Text 2

SEA TRANSPORT AND THE PORT OF ROTTERDAM

International navigation holds the biggest share of about 90 per cent of the cargo carriage. After World War II when the world economy began to boom and cargo transport increased greatly (which caused serious congestion — long waiting time of ships), specialised ships were built that could carry different types of goods and decrease transport costs. They were container ships, Ro-Ro vessels, barge carriers, and general cargo vessels.

The capacity of the general cargo ship ranges from 5,000 to 13,000 DWT⁵. It has 4 or 5 holds (space for cargo stowage below deck), usually 1 or 2 tween decks and many derricks (ship's cranes) arranged in such a way that each hold can be served by at least 2 derricks.

The introduction of container ships has been a breakthrough in the reduction of the turn-round time⁶ of the merchant ships. The use of containers also reduces damage and pilferage of cargo and packing costs.

The port of Rotterdam has now become the most important container main port in Europe. About 60 per cent of the containers delivered to or shipped from Rotterdam are handled by Europe Combined Terminal (ECT), one of the leading container transhipment companies m the world. The restructuring process in the port started 25 years ago. The terminals were specially equipped for handling automobiles timber and general cargo. ECT designed new types of quay cranes, terminal trucks which were like a train with pneumatic tyres that can shift 10 containers in one go, straddle carriers equipped with automatic spreaders and other equipment.

In 1993 ECT signed a twenty-year contract with Sea-Land whose Delta terminal uses a large number of up-to-date equipment developed by ECT, for example a robot crane and vehicles for horizontal transport and container storage.

The Rotterdam Municipal Port Management together with ECT are working on a new project of further development of the port which includes the construction of a number of ultramodern terminals, extensive central rail-inland shipping terminals⁷ and distribution centres where the whole process of handling a container is computerised.

b) Re-read the text and say if the statements below are true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. International navigation started to boom long before World War II.

2. Congestion is the process of handling transport documentation at a port.

3. Specialised ships were built to decrease turn-round time of a ship.

4. A hold is a space where passengers stay during a voyage.

5. There are many derricks at the port.

6. Sea-Land is the leading transhipment company in the world.

7. Timber is not handled at the port of Rotterdam.

8. Robot cranes and vehicles for horizontal transport do not operate at the port of Rotterdam.

9. The Rotterdam port is not going to be modernised.

Task 4: Look through the text again and say what was mentioned in the text about:

a) the development of international navigation;

b) the structure of a vessel;

c) the port of Rotterdam.

Learning the Basic Vocabulary

Task 5: a) Find the words in bold type and try to guess their meaning. Check up the translation of the words in the vocabulary. Write them out in your vocabulary.

b) Write down alt the words unknown to you in your vocabulary.

Task 6: Translate the following phrases from the text:

1. a booming economy

2. to reduce turn-round time of vessels

3. to be equipped for handling cars

4. to shift ten containers in one go

5. rail and inland shipping terminals

6. to cause damage and pilferage to cargo

7. RO-Ro vessels

Task 7: Match the verbs on the left with the noun phrases on the right and translate the expressions they make into Russian:

to cause to decrease to carry out to design to include to shift to equip to reduce

inland shipping terminals stowage of goods damage to cargo vehicles congestion with quay cranes straddle carriers pilferage at terminals

Task 8: Fill in the gaps with the words in the box below, change the form of the words if necessary.

1. Goods can also be transported by sea, by a shipping company. If the goods are shipped, then ___________ must be arranged from the factory to the docks (or a quay). This can either be by road in _____ (or lorries) or by rail. The shipment must be insured (covered) against loss or ________ in transit (while being ________). Sometimes the exporter takes out ____________ and sometimes the importer _______ the _________ depending on the terms of their agreement. If the goods are damaged in ________, the company is ________ by the insurance.

damage trucks transported insures transit insurance transportation covered shipment

2. Someone has to pay for all these things. While goods are in _______ they are called freight (or cargo), so the company pays _____ rates (or _______ costs) to the shipping company. The ______ is loaded at the ______ and for this the company pays handling charges. Also the company must pay packaging ____________.

freight cargo shipping transit charges/costs docks

Task 9: Complete the sentences choosing the right word and changing its form if necessary.

1. Their (share, division) in container service is not big.

2. They (divide, share) cash between the participants.

3. The road (divide, share) at this point and we must take the left turning.

4. The capital of the company (share, divide) between 3 people and each received his (share, division).

5. I don't want (share, divide) a room with anyone.

6. We'll (divide, share) the traveling expenses with you.

7. We are (accept, receive) French forwarders tomorrow and we have a good (reason, cause) to be in a hurry.

8. — Have they (receive, accept) our prices?

— If they haven't, try to find out the (cause, reason).

9. They didn't (accept, receive) our invoice yesterday.

10. The Sellers (receive, accept) FOB terms and we are going to sign a contract tomorrow.

Task 10: Check yourself. Give English equivalents of the following Russian word combinations:

1. снизить транспортные расходы

2. вызвать повреждение груза

3. оборудовать для обработки генеральных грузов

4. перемещать 10 контейнеров за один раз

5. сконструировать новый тип берегового крана

6. подписать долгосрочный контракт

7. большая доля грузовых перевозок

8. снизить время оборачиваемости судна

9. место для укладки груза на судне

10. включить строительство современных терминалов

11. торговый флот

12. доставить в речной порт

13. уменьшить расходы на упаковку

Task 11: Translate into English using the correct verb.

1. К сожалению, мы не сможем принять ваши условия. (accept, receive)

2. Какова причина повреждения судна? (reason, cause)

3. Когда я был в Италии, меня прекрасно принимали. (accept, receive)

4. Он сказал, что сможет разделить ответственность за причиненный ущерб. (share, divide)

5. На складе наш груз разделили на 2 части и первую уже отправили. (share, divide)

6. Я не вижу причину их отказа, (cause, reason)

7. Друзья все делили пополам. (share, divide)

8. Уверен, что он поделится с тобой последним. (share, divide)

9. В чем причина задержки груза на таможне? (cause, reason)

10. Банк не принял счет к оплате. (accept, receive)

F ocusing on Grammar