Geographical Processes of Cargo Shipping
There are quite a few geographical processes that affect cargo shipping. They include sea ice/ice caps, tides and currents, hurricanes and cyclones, and trade winds.
Sea Ice/Ice Caps - According to particular scientists, global warming is the reason that the ice caps and sea ice are melting. Whether this declaration is true or not they are indeed melting at a rate of 8% of total sea ice and ice caps every year, and this percentage will continue to increase as the years go on. The diminishing of sea ice and ice caps allows more room in the oceans for cargo shipping and just any shipping in general, which in turn is damaging the ocean and its marine ecosystems/functionality.
Tides and Currents - Tides and currents directly affect cargo shipping as they all follow shipping lines. The purpose of these lines allows navigation experts to minimise damage that can occur if cargo ships were to collide. Cargo ships often follow set routes that are in-line with particular currents and tides as it uses less fuel/petroleum and preserves the ocean.
Hurricanes and Cyclones - Hurricanes and cyclones are significantly dangerous and can appear at any time when the weather allows them to occur. They have the power to make even cargo ships capsize and sometimes end up shipwrecked forever. Often when disasters like this happen there are oil spills that flow into the ocean and also cargo within their intermodal freight containers is lost.
Trade Winds - Trade winds affect the process of cargo shipping, as they follow tides and currents they also follow the wind. This means they can use nature's own force to help them move rather than using extended amounts of fossil fuels, which just damages the marine environment anyway. Trade winds, just like tides and currents often change in intensity, length and direction throughout each day, meaning that cargo ships must navigate and plan the best routes for deliveries.