ESP Series
Ernesto D’Acunto
Audio files in MP3 format are available online at www.elionline.com
for TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
Second Edition
English for TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
FLASH on English
FLASH on English for TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS is specifically designed for students who are studying for a career in the transport, logistics and aviation industry. It introduces the vocabulary and the language functions specific to this language sector, and includes practice exercises in all four skills.
Ernesto D’Acunto
FLASH on
ESP Series
FLASH on
English for TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
Downloadable MP3 Audio Files
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www.elionline.com
Catrin E. Morris
FLASH on
English for TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
ESP Series
Contents Unit
1
Topic
Vocabulary
Skills
What Is English for Transport and Logistics?
Professionals and means of transport: an introduction Subjects
Reading: a definition of English for Transport and Logistics Writing: filling in a questionnaire; relating school subjects and topics
Means of Transport
The basics for means of transport: advantages and disadvantages.
Reading: transport by land, water, air. Focus on environmental impact
How to Tie Knots
The basics for sailing: types of knots; tying techniques
Reading: how to make knots; the history of knot tying Listening: checking the different stages to make a Bowline knot Speaking: exchanging information about knot tying Writing: summarising information about knots; giving instructions about knot tying; rewriting sentences
Get Ready to Fly
The basics for aviation: flight profile; preflight operations Flight sayings
Reading: scanning a text for preflight information; identifying codes Listening: listening for information about the preflight checklist Speaking: exchanging information about a flight strip Writing: completing definitions
A Ship’s Structure
Watercraft construction and shipbuilding: dimensions and materials Navigation sayings
Reading: scanning a text for naval architecture information; completing charts and tables with shipbuilding information Listening: listening for information about the construction of a ship Writing: questions about shipbuilding
An Aeroplane’s Structure
Aircraft construction: the basics; different stages Aerodynamic forces Aircraft models
Reading: the basics of airplane construction; how an aeroplane flies; building the Airbus A380 Listening and speaking: the presentation of the Airbus A380 Speaking: comparing different aircraft models Writing: questions about aircraft construction
Are You in Command?
The cockpit; fligth instruments The bridge The cabin The cab; the signal box
Reading: scanning for information about the controls area of different means of transport Listening and speaking: the description of a cab Writing: questions about flight instruments
Positioning Tools
Ancient and modern positioning tools The radar The GPS system Focus on sayings
Reading: scanning for information about positioning tools; how the radar works; how the GPS works Listening: listening for information about the radar history and GPS satellites Speaking: how to read a GPS appliance Writing: explaining the meaning of a proverb
pp. 4-5
2 pp. 6-11
3 pp. 12-15
4 pp. 16-19
5 pp. 20-23
6 pp. 24-27
7 pp. 28-31
8 pp. 32-35 2
Unit
9
Topic
Vocabulary
Skills
What’s the Weather Like?
Weather related language Weather prediction tools Meteorology and transportation
Reading: scanning a text for information about the weather; how to predict the weather; the danger of severe weather conditions for aircraft Listening: listening for information about the weather Speaking: exchanging information about the weather Writing: completing a text
Intermodal Freight Transport
Multiple modes of transportation Air freight Oil tankers
Reading: scanning a text for information about different modes of transportation Speaking: exchanging information and opinions Writing: summarising data from a table about pollution; completing a table with given information
Handling Goods and Passengers
Logistics The organisation of a warehouse: the forklift truck The organisation of an airport: apron vehicles The organisation of a port
Reading: scanning a text for information about logistics; the organisation of warehouses, airports and ports Listening: listening for information about a port Writing: completing sentences
Transport Documents
Basics and practise on transport documents: CMR, the bill of lading, the air waybill
Reading: official transport documents. Scanning and filling the forms Speaking: exchange ideas and informations about international documents
Insurance
Transport and insurance, Focus on business insurance and Lloyd's
Reading: learning basics on insurance and specific transport insurance Speaking: discussing and exchanging informations about business insurance in one's country Writing: search a famous Lloyd's historic insurance event
Safety Procedures and Regulations
Legislation and safety signs Air safety Road safety signs Sea safety Safety on trains Warehouse safety
Reading: safety regulations and procedures; completing a table about safety measures Listening: safety in warehouses Speaking: describing and explaining visual information; expressing personal opinions and ideas about road safety
Applying for a job
Curriculum Vitae Covering letter Tips for a successful interview
Reading: how to write a CV and a covering letter; learning tips for getting a job Speaking: discuss the suitability of a candidate compared to a job post Writing: production of a covering letter and a simulation of an interview
pp. 36-39
10 pp. 40-43
11 pp. 44-47
12 pp. 48-50
13 pp. 51-53
14 pp. 54-59
15 pp. 60-63
audio files downloadable from www.elionline.com 1 MP3
3
1
What Is English for Transport and Logistics?
