World’s Shipping Industry: Lifeblood of the Global Economy

The Heat

MODERN SHIPPING

It’s giant yet invisible. The world’s shipping industry transports 90 percent of the world’s trade, a fact that few of us know. Merchant shipping is the lifeblood of the world economy. It is also the greenest transport method in terms of carbon emission per ton per mile; it emits about a thousandth of the emissions of aviation.

And big minds, backed by big money, like British based engine and auto maker Rolls Royce, is working to develop unmanned cargo ships. The European Union is funding a 4.8 million dollar study of unmanned vessels.

To unveil the secrets of the industry and explore how drone ships will change shipping, we are joined by journalist Rose George, She is the author of “Ninety Percent of Everything,” and has recently been on TED talk.