Question

Explain the various types of waterways.

Answer 1

Hint:
Waterways are critically important for the transportation of people and goods throughout the world. It was a major means of transportation in the ancient period and had large potential in India. A river, canal, seas, oceans and other bodies of water serving as a route or way for travel or transport is known as Waterways.

Complete step by step solution:
The history of transportation on the water goes back thousands of years because water is one thing that mankind needs to survive. Civilization has always been settled near, and around water.
There are two types of waterways-
(1) Inland waterways
(2) Ocean waterways
Inland waterways
(1) Refer to using inland water bodies like rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks etc.
(2) An inter-modal transportation for moving goods and passengers.
(3) Inland waterways transportation in India is far lower as compared with many other countries.
(4) Inland waterways modal share in Hungry is 15%, Belgium 13%, France 15%, Netherlands 42%, and in the US 15%.
(5) Inland waterways in India consist of the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the backwaters in Kerala, the Ganges- Bhagirathi- Hooghly river, inland water in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari- Krishna rivers.
(6) Using mechanized vessels and country boats about 44 million tonnes of cargo is moved annually.
Ocean waterways
(1) Sea or Ocean transport plays an important role in foreign trade.
(2) Sea or Ocean-going vessels can be divided into ocean liners and cargo ships called Tramps.
(3) Carries passengers, mails and cargoes.
(4) Travel a fixed route/ timetable.
(5) Container ships can carry goods packed in special containerized shipping enabling loading and unloading to be down quickly.

Note:
Water transport plays an important role in trading. It is cheap means of transport for heavy and bulky goods like metal, grains and logs. It is important as is the only safest and cheapest means of carrying goods and people from one place to another in today's world.