Changes in shipping routes over the years / decades

• Main Author: Lim, Meryln Wei Xuan
• Other Authors: Teh Kong Leong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Maritime studies
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71069
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

According to International Maritime Organization (IMO), the practices of following prearranged routes with proper traffic separation and other routing systems were established in 1898 for safety purposes. International trade plays a pivotal role in shaping maritime routes, as shipping is a derived demand. However, subsequently environmental, engineering and globalization factors contributed to the changes in shipping routes. Environment refers to the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity. In this report, the environmental aspect focuses on the effects of changing climate on the shipping environment as well as increasing demand for environmental protection. Due to the pros and cons brought along with climate change and environmental protection, it is vital to study the environmental impacts on shipping route variations through time so as to tap on new opportunities and be better prepared to handle possible threats. Thus, this paper examines the environmental impacts on shipping routes in greater detail by emphasizing on climate change and environmental concerns that cause shippers to adopt alternative routes. To assess the impacts, face-to-face interviews were conducted with industry professionals to garner deeper understanding of the situation from different perspectives. Additionally, statistics and market data were gathered from research studies to further analyze the impacts. As such, lessons from the past were evaluated to map the potential changes in shipping routes as a result of environmental factors. Finally, limitations and recommendations were identified to provide insights for future research.