"TRB Special Report 236 - Intermodal Marine Container Transportation: Impediments and Opportunities" examines where and how government action might assist in overcoming impediments and fostering efficiency in intermodal marine container transportation, especially through technological or institutional innovation. The report analyzes 10 key issues on which government in the United States affects or can affect the intermodal marine container transportation industry. The issues are: ship procurement restrictions under the Operating Differential Subsidy (ODS) program; federally imposed ship-manning requirements; military cargo bidding policies; environmental policy conflicts and costs; overweight container trucks; customs clearance procedures; intermodal equipment interchange procedures; cargo liability and responsibility regulation; creation of a federal intermodal coordinating office; and collection and publication of container trade data.