Port
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. WikiProject Ports may be able to help recruit one. (May 2008) |
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2008) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A port is a facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo. They are usually found at the edge of an ocean, sea, river, or lake. Ports often have cargo-handling equipment such as cranes (operated by longshoremen) and forklifts for use in loading/unloading of ships, which may be provided by private interests or public bodies. Often, canneries or other processing facilities will be located near by. Harbour pilots and tugboats are often used to maneuver large ships in tight quarters as they approach and leave the docks. Ports which handle international traffic have customs facilities.
A prerequisite for a port is a harbor with water of sufficient depth to receive ships whose draft will allow passage into and out of the harbor.
Ports sometimes fall out of use. Rye, East Sussex was an important English port in the Middle Ages, but the coastline changed and it is now 2 miles (3.2 km) from the sea, while the ports of Ravenspurn and Dunwich have been lost to coastal erosion. Also in the United Kingdom, London, on the River Thames, and Manchester, on the Manchester Ship Canal, were once important international ports, but changes in shipping methods, such as the use of containers and larger ships, put them at a disadvantage.
Contents |
[edit] Port types
The terms "port" and "seaport" are used for ports that handle ocean-going vessels, and river port is used for river traffic, such as barges and other shallow draft vessels. Some ports on a lake, river, or canal have access to a sea or ocean, and are sometimes called "inland ports".
A fishing port is a type of port or harbor facility particularly suitable for landing and distributing fish.
Port can also be used to refer to the left side of a craft either an airplane or ship.
A "dry port" is a term sometimes used to describe a yard used to place containers or conventional bulk cargo, usually connected to a seaport by rail or road.
A warm water port is a port where the water does not freeze in winter. Because they are available year-round, warm water ports can be of great geopolitical or economic interest, with the ports of Saint Petersburg, Dalian, and Valdez being notable examples.
A seaport is further categorized as a "cruise port" or a "cargo port". Additionally, "cruise ports" are also known as a "home port" or a "port of call". The "cargo port" is also further categorized into a "bulk" or "break bulk port" or as a "container port".
A cruise home port is the port where the passengers board to start their cruise and also debark the cruise ships at the end of their cruise. It is also where the cruise ship's supplies are loaded for the cruise. this includes everything from the wate and fuels to fruits, vegetable, champagne, and any other supplies needed for the cruise. "Cruise home ports" are a very busy place during the day the cruise ship is in port as the passengers along with their baggage debark and the new passengers board the ship in addition to all the supplies. Currently, the Cruise Capital of the World is the Port of Miami closely followed behind by Port Everglades and the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A port of call is an intermediate stop for a ship on its sailing itinerary which may be half-a-dozen ports. At these ports a cargo ship may take on supplies or fuel as well as unloading and loading their cargo. But for a cruise ship, it is their premier stop where the cruise lines take their passengers to enjoy their vacation.
Cargo ports on the other hand are much more different than cruise ports. They are very different since each handles very different cargo which has to be loaded and unloaded by very different mechanical means. The port may handle one particular type of cargo or it may handle numerous cargoes such as grains, liquid fuels, liquid chemicals, wood, automobiles, etc. Such ports are known as the "bulk" or "break bulk ports". Those ports that handle containerized cargo are known as container ports. Most cargo ports handle all sorts of cargo but some ports are very specific as to what cargo they handle. Additionally, the individual cargo ports are divided into different operating terminals which handle the different cargoes and are operated by different companies also known as terminal operators or stevedores.
[edit] See also
[edit] Water port topics
- Bandar (Persian word for "port" or "haven")
- Dock (maritime)
- Harbour
- Marina - port for recreational boating
- Port operator
- Ship transport
[edit] Other types of ports
[edit] Lists
- List of seaports
- World's busiest port
- List of world's busiest transshipment ports
- List of world's busiest port regions
- List of busiest container ports
[edit] External links
 |
Look up port in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Port Industry Statistics, American Association of Port Authorities
- World Port Rankings 2006, by metric tons and by TEUs, American Association of Port Authorities (xls format, 26.5kb)
- Information on yachting facilities at 1,613 ports in 191 countries from Noonsite.com
- Social & Economic Benefits of PORTS from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative
- World sea ports search
- PortCities UK
