(a) Explain five roles of transport to businessmen. (b) State three characteristics of tramp vessels and two characteristics of ocean liners.

Answer Details

(a) Five roles of transport to businessmen

1. Movement of goods. Transport carries raw materials to factories and finished goods from producers to wholesalers, retailers and final consumers.
2. Creation of place utility. It moves goods from where they are of little value to where they are needed and more valuable, bridging the gap between producer and consumer.
3. Widening of the market. Efficient transport enables businessmen to reach distant markets, both local and international, thereby increasing sales.
4. Encourages large-scale production. By making it possible to distribute goods widely, transport supports mass production and the resulting economies of scale.
5. Movement of people and labour. Transport conveys businessmen, employees and customers to places of work and trade, and helps distribute labour to where it is needed.

(Also acceptable: makes goods available in and out of season through storage in transit; helps prevent price differences between regions.)

(b) Three characteristics of tramp vessels

1. They have no fixed routes and sail to any port where cargo is available.
2. They keep no fixed timetable, sailing only when fully loaded.
3. They usually carry bulky, homogeneous cargo (such as grain, timber or ore) and charge freight by bargaining/charter.

Two characteristics of ocean liners

1. They follow fixed, regular routes and operate to a published timetable, sailing whether full or not.
2. They carry general cargo and passengers, and charge fixed, published freight rates.