Discussion Questions
: The Global Transportation System (GTS) includes a maritime component. Explain the key elements of this mode of transportation to include methods, intermodal connections and impact. What is the impact of a disruption? Describe the key attributes of the Maritime Transportation Security Act
(MTSA) of 2002. How has this law impacted the overall governance of security within the 360 ports within the United States?
(LO1.1 and LO1.2)
The true impact to how water is used to transport goods is by sheer volume. In order to transport the amount of weight of a plane can carry thousands of miles, there may be the need to make multiple trips from one side of the planet to the other greatly increasing the costs and final drop-off of the payload. Thus the costs and possibility of the payload not being stable enough to get on a plane at all make sea travel a necessity. The weight of traveling by sea is also a factor since ships can easily carry 15,000 tons while the largest plane in the world can only carry 250 tons of cargo. Now once a ship drop off its containers, many ports have an established distribution line of rail and trucks to get it moving inland to its next destination; whereas airports are not as connected to rail. They both can have their delays and setbacks, so it would all depend on if the goods are perishable or needed in a rush status. Delays happen everywhere, in all shapes and sizes. If you all can remember the evergreen
ship stuck in the Suez Canal, then not to long after a picture of an Evergreen truck was crashed on the Interstate jackknifed. (wionews.com) Delays are just a way of life, albeit weather delays for planes and trucks or bad storms in which ships need to go around or loose cargo into the ocean, no system is without its flaws.
As an amendment to the country’s standing Merchant Marine Act, it was created to keep and add additional layers of defense to port security. Such as a deterrent of terrorists’ attacks to maintain a certain measure of security patrols, protocols, plans and procedures including the monitoring of cargo; to ensure any large vessels or rigs around the United States waters and facilities are protected.
https://www.jonesactlaw.com/faqs/what-is-the-maritime-transportation-security-act-of-2002/
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/maritime-transportation-system-mts/maritime-
transportation-system-mts
https://www.wionews.com/world/is-it-a-habit-internet-laughs-as-truck-with-evergreen-written-
on-it-blocks-traffic-like-suez-canal-373914
https://www.xeneta.com/blog/air-freight-versus-sea-freight
