Water transport is an important component of tourism. Whether used to transport cargo or passengers, water transport is vital to the successful operations of tourism in many destinations.
This article gives an overview of water transport around the world, what it is used for and why it is important to the global economy and the tourism industry.
What is water transport?
Water transport is a significant part of tourism and travel. Otherwise known as maritime transport, fluvial transport or waterborne transport, it refers to the transportation of people or cargo via waterways. The term ‘water transport’ can also be used to describe the intentional movement of water itself over long distances. This includes aqueducts and pipelines.
In terms of travel and tourism, however, water transport refers to the movement of passengers and goods by water. It is one of the oldest types of transport. While aviation has replaced ocean liners for most long-distance passenger journeys, water transport remains vital: around 80% of world trade by volume is carried by sea, according to UNCTAD, and ferries and cruise ships carry millions of passengers every year.
Water transport includes travel via the following:
- barge
- boat
- sailboat
- ship
across oceans and lakes, along rivers or through canals. Maritime transport is used for commerce, recreation and military purposes. Almost anything (in terms of cargo) can be moved via water but when time is of the essence – such as with food or other perishable items – it is unlikely that water transport would be the first option.
What is water transport used for?
Different types of transport have different purposes. But in a broad sense, transport is used for the movement of goods and people as discussed above. Getting travellers or cargo from A to B is important – whether it’s for somebody to go to work or for groceries to be moved from farm to storefront, transport is an essential part of society.
Water transport usage in passengers
Passengers use water transport for recreation and commuting. Ferries can be used to travel between different areas with relative ease; for example, the Wirral peninsula in the UK is near Liverpool and there is a ferry that travels across the River Mersey. The ferry is used by many commuters from Wirral who work in Liverpool. At non-peak times, the ferry is used as a tourist attraction for leisure purposes. Ferries also travel between countries and islands – the UK and France, for example, as well as Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. Travelling by ferry can be more affordable than flying and, on many routes, allows passengers to take their car with them, which is popular for European driving and camping holidays.
Cruise ships are another example of water transport. In the past, ocean liners provided a way of travelling between countries; today, cruises are usually a holiday in themselves. Typically lasting from a few nights to two weeks or more, cruises visit multiple destinations and offer on-board entertainment, so they are as much an experience as a form of transport. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a record 34.6 million passengers took an ocean cruise in 2024. River cruises and canal boat trips are also popular, and sightseeing boats allow tourists in cities such as Bruges, Amsterdam, Paris and London to see iconic sights from a different angle.
There are some places, of course, where water transport is a necessity for getting around. Venice, for example, is built on a network of canals, and residents and visitors rely on water transport to get around. Venice has water taxis as well as the vaporetto – a water bus.
Water transport usage for cargo
Bulk carriers and container ships are two important types of water transport. They are used to transport cargo from (usually) one country to another. It is often much cheaper to transport heavy goods by water than it is by air or road. Cargo such as rice and grain, which is moved via bulk carriers, is heavy when found in large quantities. Container ships carry the majority of the world’s dry cargo in truck-size containers for ease of unloading.
It takes roughly 10-12 days for a cargo ship to cross the Atlantic between Europe and the US, depending on currents, weather and the route. Shipping companies use techniques such as ‘slow steaming’ – sailing at reduced speeds – to cut fuel use, costs and emissions. Shipping is also vulnerable to disruption: since late 2023, attacks on vessels in the Red Sea have forced many ships to divert around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding days to journeys between Asia and Europe. The industry is also under pressure to decarbonise, with the International Maritime Organization targeting net-zero emissions from shipping by around 2050.
Water transport for military use
The military operate at sea, too. Whether it’s the Royal Navy in the UK, the US Navy or one of many other global naval forces, water transport is used. There are many jobs on board, from engineers to divers; the role of a naval force is to train and organise in order to win any conflicts or wars that do arise, and to maintain security and deterrence through sustained presence.
Different naval forces use different types of water transport. From ships to submarines, these vessels are used for training purposes and also to transport naval officers from one base to another, or to a battle location.
Jobs in the water transport industry
Water transport provides a huge number of jobs all around the world. From cruise ships to sail boats to bulk carriers, staff are needed at every step from construction to the actual movement of the vessel itself. There are lifelong careers to be made in the maritime industry. It is a vital part of the global economy. Many goods rely on water transport, and the cruise industry alone generated an estimated US$168.6 billion in global economic output and supported around 1.6 million jobs in 2023, according to CLIA.
Here are some examples of jobs within the maritime industry:
- Shipbuilding engineer
- Maritime lawyer
- Cruise ship designer
- Marine environmental management jobs
- Ship banker
- Underwater photographer
- Cargo engineer
- Maritime reporter
- Electro-technical officer
- Ship chandler
- Marine Biologist
- Boat mechanic
- Chef, barkeeper, cleaner etc on board a passenger ship
- Port manager
- Customs broker
- Maritime technician
- Wiper
- Master/captain
- Deckhand
- Communications officer
As you can see, there are many varied positions when it comes to jobs related to water transport. To ensure boats, ferries, ships and cargo vessels operate smoothly during every journey, and from start to finish of their sailing lifetime, it is important that all of these roles are fulfilled.
Celebrating water transport around the world
There are many maritime museums around the world that aim to educate the public about water transport and the different types of boats and vessels. Some of the best known include:
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
This is one of the biggest maritime museums in the world, full of memorabilia and amazing archives. It tells a great story of Britain’s seafaring history, and there are interactive areas for children to enjoy and learn from. Nearby, visitors can also step on board the Cutty Sark, the world’s only surviving tea clipper, and enjoy an immersive walk-through experience.
Vancouver Maritime Museum, Vancouver, British Columbia
The Vancouver Maritime Museum preserves the maritime history of Canada’s Pacific coast and the Arctic. Its centrepiece is the St. Roch, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police schooner that was the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage from west to east. The museum also has collections of model ships, maritime art and a children’s discovery centre.
Maritime Museum of San Diego, San Diego, California
The Maritime Museum of San Diego has one of the largest collections of historic ships in the USA, including the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, and a Soviet Foxtrot-class submarine. The museum runs events throughout the year.
Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool
This free museum provides an incredible insight into the city’s colourful maritime history. With exhibitions about the Titanic and Lusitania, interactive exhibitions about customs and so much more, this museum is a vital part of the city’s network of learning facilities. The building is also home to the International Slavery Museum, which explores Liverpool’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Water transport: To conclude
Water transport is an important part of the tourism industry and the wider economy. Whether it is used to move goods, carry commuters on a small passenger ferry or take holidaymakers on a large cruise ship, water transport continues to play a vital role around the world.
Water transport: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about water transport.
What is water transport?
Water transport is the movement of people or goods by water, using vessels such as ships, ferries, barges and boats, across oceans, lakes, rivers and canals.
Why is water transport important?
Water transport carries around 80% of world trade by volume, is often the cheapest way to move heavy goods, and provides essential ferry links and tourism experiences such as cruises.
How is water transport used in tourism?
Tourists use ferries, cruise ships, river cruises, canal boats, water taxis and sightseeing boats, both to reach destinations and as attractions in their own right.
How many people go on cruises?
According to CLIA, a record 34.6 million passengers took an ocean cruise in 2024.
What are the disadvantages of water transport?
Water transport is slower than air transport, can be affected by weather and geopolitical disruption, and contributes to air and marine pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Further reading
If you found this article helpful, the following posts may also be of interest:
- Types of water transport
- The history of water transport
- Cruise tourism
- Types of cruise
- The relationship between transport and tourism
- Why road transport is important
