Book excerpt: SHIPPING CARRIES MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF WORLD TRADE. The world fleet of merchant ships and tankers provide the means of transport of every conceivable type of product: grain, crude oil, coal and gas, iron ore, bauxite/alumina and other raw materials, chemicals, fertilisers, vast amounts of foodstuff s, timber and construction materials without which the world economy would come to a standstill. . The globalization of the world economy has seen a huge growth in the volume of the international seaborne trade, in bulk or in containers. In parallel to its economic activity, shipping has developed a very rich, varied and specialised terminology which is not always easily understood by the lay man. With over 10 000 English entries translated in French and Spanish this dictionary should be a useful and helpful tool for the students in maritime institutes or commercial schools, the translators and the interpreters, to all the people who are interested in understanding the language of this vibrant sector of the world economy.