In a short time you will be studying English for Transport, both by sea and by air, as well as Logistics. But do you know exactly what these topics are?
1 Read the questionnaire and fill it in to check what you already know. 1 If you want to sail you need a ____________ licence. skipper’s pilot’s driver’s 2 What are your main sailing interests? no interest racing cruising day sailing 3 What are your main flying interests? pleasure business air taxi instructor 4 What type of lorry driver would you like to become? long-haul driver (more than 500 miles) short-haul driver (less than 500 miles) local driver (pick-up and delivery) 5 Who do you have to contact to become a train driver? the Ministry of Transport an Insurance Company the Train Operator Company 6 What type of boat would you like to own? none sailing motor 7 What type of aircraft would you like to fly? model name _______________ number ________ 8 What type of lorry would you like to drive? single-unit lorry single-trailer lorry multi-trailer lorry 9 If you are responsible for the train, the freight and the crew you will become a conductor a locomotive engineer/train driver 10 If you actually operate a locomotive you will be a conductor a locomotive engineer/train driver 11 If you become a logistics expert, where will the stocking location of your company be? at home in a warehouse no stocking location, all business online
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Simply speaking, English for Transport and Logistics covers the language used whenever you are ‘at Sea, in the Air or on Land’, whether you are on a small boat or a huge cruiser, in your lorry or in an airplane, in any port, airport or railway station. It involves everything related to transport and the way goods and people are organised when they get moving or are moved. But it also involves much more. Of course the starting point is the language, so you must know grammar quite well, but vocabulary can be very specific too. English for Transport and Logistics will challenge all your language skills: reading (documents about transport, technical texts); writing (emails, technical reports and documents, filing data in grids, filling in forms); listening (presentations, announcements, technical descriptions); speaking in an interactive way. These are all communication skills that you will use in transport-related situations. English for Transport and Logistics will also help you connect to many specialised subjects and topics that you will soon study at school and it will provide you with a set of technical terms in preparation for your future specific study of the language.
1 2 What other school subjects do you think you will study these topics in? Write the subject/s for each of the following topics. The first one is done for you. 1 intermodal freight transport 2 building a ship 3 safety regulations
4 control space 5 the organisation of a port/airport/depot
1 Intermodal freight transport is studied in logistics. In this book you will study some basic, traditional topics in transport.
3
Match these topics with their contents. 1 watercraft construction 2 sailing 3 safety regulations 4 intermodal freight transport 5 aircraft navigation 6 meteorology 7 aircraft construction 8 land transport
a
b c d e f g h
an engineering discipline concerned with the design of ships, boats, drill rigs, submarines, and other floating or submerged craft the art of controlling a boat people move under their own power, or use wheels with electric or fuel-powered engines t he development of components and planning of aircraft a means of moving freight using multiple modes of transportation the discipline of preventing injury or loss at sea t he interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere the process of planning, recording and controlling the movement of a craft from one place to another
MY GLOSSARY aircraft \"e´krA…ft\________________________________ conductor \k´n"døkt´“r‘\__________________________ control space \k´n"tr´Ul speIs\______________________ crew \kru…\_____________________________________ cruiser \"kru…z´“r‘\_______________________________ depot \"dep´U\__________________________________ drill rig \drIl rIg\________________________________ engine \"endZIn\_________________________________ floating \"fl´UtIN\________________________________ freight \freIt\___________________________________ goods \gUdz\___________________________________ haul (n) \hO…l\__________________________________
intermodal freight transport \Int´"m´Udl freIt "trœnspO…t\____ locomotive engineer \l´Uk´"m´UtIv endZI"nI´“r‘\________ lorry driver \"lÅri "draIv´“r‘\________________________ safety \"seIfti\___________________________________ sail (v) \seIl\___________________________________ skipper \"skIp´“r‘\________________________________ stock (v) \stÅk\_________________________________ submerged \s´b"m‰…dZd\__________________________ trailer \"treIl´“r‘\_________________________________ train driver \treIn "draIv´“r‘\_______________________ warehouse \"we´haUs\____________________________ wheel \wi…l\____________________________________
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2
Means of Transport
Means of transport Below are some of the most common means of transport for moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. The choice of which one or ones to use when transporting goods depends on the distance to travel, the time and the type of goods.
