NOVEMBER 2025 EXAMINATION SESSION
MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2025 – MORNING
LINER TRADES
Time allowed – three hours
Answer any FIVE questions – all questions carry equal marks
Please read the questions carefully before answering
1. Container trades continue to evolve at a fast pace, and with it, the demands on service.
Explain how Consortia, Vessel Sharing Agreements and Alliances each operate and the
specific differences between them
2. Answer BOTH parts of the question.
Bunker costs for liner trades have become the key cost component of the voyage due to the
high price of marine fuel oil in recent years.
a) Identify TWO trades of your choice, suggesting where you would bunker on these
trades and explaining the benefits of the chosen bunker ports.
Use the world map provided to support your answer.
b) Low Sulphur fuel rules are increasingly impacting various regional sea areas, and the
use of low sulphur fuel oil has helped how carriers combat this. Discuss the impact of
these rules and what measures carriers take to deal with this.
3. Container vessels and Specialised [conventional] Reefer vessels compete in the perishable
products trades with container vessels now carrying the larger share of this growing global
business.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using each mode of transport, using TWO key
trade lanes as an example.
4. The use of IT systems and technology has rapidly been employed in the container industry
in a variety of roles and is now essential for the successful running of large container liner
companies due to the sheer size of transactions taking place.
Explain in detail how the use of different IT systems has helped with this growth, and
outline what the benefits have been to carriers, shippers, consignees, and any other parties.
PLEASE TURN OVER.
1
5. Answer BOTH parts of the question.
The Asia to USA East Coast Trade is highly competitive given that it competes against the
Asia - US West Coast [then road/rail] but also via the Panama and Suez Canal/Cape of Good
Hope routes.
a) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the three routing options.
b) Discuss the likely developments of trade on these routes in the next five years.
6. Answer BOTH parts of the question.
a) Select TWO of the following cargoes and identify TWO major trade lanes on which
they are shipped.
i. Chemicals
ii. Coffee
iii. Citrus
iv. Fishmeal
b) Describe in detail the main loading and discharge ports, the type of container
needed to carry them, and any special requirements or precautions needed to
protect the cargo.
7. Answer BOTH parts of the question.
a) Draw a profile and cross-section of ONE of the following types of vessels and
highlight within the drawing the main features of the vessel.
i. 2000-3000 Teu Containership
ii. Conbulker
iii. 10000 Teu Containership
b) Using the world map provided, describe TWO trade routes where your chosen
vessel would operate and the main types of cargo it would carry.
8. Describe the main characteristics of FOUR of the following container types, identifying ONE
main commodity for which each type may be used and the characteristics of those cargoes.
i. Flat Rack
ii. Tank Container
iii. Bulk Container
iv. Open Top
v. Reefer
vi. High Cube