transp. |
the transport of goods or passengers between two places in the same country by a transport operator from another country (It originally applied to shipping along coastal routes, port to port, but now applies to aviation, railways, and road transport as well. Cabotage laws apply to merchant ships in most countries that have a coastline so as to protect the domestic shipping industry from foreign competition, preserve domestically owned shipping infrastructure for national security purposes, and ensure safety in congested territorial waters) |