When a container is transferred from a ship to a train to complete its journey, this is known as what?

In the context of logistics and transportation, when a container is transferred from a ship to a train to complete its journey, it is referred to as intermodal transportation. This term specifically describes the use of more than one mode of transport to move goods. In this case, the container originally transported by sea is transferred to a rail system for further delivery.

Intermodal transportation allows for the efficient movement of goods by leveraging the strengths of various transport modes—such as ships for long-distance international transport and trains for reliable and fast land transport. This integration enhances the overall effectiveness of the supply chain.

The other options do not represent this specific concept accurately. Multimodal transportation often implies a singular contracted carrier responsible for transporting goods using multiple transport methods, but not necessarily transferring the goods physically between two separate modes. Direct transportation typically indicates moving goods without any transfer between modes, and rail transportation focuses specifically on the use of trains without acknowledging other modes like ships. Therefore, intermodal transportation encapsulates the entire process of transferring goods between different modes of transport, making it the correct choice.