Glossary
Terms & Glossaries of Shipping and Trading
Landbridge
Landbridge is a recognized freight industry term that refers to an intermodal transportation strategy where cargo is shipped across a continent by rail or truck to connect two separate maritime routes, effectively using the landmass as a "bridge" between oceans.
Landbridge Transportation involves moving goods from one seaport to another via overland routes (e.g., rail or truck) within a continent, bypassing longer sea voyages. Common types include:
Mini Land Bridge (MLB): Connects two ports on the same continent. For example, shipping goods from Asia to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway instead of circumnavigating Africa.
Continental Land Bridge: Spans an entire continent, such as transporting cargo from China to the U.S. East Coast via the North American rail network instead of the Panama Canal.
Route Optimization:
Combines maritime and land transport to shorten delivery times. A shipment from Shanghai to Hamburg might travel by sea to a West Coast U.S. port (e.g., Los Angeles), then by rail to New York, and finally by sea to Europe.
Reduces reliance on congested waterways like the Suez or Panama Canals.
Documentation Integration:
Requires a Through Bill of Lading to cover multiple transport modes under a single contract.
Aligns with Incoterms 2020 guidelines (e.g., FCA or DAP) for risk and cost allocation.
Infrastructure and Partnerships:
Depends on efficient rail networks (e.g., Trans-Siberian Railway, U.S. Class I railroads) and coordination between shipping lines, rail operators, and freight forwarders.
Cost Efficiency: Avoids higher fees and delays associated with all-water routes.
Speed: Cuts transit times by up to 50% compared to traditional sea routes. For example, a MLB shipment from Asia to Europe via Russia takes ~20 days versus ~35 days via the Suez Canal.
Sustainability: Reduces fuel consumption and emissions by minimizing sea voyage distances.
Siberian Landbridge:
Links Asian ports (e.g., Busan, Yokohama) to European hubs (e.g., Rotterdam) via the Trans-Siberian Railway, ideal for time-sensitive electronics or automotive parts.
North American Landbridge:
Connects Asian exporters to U.S. East Coast markets via West Coast ports and cross-continental rail networks, bypassing Panama Canal bottlenecks.
Eurasian Rail Corridors:
Part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), leveraging rail to bridge Asia and Europe for bulk commodities like machinery and textiles.