1
Write each means of transport under the correct picture. articulated lorry barge cargo plane container ship goods train ferry lorry road tanker road train tanker van
1 ___________________
4 ___________________
6
2 ___________________
3 ___________________
5 ___________________
6 ___________________
7 ___________________
8 ___________________
9 ___________________
10 ___________________
11 ___________________
2 Transport by land Road transport or road haulage is the most common form of land transport. Over short and medium distances it is relatively fast and convenient, which makes it particularly suitable for perishable goods such as fresh food produce. Goods can be loaded and unloaded at any destination so it is extremely flexible. However, due to the limited carrying capacity, it is not so economical for long distances. A company can use its own transport services, such as vans for local deliveries, or can use the services of a courier or a road haulage firm which can deliver goods both nationally and internationally. A TIR lorry (from the French Transports Internationaux Routiers) is normally used when transporting goods across multiple borders. The goods are loaded into containers which are sealed at their point of departure and therefore do not need to be inspected by customs officials until the final destination.
Although the use of rail as a method of transport has declined in favour of road transport, it is a very efficient and cost-effective way of transporting heavy and bulky goods over long distances. It is less flexible than road transport, operating to fixed time schedules, and goods need to be transferred at both ends of the journey. Container trains have solved this problem for some goods since containers can easily be loaded to ships or lorries to continue on to their destination.
2
• door-to-door delivery • fairly fast • relatively cost-effectiv
DISADVANTAGES • air pollution and environmental damage • limited capacity/weight • delays due to congested roads, bad weather
ADVANTAGES • low-cost and environmental impact • low-accident rate • suitable for large quantities and long distances
DISADVANTAGES • slow • limited by the rail network coverage • size limits (due to bridges and tunnels)
Read the texts and answer these questions. 1 Which factors can influence the choice of transport? 2 Which is the most common form of transport by land? 3 Why is road transport flexible? 4 What is a TIR lorry and when and how is it used?
3
ADVANTAGES
5 Which is the most suitable form of land transport for long distances? Why? 6 What is a container train? 7 What are advantages and disadvantages of rail? 8 What is the major disadvantage of road transport impacting on the environment?
Match each word with the correct definition. 1 convenient 2 economical 3 suitable 4 flexible 5 cost-effective 6 limited
a b c d e f
giving good value for money right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation effective or productive in relation to its cost restricted in size, amount, or extent situated to allow easy access a ble to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances
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2
Transport by water
ADVANTAGES
Transporting goods by canal or river is a cheap form of transport, but it is slow. Britain has a large network of canals, built during the Industrial Revolution to link the north and south of the country, but road and rail transport have taken over as they are much faster. There are 37,000 km of inland waterways in Europe, such as the Rhine and the Danube, which connect major cities and industrial areas, so there is significant potential to increase the share of freight transported by inland waterways within Europe. Sea freight refers to the movement of goods by ship across seas and oceans and it is the most widely used form of transport for international trade. It can be divided into two types: • coastal shipping, which is between the main ports within the same country; • overseas shipping, which is between ports in different countries. Overseas shipping is an economical means to transport a wide range of goods, from raw materials to plant machinery and vehicles since virtually no weight or size restrictions apply. Goods are normally packed in containers which means they can be loaded and unloaded onto the ship quickly and cheaply.The merchandise is well protected during transport, which reduces damage and the risk of loss or theft.
