Sea freight has a long history – almost as long as trade itself. Since the earliest days of boats, even prior to the use of sail, boats were used to move goods between communities where land access was difficult or impossible.

In the modern age, sea freight plays a major role in keeping the global economy going. Sea freight is responsible for moving raw materials, such as coal or iron ore, from mining countries like Australia to major industrial manufacturing countries like China. Sea freight is then used to move finished goods from those manufacturing countries to customers around the world.

The movement of bulk solid cargoes – coal, mining ores – is usually performed in bulk carriers. These ships have large, open holds which can be filled with cargo quickly and efficiently. For fluid cargoes such as oil, a different type of bulk carriers – the ‘tanker’ – is used. Tankers are some of the largest sea freight vessels plying the oceans.

Since the 1960s, most manufactured goods moved by sea freight have travelled in container vessels. Goods are loaded into standard shipping containers at the point of departure – often at the factory itself – then transferred by road or rail to the dock. Specialised cranes then stack the containers neatly into the hold and above the decks of the container ship. Another form of sea freight vessel which is widely used for the movement of cars and other vehicles is the ‘roll on roll off’ ship. These ships are designed specifically so that vehicles can be driven directly on board without external handling.

The sea freight industry operates under the guidance of a large civilian ‘navy’ of merchant seamen, people who spend their lives travelling the world.