UNCTAD
Maritime Trade Expansion
Maritime transportation is as old as global trade and, historically, the extent of long distance trade came on par with developments in maritime transportation technology. Maritime transportation endures because of its ability of moving large quantities of cargo over long distances. Its speed, however, creates major drawbacks. The shipping itself is slow and delays are encountered at ports, which are often overly crowded. Even if the physical geography of the world conveys a staggering amount of coastline, only a limited amount is effectively suitable for port operations. Suitable port sites have become valuable and rare resources. The emergence of global private port operators has also caused many to become inefficient and unable to cope with market pressures.
Piracy has proven to be a growing barrier to maritime trade in recent years also. In the 1990s, reported attacks against commercial ships tripled. Today, acts of maritime piracy range from the classic boarding and hijacking of a merchant vessel on the high seas to the more common act of stealing from the ship while it is anchored. This increase in maritime piracy has been an especially nagging problem in Southeast Asia. Increased prices caused by piracy serve as a barrier to trade and even diplomatic efforts between non-Asian countries, such as the United States, and countries in Asia. To enhance trade, governments in regions most affected by piracy must demonstrate their determination to stem the incidence of maritime piracy.
Environmental impacts and increasing awareness of the earth’s condition, such as that of climate change, may have major impacts on maritime trade as well. Rising sea levels caused by climate change could have significant effects on trade and ports. This could be especially harmful to the ports in Europe’s vulnerable coastal areas. Maritime trade itself can also have bad environmental effects. Marine oil spills can be extremely harmful to wildlife and the environment. Oil spills may be better prevented with care and increased containment. However, other, more common forms of pollution by ships cannot be easily avoided. Sustainability could be very important in the context of maritime trade and preventing this pollution. The United Nations must analyze the practicality and necessity of Maritime Trade along with creating possible ways to improve efficiency, protect against piracy, and take environmental factors into account.