What is shipping? Definition and examples

The word shipping has more than one meaning.

  1. We use the term when we refer to all ships, i.e. when we are talking about sea vessels collectively.
  2. It can mean the transportation of cargo (goods) by sea (and also land and air).
  3. It is a charge that shops add to the price of a product when they send it to you. In this case, it means the same as ‘delivery charges.’ In some catalogs, you may read “Price includes shipping,” this means that the price includes delivery.

The Cambdridge Dictionary has the following definition of shipping:

“1. Ships considered as a group: ‘This stretch of water is heavily used by shipping.’ 2. The act of sending goods from one place to another, especially by ship: “Cost is $205 plus $3 for shipping.”

The term ‘shipping,’ meaning the ‘act of sending cargo by ship’ emerged in the English language in the late fifteenth century. It was not until the 1590s that the term also meant ‘ships generally or collectively.’

Shipping – freight transport

The terms shipping, freight transport, and carriage have the same meaning in this context. They refer to the transportation of goods (cargo, freight).

Initially, shipping only referred to the delivery of cargo by sea. However, today it also includes deliveries by air and land. ‘To ship’ means ‘to deliver.’

In a business environment, it is common for people to use the term logistics with a similar meaning. Logistics, a subset of supply chain management, deals with the challenge of coordinating and planning the flow of goods (and information), i.e., making sure things get to the right place at the right time.

Strait of Malacca shipping route 44444
The Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. It is the main channel between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The shipping industry

The shipping industry (or simply ‘shipping’) is responsible for the transportation of ninety percent of world trade. In other words, 90% of world trade is transported by sea.

According to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), it is the life blood of the worldwide economy.

International trade would simply not be possible if we stopped transporting goods by ship. International trade refers to imports and exports, i.e., trade between nations.

OOCL Hong Cong - largest container ship in the world
According to Wikipedia: “OOCL Hong Kong is the largest container ship ever built, and the third container ship to surpass the 20,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU).”

The ICS makes the following comment on its website:

“Seaborne trade continues to expand, bringing benefits for consumers across the world through competitive freight costs. Thanks to the growing efficiency of shipping as a mode of transport and increased economic liberalisation, the prospects for the industry’s further growth continue to be strong.”

“There are over 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally, transporting every kind of cargo. The world fleet is registered in over 150 nations and manned by over a million seafarers of virtually every nationality.”

The shipping industry is huge. Merchant ships are estimated to generate half-a-trillion dollars worth of business in freight rates each year.

Biggest container shipping companies

Top ten container shipping companies image
Data Source: www.championfreight.co.nz.

The Danish company, A.P. Moller–Maersk Group, is the world’s largest container SHIPPING company.

It employs 79,000 workers across 130 nations and has an armada of 707 ships. It currently has 17.7% of the world international SHIPPING market (2019).

Derivatives of “ship”

The word “shipping” is a derivative of “ship.” Let’s take a look at some other derivatives of ship, their meanings, and how we can use them in a sentence:

  • Ship (noun)

A large vessel that travels across water, especially across the sea.
Example: “The majestic ship set sail across the Atlantic, bound for new horizons.”

  • Shipping (noun)

The act of transporting goods by sea or other means.
Example: “The company’s shipping department was exceptionally busy during the holiday season.”

  • Shipper (noun)

A person or company that sends or transports goods by sea, road, or air.
Example: “The shipper ensured all the cargo was accounted for before departure.”

  • Shipmate (noun)

A person who serves with another on the same ship.
Example: “His shipmates threw him a farewell party after years of sailing together.”

  • Shipyard (noun)

A place where ships are built and repaired.
Example: “The old shipyard has been in operation for over a century.”

  • Shipbuilder (noun)

A person or company that constructs ships.
Example: “The shipbuilder was awarded a contract for three new cruise liners.”

  • Shipload (noun)

The amount of cargo or number of passengers that a ship carries or can carry.
Example: “A full shipload of goods arrived at the port this morning.”

  • Shipment (noun)

A batch of goods destined for or delivered to someone.
Example: “The latest shipment of books arrived at the store today.”

  • To Ship (verb)

To send or transport goods or commodities by land, sea, or air.
Example: “They plan to ship the package overseas by next week.”

  • Shippable (adjective)

Suitable or ready to be shipped.
Example: “The items were packed carefully to ensure they were shippable.”

  • Shipboard (adjective)

Located on, or taking place aboard, a ship.
Example: “Shipboard activities include everything from dining to entertainment.”

Video – What is Shipping?

This video, from Marketing Business Network, our sister channel on YouTube, explains what ‘Shipping’ is using easy-to-understand language and examples.