Cabotage

Cabotage: definition and meaning

Cabotage, from the English and French, refers to the transportation of goods or passengers between ports or locations within the same country by a foreign means of transport. The term originally comes from shipping, but is also used in other transportation sectors such as air and rail transport.

Applications of cabotage

  • Shipping: In shipping, cabotage refers to the transportation of goods or passengers between ports in the same country by foreign ships. This may be governed by bilateral agreements between countries and is often subject to specific regulations and restrictions.
  • Air transport: In air transport, cabotage refers to the transportation of passengers or cargo between different airports within the same country by foreign airlines. However, this practice is highly regulated or even prohibited in many countries.
  • Road transport: In road transport, cabotage refers to the transportation of goods or passengers within a country by foreign transport companies. Here, too, there are often restrictions and regulations to protect the competitiveness of domestic transport companies.

Importance of cabotage

Cabotage plays an important role in international and national logistics, as it enables the efficient and smooth transportation of goods and passengers within a country. Bilateral agreements and regulations ensure that cabotage takes place within a fair and balanced framework and that the interests of all parties involved are taken into account.

Overall, cabotage is an essential part of global and national transportation, enabling the efficient movement of goods and passengers and boosting the economy.