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Shipping

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For the internet phenomenon of involvement with fictional romance, see Shipping (fandom).
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Shipping is basic process of transporting goods and cargo. Virtually every product ever made, bought, or sold has been affected by shipping. Despite the many variables in shipped products and locations, there are only three basic types of shipments: land, air, and sea.

Land or "ground" shipping is easily the most popular form of shipping. Even in Air and Sea shipments, ground transportation is still required to take the product from its origin to the airport or seaport and then to its destination. Ground transportation is typically more affordable than air or sea shipments, so whenever possible shippers attempt to keep their freight in trucks. Many trucks will take freight directly from the shipper to its destination in what is known as a door to door shipment. Vans and trucks of all sizes make deliveries to sea ports and air ports where freight is moved in bulk also. Many nations have built specialized naval ships to ensure the free movement of legitimate cargo; these "merchant navies" are essential to the world economy, carrying the bulk of international trade. The ships are also extremely expensive constructions themselves, being some of the largest man-made vehicles ever. The term originates with the shipping trade of wind power ships, and has come to refer to the delivery of cargo and parcels of any size above the common mail of letters and postcards.

Most cargo transport is by ground shipping rather than by air transport because ground shipping can be cheaper and less restrictive to size, quantity, weight, and type of freight. Air transport is usually reserved for products which must be sent within a shorter time frame. Some carriers offer ground shipping that operates on an exact timeline as only air used to.

Shipping can more generally refer to the transport of freight ("shipments"), independent of the mode of transport.

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[edit] Types of ships involved

[edit] Shipping companies

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[edit] See also

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