Much of the freight transported within the United States, and the vast majority of that moved in international commerce, uses the nation's marine transportation system (MTS). The system is varied and immense. It consists of thousands of miles of navigable channels, hundreds of port complexes, and thousands of terminals located along the nations lake, river, and coastal waterways. It involves tens of thousands of shippers and carriers, who operate a wide range of vessels from this country and abroad, from river barges to the largest oceangoing vessels. Manufactured goods are brought into and shipped out of the country in standardized marine containers transported by the thousands in vessels that regularly cross the oceans. Commodities essential to the economy and daily lives of Americans, such as minerals, building materials, energy, and farm products, are moved in bulk across the country and to and from other regions of the world on the rivers, lakes, and oceans. The waterways are connected to the nation's other modes of transportation, such as highways, railroads, and pipelines. Together they form a vast freight system that has become integrated with the production process itself. The performance of the MTS affects the location of businesses, their operations and practices, and the demand for the goods and materials they produce and ultimately the productivity and competitiveness of U.S. producers and the prices paid by U.S. consumers.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Marine Transportation System and the Federal Role. Measuring Performance, Targeting Improvement


    Publication date :

    2004


    Size :

    202 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    The role of the Federal Government in US marine transportation

    Fleming, D. K. | Taylor & Francis Verlag | 1979


    Federal Review of Transportation Improvement Plans

    Conroy, N. / National Research Council (U.S.) | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2008


    The Future Federal Role in Transportation

    Kraft, W. H. / Institute of Transportation Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995


    Federal Role in State Transportation Finance

    Schank, Joshua | Online Contents | 2013