entities that engage in commerce adhere to set rules and guidelines, creating a fair and competitive commercial environment while providing legal remedies to resolve disputes. The history of commercial practices traces back to early civilizations where commerce was crucial for society, and regulation was necessary to facilitate and secure transactions. Commercial law, sometimes referred to as mercantile law, evolved organically through

7031-600: The patient. The word is often associated with road-going "emergency ambulances", which form part of emergency medical services , administering emergency care to those with acute medical problems. Air medical services is a comprehensive term covering the use of air transport to move patients to and from healthcare facilities and accident scenes. Personnel provide comprehensive prehospital and emergency and critical care to all types of patients during aeromedical evacuation or rescue operations, aboard helicopters, propeller aircraft, or jet aircraft. Freight transport, or shipping,

7120-496: The planets of the Solar System. Suborbital spaceflight is the fastest of the existing and planned transport systems from a place on Earth to a distant "other place" on Earth. Faster transport could be achieved through part of a low Earth orbit or by following that trajectory even faster, using the propulsion of the rocket to steer it. Infrastructure is the fixed installations that allow a vehicle to operate. It consists of

7209-403: The procedures set for this purpose, including financing, legalities, and policies. In the transport industry, operations and ownership of infrastructure can be either public or private, depending on the country and mode. Passenger transport may be public , where operators provide scheduled services, or private . Freight transport has become focused on containerization , although bulk transport

7298-476: The public; roads, and in some countries railways and airports, are funded through taxation . New infrastructure projects can have high costs and are often financed through debt . Many infrastructure owners, therefore, impose usage fees, such as landing fees at airports or toll plazas on roads. Independent of this, authorities may impose taxes on the purchase or use of vehicles. Because of poor forecasting and overestimation of passenger numbers by planners, there

7387-757: The role of the facilities. From pier to pier these may differ, one dock handling intermodal transport needs (container-ships linked to rail by cranes); another bulk handling capabilities (such as conveyors, elevators, tanks, pumps) for loading and unloading bulk cargoes like grain, coal, or fuels. Others may be outfitted as passenger terminals or for mixed mode operations. Generally, Harbors , seaports and marinas all host watercraft, and consist of components such as piers , wharfs , docks and roadsteads . Transport Transport (in British English ) or transportation (in American English )

7476-438: The seven wastes (Japanese term: muda ) which do not add value to a product. Transport planning allows for high use and less impact regarding new infrastructure. Using models of transport forecasting , planners are able to predict future transport patterns. On the operative level, logistics allows owners of cargo to plan transport as part of the supply chain . Transport as a field is also studied through transport economics ,

7565-463: The standardization of ISO containers on all vehicles and at all ports, has revolutionized international and domestic trade , offering a huge reduction in transshipment costs. Traditionally, all cargo had to be manually loaded and unloaded into the haul of any ship or car; containerization allows for automated handling and transfer between modes, and the standardized sizes allow for gains in economy of scale in vehicle operation. This has been one of

7654-433: The use of roads, especially when using the human power with vehicles, such as bicycles and inline skates . Human-powered vehicles have also been developed for difficult environments, such as snow and water, by watercraft rowing and skiing ; even the air can be entered with human-powered aircraft . Animal-powered transport is the use of working animals for the movement of people and commodities. Humans may ride some of

7743-408: The vehicle from one lane to the other and from one road to another according to the need and convenience. This flexibility of changes in location, direction, speed, and timings of travel is not available to other modes of transport. It is possible to provide door-to-door service only by road transport. Automobiles provide high flexibility with low capacity, but require high energy and area use, and are

7832-656: The vehicle must have a compartment, seat, or platform for the passengers. Simple vehicles, such as automobiles, bicycles, or simple aircraft, may have one of the passengers as a driver. Recently, the progress related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought a lot of new emerging technologies for transportation and automotive fields such as Connected Vehicles and Autonomous Driving. These innovations are said to form future mobility, but concerns remain on safety and cybersecurity, particularly concerning connected and autonomous mobility. Private transport

7921-458: Was also a radio department, headed by a chief radio officer and supported by a number of radio officers. Since the introduction of GMDSS (Satellite communications) and the subsequent exemptions from carrying radio officers if the vessel is so equipped, this department has fallen away, although many ships do still carry specialist radio officers, particularly passenger vessels. Many radio officers became 'electro-technical officers', and transferred into

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