Few candidates attempted the question & the performance of those who answered the question was moderate performance. Quite a good percentage of the candidates who answered the question wrote on the importance of ocean transportation rather than the characteristics of ocean transportation which include:

• most prominent form of water transport;
• carrying bulky goods;
• large vessels/ships are used;
• important for international trade;
• requires seaports and harbours;
• use natural and established waterways;
• relatively safe;
• extends over long distances across countries;
• suitable for long distance trade;
• not flexible;
• relatively slow;
• examples of routes are North Atlantic, Cape of Good Hope and South Atlantic etc.
• relatively cheap.

The advantages of water transportation was also poorly outlined by the candidates. The expected answers were:

• can cover distance across continents;
• enhances international trade;
• can move bulky goods;
• national integration;
• links different part of the world;
• accessibility to the hinterlands;
• limited cost of construction except that of seaports and harbours;
• boost tourism;
• cheapest means of transportation;
• routes are free for all to use;
• relatively safe;
• conveys large passenger traffic;
• suitable for large freight

The ways in which poor transport network can hinder economic development of a country was adequately answered by the candidates.