Short answers, pulled from the story.
A cargo ship and a freighter are two names for the same type of vessel: a merchant ship designed to transport goods, commodities, and materials across seas and oceans. Technically, "cargo" refers to the goods carried aboard for hire, while "freight" refers to the act of carrying such cargo, but the terms have been used interchangeably for centuries.
Liberty ships were a class of 2,710 cargo vessels built during World War II, partly based on a British design. Sections were prefabricated across the United States and assembled in an average of six weeks, with the construction record standing at just over four days. They allowed the Allies to replace sunken cargo vessels faster than German U-boats could sink them, contributing significantly to the war effort and the delivery of supplies.
The Ever Given became lodged in the Suez Canal from the 25th of March to the 28th of March 2021, causing a halt in maritime trade. The blockage drew worldwide attention to how much global shipping depends on that single waterway.
Most large cargo ships burn bunker fuel, also known as heavy fuel oil, which contains higher sulphur levels than diesel. Bunker fuel consumption reached 278 million tonnes per year in 2001 and was projected to reach 500 million tonnes per year by 2020. The International Maritime Organization's marine fuel requirements are designed to achieve a 90% reduction in sulphur oxide emissions.
Smithsonian Magazine reported in 2022 that whale sharks, the largest species of fish, have been disappearing over the past 75 years, with research pointing to cargo ships and large vessels as likely culprits. A study involving over 75 researchers identified shipping activities as a threat to whale sharks in regions including Ecuador, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, Oman, Seychelles, and Taiwan.
The Manila Galleon trade ran from 1565 to 1815, linking the Philippines to Acapulco and carrying Asian goods such as silk, porcelain, and spices to the Americas. From Acapulco, goods were transhipped overland to Veracruz and loaded onto Atlantic treasure fleets bound for Spain, forming one of the first globe-spanning maritime trade routes.