Cargo shipping has changed the world. Literally. Trade has helped drive 80% of the poverty reduction, which has lifted 500 million people across the world above the poverty line over the last 15 years. Between 1980 and 2011, the economies of developing nations raised their share in world exports from 34% to 47% and their share in world imports from 29 to 42%. Case in point, Asia was the poorest continent on the planet about 40 years ago, twice as poor as Africa is today. Now, it now has the fastest growing economy, and it’s twice as rich as Africa.
As amazing as that is, the cargo shipping industry is even more incredible when you consider how spooky it can really be. Here are a few things you might not have known.
Cut Off From the World.
One of the spookiest parts of the cargo shipping industry is that ships are more or less cut off from the outside world when they’re traveling. About two-thirds of shipping crews around the world don’t have any means of communications while they’re out on the open sea. In fact, only about one in 10 have freely available Internet.
Long, Long Journeys.
What makes the fact that they’re more or less cut off from the world so spooky is how far they have to go without being able to communicate. It’s estimated that a container ship travels about the equivalent of three-quarters of the way to the moon and back in just one year of its regular travel.
Threat of Pirates.
Not only are they cut off on their distant journeys, but there are many perils out there, the most dangerous of which are pirates. In 2010, Somali pirates held more than 500 seafarers hostage. What’s more, over 2,000 sailors die at sea each year, and a whopping two ships are lost every day. In 2012, the rate of attack on seafarers was higher than the rate of violent crimes in South Africa, which has the worst crime rate in the entire world.
Using a global trade directory, you can find an international trading company that can provide your business with the cargo shipping service it needs. If you have any questions, feel free to share in the comments.