Maritime transport includes inland waterway transport and marine transport, which is known as the "ancestor" of transportation because of its long history. In the 18th century, it played a major role in the production of transportation industry. Water transportation has the advantages of low investment, low cost, large freight volume, small area and so on, and the carrying capacity of good waterways can be almost unrestricted.
It has good versatility and can be used as the main undertaker of large, bulky and bulk long-distance freight. Inland navigation construction and overall planning for flood control, drainage, irrigation, power generation, fishery and tourism can achieve the effect of comprehensive development and utilization of natural resources. However, water transportation is greatly affected by natural conditions. for example, some inland waterways and seaports can only be suspended because of freezing in winter, the trend of some inland waterways is often inconsistent with the economic requirements of transportation, and the water level of some inland waterways changes greatly, which affects the exertion of shipping interests. At present, comprehensive transport has become a major trend in the development of transportation in the world, and the construction of modern integrated transport network has created conditions for giving full play to the advantages of water transport.