• not congested, lowenvironmental impact
DISADVANTAGES • slow, not fully integrated as part of intermodal transport
ADVANTAGES • cheap • suitable for long distances • capable of carrying large volumes
DISADVANTAGES • slow affected by bad weather • huge environmental impact in case of accident
4 Read the texts and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones. 1 In the UK, canal transport was used during the Industrial Revolution. 2 It is still a popular form of transport today. 3 Inland waterways in Europe are used to their full potential. 4 Transport by water is generally cheaper but slower than other forms. 5 Sea freight is the most common form of transport for international trade. 6 Only lightweight goods can be transported by sea. 7 Containers help reduce risks during transport. 8 Intermodal transport is where there are multiple destinations for cargo.
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_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
2 Container ports Modern ports cover vast areas of water and land and handle hundreds of thousands of tonnes of cargo every year. Made of steel, containers are of a standard size, normally 20 foot or 40 foot long. When transporting goods it is possible to have a Full Container Load (FCL) where the container holds only the goods of a single customer. In this case, the container is usually loaded and sealed at origin and then opened at its final destination.The other possibility is a Less than Container Load (LCL), when the goods of more than one customer are grouped together into a container. Two methods used for unloading and loading operations are: •L ift-On Lift-Off (often abbreviated to Lo/Lo). The loading and unloading of ships is carried out by cranes and derricks which can lift the cargo, often containers, on and off the ship. •R oll-on Roll-off (often abbreviated to Ro/Ro). This system is used on ships which have a ramp, so that vans, lorries or railroad cars with their cargo can be driven on and off the ship. It is also used for cars on passenger ferries.
5
Read the text and complete these sentences. 1 __________________ make freight transportation easier. 2 They are of a standard size although __________________ exist. 3 If a customer has enough goods to fill one container, it is called a __________________. 4 With a FCL, a container is not normally __________________ between its origin and destination. 5 If several customers have goods in a container, it is called a __________________. 6 Ro/Ro and Lo/Lo are two examples of __________________.
6
Speaking In pairs, analyse the information in the table and answer these questions. 1 What information does the table give? 2 What years are compared? 3 In what unit of measurement is the data presented? 4 Which port was the biggest in 1989? What position did it hold in 2014? 5 Which port was the biggest in 2014? And what position did it hold in 1989?
6 What can you notice about the position of European and US ports in the period between 1989 and 2014? 7 Which continent had the most ports on the list in 2014? 8 What do you think these changes show?
WORLD’S LARGEST CONTAINER PORTS
Volume, million TEUs*
1989
2014
Hong Kong
4.5 Shanghai (China)
35.29
Singapore
4.4 Singapore
33.87
Rotterdam (Netherlands)
3.9 Shenzhen (China)
24.04
Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
3.4 Hong Kong, S.A.R. (China)
22.23
Kobe (Japan)
2.5 Ningbo-Zhoushan (China)
19.45
Busan (South Korea)
2.2 Busan (South Korea)
18.68
Los Angeles (United States)
2.1 Qingdao (China)
16.62
New York/New Jersey (United States)
2.0 Guangzhou Harbor (China)
16.63
Keelung (Taiwan)
1.8 Jebel Ali, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
15.25
Hamburg (Germany)
1.8 Los Angeles/Long Beach (USA)
15.16
Source: Containerisation International
TEU* stands for ‘Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit’. This is the industry standard to measure containers and refers to the standard 20 foot container (20 ft long x 8 ft wide or 6.09 metres x 2.4 metres).
