Introduction: -Water
transport refers to movement of goods and passengers on waterways by using
various means like boats, steamers, launches, ships, etc. with the help of
these means goods and passengers are carried to different places, both within
as well as outside the country. Within the country, rivers and canals
facilitate the movement of boats, launches, etc. since the goods and passengers
move inside the country, this type of transport is called inland water
transport.
When
the different means of transport are used to carry goods and passengers on the
sea route it is termed as ocean transport.
India
has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals,
backwaters, and creeks. Freight
transport by waterways is highly underutilized in India compared to other larger
countries. Cargo is transported in
an organized manner is confined (restricted)
to a few waterways in Goa, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala. The Inland Water Authority of India (IWAI) is the
statutory authority in charge of the waterways in India. The following
waterways have been declared as National Waterways:
1. Allahabad-Haldia
Ganges-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River.
2. Saidiya-Dhubri
Brahmaputra River.
3. Kollam –Kottapuram Champakara and Udyogmandal
canals. Etc.
Advantages of Water
Transport: -Water transport has the following advantages
1.
It
is relatively economical mode of transport for bulky and heavy goods.
2.
It
is a safe mode of transport with respect to occurrence of accidents.
3.
The
cost of maintaining and constructing routes is very low as most of them are naturally
made.
4.
It
promotes international trade.
5.
It
protects the goods from sun, rain, wind, dust, etc. as goods are mostly carried
in containers, tankers, etc.
Limitation of Water
Transport: -Water transport has the following limitations.
1. The depth and
navigability of rivers and canals vary and thus, affect operations of different
transport vessels.
2. It is a slow
moving mode of transport and therefore not suitable for transport of perishable
goods.
3. It is adversely
affected by weather conditions.
4. Sea transport
requires large investment on ship and their maintenance.
5. It has high
maintenance costs for ship and takers as it requires constant repairs and
painting of ships.
