Final answer:
Use of the intermodal container has revolutionized global shipping, significantly cutting costs and increasing efficiency in transport, allowing easier movement of goods across various modes and reducing labor needs. It has also made distant manufacturing more competitive against local production by dramatically lowering shipping costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The introduction of the intermodal container has significantly impacted the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of transportation in the manufacturing sector. Containers promote seamless transitioning of cargo between different modes of transportation, such as trucks, trains, and ships, without needing to unload and reload the goods. These containers are standardized in size and design, which facilitate the mixing and matching of cargo from different companies on a single carrier, dramatically reducing shipping costs and improving speed of delivery.
With containerization, the process of breaking bulk is greatly minimized, as cargoes don't need to be individually loaded or unloaded when changing transportation modes, substantially lowering the associated 'tax' on transported products. Additionally, large gantry cranes enable the swift transfer of containers, sharply decreasing labor needs at docks and allowing goods from distant countries to compete more effectively with local products due to similar shipping costs.
Moreover, technological advances have allowed container ships to efficiently manage ballast water (BW), enhancing stability during cargo operations while complying with environmental regulations. This contributes to the growth of world trade by making long-distance shipments more viable and sustainable.