(a) Characteristics of ocean transportation: (i) Good adaptability to cargoes of different sizes, weight and shape.
(ii) Low unit transportation cost.
(iii) Large capacity trade volume
(iv) The ships' transportation capacity is large.
(v) The port equipment and facilities are generally provided by the government.
(vi) More than 75% of the total volume of international trade is carried out through it.
(vii) Cheapest means of transport between nations.
(viii) It is used to move bulky goods from one country to another during international trade.

(b) Advantages of water transportation: (i) It covers long distances, thus linking all continents for trade purposes.
(ii) It is the cheapest means of transporting goods and services.
(iii) It carries bulky goods.
(iv) It has natural routes. It, therefore, requires little or no cost on constructions except on the harbour.
(v) Maintenance cost of the harbour is relatively low.
(vi) It is relatively safe, and therefore highly used even for movement of passengers/labour.
(vii) It can transport a wide variety of goods.
(viii) It helps in exchange of ideas and innovations.

(c) Ways in which poor transportation network can hinder economic development of a country:
(i) Poor rate of mobility: Poor transportation results in a poor rate of mobility, especially in developing countries.
(ii) Limiting industrial growth: Poor transportation limits economic development of a country as raw materials, services and finished goods are not easily transported to the points of their need.
(iii) Poor level of trade: It also leads to poor national and international trade.
(iv) It hampers diffusion of ideas and technology: This hampers the diffusion of new ideas and technology or innovations.
(v) Poor national integration: It can hinder economic growth of a country.
(vi) Inadequate exploitation of natural resources: It can limit effective exploitation of natural resources in the area, thereby hindering
the economic development of a country.
(vii) Inability to open up new lands: It can lead to inability to open up new lands for economic purposes.