How can shipping lines be classified？
Compared with other modes of transportation, the route of maritime transportation has the characteristics of less investment and natural formation, and is also more affected and restricted by natural conditions. This influence and restriction is obviously reflected in the classification of routes. According to different classification standards, sea transportation routes can be divided into different types.
- According to the mode of ship operation
- Regular routes refer to routes that use fixed ships, sail at fixed schedules and ports, and operate passenger and cargo transportation services at relatively fixed rates. Regular routes, also known as liner routes, mainly carry miscellaneous cargo.
- Irregular routes are routes temporarily selected according to the needs of freight. Ships, shipping schedules, and ports of call are not fixed, and the routes are mainly engaged in the transportation of bulk and low-cost cargo.
- According to the distance of the voyage
- Ocean-going shipping line refers to the long-distance voyage and the shipping line that ships sail across the ocean.
- Near-sea shipping line refers to the general term for the maritime transport routes between the ports of the country and the ports of neighboring countries.
- Coastal shipping line refers to the maritime transport routes between the coastal ports of the country.
- According to the range of navigation:
- Atlantic routes;
- Pacific route
- Indian Ocean route;
- Around the world routes.
- According to the effective time of the route
- Seasonal routes
Routes that change with the seasons are called seasonal routes. Because ship navigation is affected by natural conditions, especially ocean currents, monsoons and other factors, and ocean currents and monsoons will change direction or flow due to climate changes, for example, with the change of seasons, the direction and flow of ocean currents, wind The direction and wind force will also change accordingly. In order to take advantage of wind and ocean currents to save capacity and speed up, ships usually take different routes in different seasons. For example, in order to avoid sea fog in the North Pacific Ocean in winter and storms in summer, the Far East-North America West Coast routes move northward in summer and southward in winter.
- Perennial routes
A route that does not change with the seasons.
- According to the form of organization
- Direct routes
It refers to the transportation route where the ship travels from the port of departure (port of departure) to the port of destination within the scope of water transportation, without calling at the port, loading and unloading cargo, or adding or removing barges. The direct route has the advantages of fast transportation speed, fast ship turnover, cost saving, etc., but it requires a relatively stable cargo flow between the two ports. Most of these routes are main routes in liner shipping.
- Transit route
It is within the scope of water transport, the ship is from the port of departure to the port of destination, and the ship calls at the port in the middle, loads and unloads goods or uses barges.