The following research looks into the concept of sea-air
intermodality, a combination of two or more modes of
transport for the carriage of goods from origin to
destination. The study examines why and how this form of
transport evolved to become a viable alternative to the
conventional single modes of ocean and air transport.
The viability of the sea-air mode depends on various
equally important factors which are analysed in depth, with
a special emphasis on the sea-air transfer port. fn this
context, research findings of the world's existing sea-air
hubs are recorded and evaluated in terms of their present
and future trends.
At a sea-air transfer hub, ocean cargo is converted to direct
air freight, thus adding new volumes of air cargoes. In this
respect, sea-air plays a positive role in the present and
future development of the air freight industry.
The impact of the sea-air mode can be most clearly seen in
the case study analysis in Chapter 10 of this thesis,
whereby the potential for 'convertibility' of large portions
of low density ocean cargoes to the sea-aix mode, is
successfully demonstrated