Why were improvements in water transportation so important

The water transport improvements form the 1700s to the 1800s helped with navigation to sailing a lot faster. The boats in the 1700s were just powered by air and man power(ores). In the 1800s the boats began to run on steam. That saved man power and coal. From the 1800s to the 1900s the boats became better in their engine power and no longer ran on steam.  

Ithink the answer is b. shakeri hope im not wrong : )