There are several modes of maritime transport.

Maritime transport mainly includes two modes: liner shipping and charter shipping. Liner shipping uses fixed schedules, routes, and ports, making it suitable for small batches of diverse goods (such as daily necessities and electronic products). It features simple procedures (the shipper only needs to submit the goods to the shipping company) and stable freight rates (published rate tables). Charter shipping is divided into voyage charter (renting on a voyage basis, with the shipowner responsible for operation, suitable for large batches of goods such as coal and ore), time charter (flexible arrangement of transport within an agreed period), and bareboat charter (the charterer has full management rights, and this is less commonly used).