INTERMODAL CARGO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES ON FERRIES: A MODERN ASPECT

Abstract

The article provides the concept of intermodal technology, considers ferry types and their advantages and disadvantages; describes the material and technical base of cargo transportation on ferries, design features of ferries, the technology for loading, transporting and unloading of wagons and cars. Reducing the transportation distance and cargo operations time make it possible to increase cargo transportation efficiency on ferries in comparison with transportation of the same cargo with numerous transshipments from one transport type to another. The history of ferry lines development in Russia and abroad emphasizes the importance of type of transportation. In Russia, the history of cargo transportation on ferries is considered to be from the end of the XIX century. There were five ferry lines operating in the former USSR. The article considers such lines as the Kerch line between the Crimea and the Caucasus and the Vanino – Kholmsk line through the Tatar Strait. The development of cargo transportation in the post-Soviet period in the Baltic and Caspian basins is considered in detail. The table shows an analysis of the cargo transshipment volume carried by ferries in the main sea basins of Russia. The history of ferry lines development in Europe began in the middle of the ХIХ century in Scotland and Ireland. The greatest development of ro-ro cargo transportation was achieved in the countries of the Baltic basin. Such transportation is also being developed in Japan, the United States and other countries.