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2
ADVANTAGES
Transport by air Air freight is the fastest mode of transport. It has always been used for high value commodities, fragile, perishable and urgently needed goods since it can guarantee such a quick delivery.The commercial life of perishable goods is short, so it is really only air freight that can guarantee moving the goods from producer to consumer in a sufficiently short time for the product to be sold. The costs involved are high, but this can be justified if the final consumers pay a premium. Similarly for other goods, the advantages of quick, safe air freight and savings in terms of packing and insurance, can offset the higher transportation costs. For these reasons, there has been an increase in the number of airlines operating cargo aircraft in recent years.
7
• fast • quick administrative process • safe and secure
DISADVANTAGES • expensive • risk of delays caused by bad weather and strikes • only suitable for small, lightweight goods
Read the text and answer the questions 1 What kind of goods are often transported by air? 2 Why is air transport particularly suitable for perishable goods? 3 Is the final price that consumers pay affected by this choice of transport? How? 4 In what ways can using air transport save other costs? 5 How can bad weather affect air transport? 6 What are the major advantages of air freight?
8 Speaking In pairs, decide which is the best method of transport for these situations. Consider all the forms of transport presented in this unit and give your reasons. 1 books from an e-commerce website to its international, private customers 2 vans from a manufacturing plant in the north of England to a showroom in the south of the country 3 crude oil from Egypt to Europe 4 bananas from Brazil to a wholesaler in the USA 5 large, antique furniture from a wholesaler in India to a retailer in London 6 components from Detroit, USA, to an industrial plant in the south of Germany 7 leather goods from a manufacturer in Florence to a selection of retailers in the north of Italy
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2 9 Pairwork Which form of transport do you think damages the environment the most? In what ways? Discuss it with your partner
The environmental impact of freight traffic The total volume of freight transport around the world has a massive impact on the environment. Leaving aside environmental disasters, such as spills of toxic waste or leaks in oil pipelines, each mode of transport pollutes our air and water to a lesser or greater extent. Aviation Aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. It also creates noise pollution, particularly damaging in residential areas located near major airports. The reductions in GHG (Greenhouse gases) have not been sufficient to compensate for the rapid growth of global air traffic, both passenger and cargo. Passengers, in fact, have to offset the emissions by paying a surcharge.
Road transport Heavy goods vehicles are responsible for more harmful pollution than any other form of transport. They emit particulates, that is microscopic specks of soot and other matter invisible to the naked eye, which may cause asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular issues. Vehicles also contribute to the increase of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as noise pollution. To reduce emissions and also to save money, smart logistics and GPS systems can be used to ensure that vehicles use the best routes for multiple deliveries, avoiding ’empty’ return journeys. Rail transport This is the most environmentally- friendly form of transport. Studies show that it is between three and ten times less CO2 intensive than road or air transport. The most negative impact comes from the construction of new lines and the maintenance of the existing network, as well as from accidents like leaks and spills of dangerous goods.
Sea transport Sea freight is significantly more environmentally friendly than air and road freight. Ships use less fuel compared to aircraft and lorries so the amount of fossil fuel combustion is much lower, with obvious environmental benefits. Sources of pollution can be the illegal dumping of plastics or other nonbiodegradable products while at sea, as well as accidental spills of oil, toxic materials or during loading/unloading in port.
10 Read the text and write which form(s) of transport these sentences refer to. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
responsible for greenhouse gas emissions disasters cause severe damage creates noise pollution the best form of transport for the environment illegal practices can harm the environment improved technology can help reduce negative effects causes the emission of particulates uses less fuel compared to aircrafts
_________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________
MY GLOSSARY aircraft /ˈeəkrɑft/_________________________________ container /kənˈteɪnər/_____________________________ cost-effective /ˌkɒstɪˈfektɪv/________________________ delay /dɪˈleɪ/____________________________________ environmental /ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmentəl/__________________ freight /freɪt/____________________________________ green initiatives /ɡriːn ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/_____________________ haulage /ˈhɔːlɪdʒ/________________________________
lift /lɪft/________________________________________ lorry /ˈlɒri/_____________________________________ maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/________________________ pollute /pəˈluːt/__________________________________ tanker /ˈtæŋkər/_________________________________ toxic waste /ˈtɒksɪk weɪst/__________________________ waterway /ˈwɔːtəweɪ/_____________________________
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