Changing Maritime Transport Patterns in the 80s

The maritime industry is one of the oldest international economic institutions still existing in the modern world. It can trace its beginnings in the West to as early as 3000 BC, with the Minoan civilization on the Isle of Crete. By 600 BC the Phoenicians had circumnavigated the African continent and established a fleet which was trading throughout the Mediterranean region. During the five millennia of its recorded history the industry has operated under a variety of market structures and organisational patterns. As the historical trading environment evolved the industry adapted its service operations to continue meeting world needs. It changed as the world changed. Therefore, it should not be too surprising to realise that the maritime industry is currently undergoing some basic structural alterations in keeping with world trends.