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thumb|250px|right|[[Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh,
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thumb|250px|right|Port of Miami|-
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A
port is a facility for receiving
ships and/or transferring
cargo. It is usually found at the edge of an
ocean,
sea,
river, or
lake. The best ports have deep
water in
channels or
berths, and protection from the
wind and
waves.
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 also have
customs facilities.
Access
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 from the sea, while the ports of
Ravenspurn and
Dunwich have been lost to
coastal erosion. Also in the
United Kingdom,
London, the
River Thames was once an important international port, but changes in shipping methods, such as the use of containers and larger ships, put it at a disadvantage.
Distribution
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 nearby. Some ports feature
canals, which allow ships further movement inland.
Access to intermodal transportation, such as
trains or
trucks, are critical to a port, so that passengers and cargo can also move further inland beyond the port area.
Port types
The terms "port" and "
seaport" are used for different types of port facilities 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. It may be a recreational facility, but it is usually a commercial one.
Port is a
nautical term that refers to the left side of a craft either an airplane or ship.
Starboard is the nautical term that refers to the right side of a craft.
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 where the water does not freeze in winter time. 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 cruise-ship passengers board (or
embark) to start their cruise and also
debark (or
disembark) the cruise ship at the end of their cruise. It is also where the cruise ship's supplies are loaded for the cruise, which includes everything from fresh water and fuel 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, because off-going passengers debark their baggage and on-coming passengers board the ship in addition to all the supplies being loaded. Currently, the
Cruise Capital of the World is the
Port of Miami,
Florida, closely followed behind by
Port Everglades, Florida 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 include up to half a dozen ports. At these ports, a cargo ship may take on supplies or fuel, as well as unloading and loading cargo. But for a cruise ship, it is their premier stop where the cruise lines take on passengers to enjoy their vacation.
Cargo ports, on the other hand, are quite different to cruise ports, because 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.
See also
Water port topics
- Bandar (Persian word for "port" or "haven")
- Marina - port for recreational boating
Other types of ports
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