THE GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
| Innovation | Characteristics | Role |
| Superships (1960-) | Bulk and tank vessels with a mass up to half a million deadweight tons. | Reduce transport costs through massive economies of scale. |
| Container vessels (1968-) | Vessel specifically designed to carry containers. | Carry primarily manufactured goods with the capacity to interface with major land transport systems. |
| Jet aircraft (1958-) | Fast an non-stop services between major urban centers. | Linked with the development of service activities such as banking, finance and tourism. |
| Fuel-efficient vehicles (1970-) | Reduction in fuel consumption due to lower weight and more efficient engines. | Enabled highway transport to increase its share of urban an intercity transport. |
| High-speed trains (1964-) | Trains capable of moving at speed higher than 200 km/hr. | Effective competition between intercity air and road transport in high density areas. |
Source: Adapted from Sletmo, G.K. (1989) "Shipping's Fourth Wave: Ship Management and Vernon's Trade Cycles", Maritime Policy and Management, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 293-303.
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