Maritime Transportation System
Maritime is one of the Global Transportation System networks, a critical asset in the transportation of goods from one place to another. The maritime transportation system includes waterways, ports, and landside connections. Approximately, the Maritime Transportation System consists of about 25,000 miles of navigable channels. This mode of transportation is essential because shipping helps ensure that trade and commerce benefits are evenly distributed, thus acting as its backbone. This transportation system is characterized by a multilayer of sea and land network routes used to deliver cargo globally. The nodes in this transportation system represent maritime and seaports chokepoints, while the arcs are what represent sea route segments.
Methods of MTS
The physiography of maritime transportation is composed of two elements, which include the rivers and oceans. These two systems are connected but represent different specific domains of maritime circulation. The MTS relies on the existence of maritime routes in which shipping services are established. When one thinks of maritime transportation methods, the first thing that comes to mind is the use of boats and ships. However, it includes other methods of transporting goods such as the use of bulk carriers, general cargo ships, dry cargo vessels, crude carriers, liquid cargo ships, container vessels, and reefer vessels, among others.
Intermodal Connections on MTS
Intermodal transport also referred to as the mixed-mode commuting, which involves the use of two modes of transportation on a journey. It consists of the use of two or more modes of transport, and on the MTS, there can be intermodal connections such as the airport-ferry connections. For example, at the Hong Kong International Airport, there is water transportation adopted for ferry services in the Pearl River Delta to various piers. These piers are, in turn, used by passengers to take airport flights. The airport water connection applies to the Kansai International Airport too.
Impact of MTS
The impact of MTS is one of its key aspects. Like any other transportation mode, MTS causes environmental impacts such as emissions from vessels, which has become an increasing issue. Among the pollutants produced in this mode of transport are diesel particulate matter and carbon emissions. The discharge of oil and other pollutants are other issues of concern along with the spreading of non-indigenous species on water bodies and the release of contaminated sediments.
Disruptions caused by MTS include unavailable services, allisions, collisions, failures, infrastructure, bottlenecks at intermodal connectors, and congestions on the minor side. Other severe threats to MTS include natural disasters, pandemics from an outbreak such as Corona, threats from terrorists, and disputes from labour management. These threats could lead to an effect on the national economy as a result of the shutting down of entire regions and ports, thus resulting in a disruption in the transport and supply chain. A good example was the resulting shutdowns in 2005 when Hurricane Katarina struck.
Key attributes of MTSA of 2002
The MTSA of 2002 is one of the laws that protect maritime workers in a variety of ways. This law enforces security measures such as screening procedures, the establishment of restricted areas, proper identification of personnel, and security patrol provision. This act’s main initiative is strengthening and adding a protective layer of defence to the United States’ port security. Some of its key features include security patrols, plans, personnel, and assessment protocols, installing surveillance systems, and establishing restricted area regulations. Additionally, it includes procedures that dictate the implementation of measures such as security monitoring and access to address control and personnel identification procedures.
Since 9/11 where the world was drawn to security implications, the United States passed this act to improve and develop security measures vessels and maritime facilities that use its ports. Additionally, this act was enacted to take care of human-made events, especially terrorist attacks. The impact of this act is being felt to date as the United States ports now experience improved security and protection measures. For example, become of the security measures put in place, the Coast Guard has implemented programs where annual inspections are conducted at the ports. Apart from that, Area Maritime Security Plans have been developed by the Coast Guard to coordinate their procedures on the protection of United States ports.