Intermodal transport

R eading

Task 1: Read the texts, translate them and find 2 or 3 sentences that express the main idea.

Text 1

There exist a lot of factors that affect the choice of transport mode, but organization do not have to use the same mode for an entire journey. Their best option is often to divide the journey into stages and use the best mode for each stage. This does, of course depend on factors like the length of the journey, the relative costs and the penalty of moving between modes. But if you move materials from, say, Lanchow in central China to Warsaw in Poland, you might start by putting the goods on a truck, transferring them to rail for the journey across China to Shanghai then onto a ship to Rotterdam, then back onto rail to cross Europe, and then truck for local delivery. Journeys that use several modes of transport are called intermodal.

The aim of intermodal transport is to combine the benefits of several separate modes, but avoid the disadvantages of each; perhaps combining the low cost of shipping with the flexibility of road, or getting the speed of air with the cost of road. The main problem is that each transfer between modes causes delays and adds costs for extra handling. You can experience this effect when you transfer between a bus and train, or between a car and ferry. Intermodal transport only works if this transfer can be done efficiently.

At the heart of intermodal transport are the systems for transferring materials between modes. The aim is to give a virtually seamless journey, and the best way of achieving this is to use modular or unitised loads. In effect, all materials are put into standard containers, and the equipment is arranged to move these containers.

The basic container is a metal box 20-feet long. This size has become somewhat restricting, and it is often replaced by a 40-foot box. Even this can be limiting, and the Hudson's Bay Company uses 53-foot containers on the trip from Vancouver to Montreal, reducing costs by 10-15%.

Some of the benefits of containerisation include:

• Simplified transport and flow

• Easier and faster handling

• Genuine door-to-door service

• Faster deliveries

• Reduced loss due to damage, replacement and pilferage

• Reduced packing costs

• Lower insurance costs

• Separation of incompatible goods

• Use of less congested routes

• Improved transport encourages trade

Putting materials into containers eliminates the need to handle items individually, and the whole container goes from source to destination. Since these containers were introduced in 1956 on the trip between New York and Houston, they have transformed ideas about transport. In particular, transferring materials between modes has changed from a labour-intensive operation to a capital-intensive one. Huge container ports and terminals have been built around the world to move containers efficiently and with minimum delay from one type of transport to another, or from one carrier to another.

In the late 1960s ships spent about 60% of their time laid up in port for loading and unloading. Largely due to containerisation, this has reduced dramatically, and ships can turn around in a few hours. A rule of thumb is that it takes one day to turn around a containership when it used to take three weeks to turn around a conventional ship. Over 70% of freight movements now use containers

Text 2

“Intermodal” means movements by cargo containers interchangeably between transport modes, i.e. motor, water and air carriers, and where the equipment is compatible within the multiple system.

The term “multi-modal transport” was first used during the preparation for the UN Convention on Multi-modal Transport which was held in 1980. The Convention is not in force as only eight states so far have become Contracting Parties. Thirty contracting parties are required to bring the Convention into force.

The Convention reads: “International intermodal transport means the carriage of goods by at least two different modes of transport on the basis of a multi-modal transport contract from a place in one country at which goods are taken in charge by the multi-modal transport operator to a place designated for delivery.” A contract should be concluded between the shipper (consignor) and the multi-modal transport operator (carrier), by which the latter undertakes to carry out an intermodal transport operation himself or through other parties.

The international multi-modal transport system functions through one company offering combined or multi-modal transport services provided that:

a) the transport operation is international in that it crosses the borders of two or more countries,

b) the transport operation uses at least 2 modes of transport,

c) the transport operation is from the exporter's stores to the consumer's stores,

d) the responsibility for the whole transport operation in all stages is shouldered by the multi-modal transport operator.

Multi-modalism in many countries is still in an infant stage. Operators are often faced with heavy bureaucracy, insufficient regulatory framework¹³ poorly developed infrastructure, etc. The acceptance of multi-modalism by a number of countries has been very slow because the shippers and receivers of cargo are not aware of their potential benefits in terms of gains in time and costs.

Task 2: Re-read the text again and say if the statements given below are true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. The aim of intermodal transport is to avoid the benefits of several modes and to combine the disadvantages of each.

   2. Intermodal transport means carriage of goods by 2 or 3 transport operators.

   3. The UN Convention on Multi-modal Transport is in force now.

   4. In intermodal transport one operator is responsible for the delivery of the cargo to the final destination.

   5. You have to cross the borders of 2 or more countries within the frame-work of the multi-modal transport operation.

   6. Multi-modalism is well-developed in many countries.

   7. Transport operators are faced with heavy bureaucracy, insufficient regulatory framework, etc.

Learning the Basic Vocabulary

Task 3: 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 all the words unknown to you in your vocabulary.

Translate the following phrases from the text:

1) to move containers interchangeably

2) compatible equipment

3) to take goods in charge

4) a place designated for delivery

5) to undertake to carry out a transport operation

6) to be in an infant stage

7) to face heavy bureaucracy

8) poorly developed transport infrastructure

9) to gain time and money

10) to offer multimodal transport services

Task 4: Match the verbs on the left with the noun phrases on the right and translate the expressions they make into Russian:

a) to conclude 1) combined transport services

b) to bring 2) with heavy bureaucracy

c) to shoulder 3) a place for delivery

d) to be aware 4) a contract with a carrier

e) to undertake 5) a convention into force

f) to be faced 6) of potential benefits

g) to designate 7) responsibility for transport operations

h) to provide 8) an intermodal transport operation

Task 5: Fill in the gaps with the words given in the box changing the form of words if necessary.

infant provides subsidizing imposing subsidize grants

controls limiting impose imported taxes

One way a country can control its economy is by imposing import restrictions (or controls). If an industry is just starting up (when it is called an _________ industry), the government may help it because it makes the country richer and ________ employment. The government can help it by ________ it or by _______ import restrictions. To ______ an industry means to give it loans or ______ . Import ______ protect it from competition by ________ importation of the goods the infant industry produces. The government might also __________ taxes on_______ goods. These ______ are called duties or tariffs.

Task 6: Complete the sentences choosing the right word and changing its form if necessary.

1. When we started this new service we didn't expect (to win, to gain) much.

2. Who (won, gained) the last match?

3. They were not aware of their (wins, gains).

4. The Blue Berets (won, gained) the battle.

5. He decided to open a bank (invoice, account).

6. The firm didn't receive our (invoice, account) last week.

7. Many (accounts, invoices) were frozen in August.

8. We should send them our (invoice, account) at the revised price.

9. Our vessel was wrecked on the Chinese (seaside, coast, shore, bank).

10. The master went (to the bank, the seaside, ashore, the coast) but the crew remained on board.

11. Many people going to the Black (coast, shore, bank, seaside) enjoy their holiday there.

12. A new terminal has been built on the (shore, bank, coast, seaside) of the lake.

Task 7: Check yourself. Give English equivalents of the following Russian word combinations:

1. ввести соглашение в действие

2. пересекать границу двух государств

3. принимать обязательства по перевозке грузов

4. при условии заключения контракта

5. развивать мультимодальные перевозки

6. принимать ответственность за хранение груза

7. выигрывать во времени

8. осознавать потенциальные выгоды

9. смешанные перевозки

10. доставить на склад заказчика

11. сталкиваться с трудностями

Focusing on Grammar