ADVANTAGES OF WATER TRANSPORT
(a)(i) Transportation of people
(ii) Can carry very bulky goods
(iii) Relatively safe to use
(iv) Free natural route to use
(v) Maintenance cost is low
(vi) Provides employment
(vii) Refrigerated vessel can carry fresh and perishable cargo over long distance
(viii) Help in innovation diffusion
(ix) Relatively cheap.
DISADVANTAGES OF WATER TRANSPORT
(a) It is very slow
(b) Not flexible
(c) Cost of acquiring a ship is high
(d) Canoes are not suitable for fresh and perishable cargo over long distance
(e) Cost of construction and maintenance of ports is very high.
(b) FACTORS THAT HINDER THE USE OF WATER TRANSPORT.
(i) Seasonality of some rivers
(ii) Presence of floating vegetation
(iii) Presence of waterfalls, rapids and cataracts
(iv) Silting up of river months by sandbars and spits at port entrances
(v) Presence of icebergs
(vi) Slow speed of ships and canoes hinders use for the carriage of passengers and perishable goods
(vii) Inadequate capital in developing countries for port construction and maintenance
(viii) Narrow gorges and shallow nature of some rivers.