Maritime transport

Maritime transport (or ocean transport) or more generally waterborne transport, is the transport of people (passengers) or goods (cargo) via waterways. Freight transport by watercraft has been widely used throughout recorded history, as it provides a higher-capacity mode of transportation for passengers and cargo than land transport, the latter typically being more costly per unit payload due to it being affected by terrain conditions and road/rail infrastructures. The advent of aviation during the 20th century has diminished the importance of sea travel for passengers, though it is still popular for short trips and pleasure cruises.

Extends: [Maritime transport](https://wikipedia.org.ai/Maritime transport), [Merchant navy](https://wikipedia.org.ai/Merchant navy), Shipping, [Water transport](https://wikipedia.org.ai/Water transport), [Freight transport](https://wikipedia.org.ai/Freight transport)