Water transport is an oldest means of carrying men and materials through sea, lake, rivers and canals. Main advantages and disadvantages of water transportation can be described as follows:
Merits Or Advantages Or Benefits Of Water Transport
1. Low Cost
Water transportation is cheaper than other means of transport (i.e. road, rail and air transport). It does not require infrastructure development costs and can be operated with low running cost.
2. Ideal For Heavy And Bulky Products
It is suitable to transport bulky goods and heavy cargo because of its largest carrying capacity.
3. Flexibility
It is more flexible than road and rail transport because it can be easily adjusted according to the requirements.
Water Transport is safer than other forms of transport because of lower rate of accidents and breakdowns.
5. No Disruption
There is very less chance of delay in water transport because of less traffic congestion.
Demerits/Disadvantages Or Drawbacks Of Water Transport
Demerits or disadvantages of water transport can be highlighted as follows:
Demerits or disadvantages of water transport can be highlighted as follows:
1. Slow Speed
Slow speed is the main drawback of water transport. It takes a long time to reach the destination.
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2. Unsuitable For Perishable Products
It is not suitable to carry perishable goods by this means of transport because of long lead time.
3. Uncertain
Water transport is highly affected by adverse weather condition. So, there is uncertainty and irregularity in this means of transport.
4. Not Suitable For Short Distance
AS it is the slowest means of transporting goods and people, therefore it is not suitable to carry small loads over short distance (in terms of cost and time).