Port
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2008-07-15T04:19:31Z
Euryalus
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rv image removal. There is an arguemnt that too many images are used but please discuss on talk page before simply deleting them all.
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{{Expert-subject|Ports|date=May 2008}}
{{Cleanup|date=May 2008}}
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|[[Image:Lorrain.seaport.jpg|thumb|250px|''Seaport'', a painting by [[Claude Lorrain]], 1638]]
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|[[Image:Major Ports.png|right|thumb|250px|Major Ports]]
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|[[Image:Piraeus.JPG|thumb|250px|The port of [[Piraeus]] in [[Greece]]]]
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|[[Image:Dover Port.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The [[Port of Dover]], [[UK]] is the world's busiest passenger port.]]
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|[[Image:Porto de Valparaiso - Chile - by Sérgio Schmiegelow.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Valparaíso]], [[Chile]], the main port in [[Chile]]]]
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|[[Image:Port of Kobe02s4100.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Port of [[Kobe]] at twilight]]
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|[[Image:DSC 0116sml.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Port of Miami]]]]
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|[[Image:DSCN3824 newarkbaynewandold e.JPG|thumb|right|250px|New York/Jersey Seaport seen from the bay.]]
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A '''port''' is a facility for receiving [[ship]]s and transferring cargo. They are usually situated at the edge of an [[ocean]], [[sea]], [[river]], or [[lake]]. Ports often have cargo-handling equipment such as [[Crane (machine)|cranes]] (operated by [[longshoremen]]) and [[forklift]]s for use in loading/unloading of ships, which may be provided by private interests or public bodies. Often, [[canning|canneries]] or other processing facilities will be located near by. [[Pilot (harbour)|Harbour pilot]]s and [[tugboat]]s are often used to maneuver large ships in tight quarters as they approach and leave the [[Dock (maritime)|docks]]. Ports which handle international traffic have [[customs]] facilities.
The terms "port" and "'''seaport'''" are used for ports that handle ocean-going vessels, and "river port" is used for facilities that handle 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 port]]s". A "fishing port" is a type of port or [[harbor]] facility particularly suitable for landing and distributing [[fish]]. 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]] and [[Valdez, Alaska|Valdez]] being notable examples. A "port of call" is an intermediate stop, for example to collect supplies or fuel.
[[Containerization|Cargo containers]] allow efficient transport and distribution by eliminating loading of smaller packages at each transportation point, and allowing the shipping unit to be sealed for its entire journey. Standard containers can easily be loaded on a [[ship]], [[train]], [[truck]], or [[airplane]], greatly simplifying intermodal transfers. Cargo often arrives by train and truck to be consolidated at a port and loaded onto a large [[container ship]] for international transport. At the destination port, it is distributed by ground transport.
Ports and shipping containers are a vital part of modern [[Just In Time (business)|Just In Time]] inventory management strategies.
Ports sometimes fall out of use. [[Rye, East Sussex]], [[England]], [[UK]] was an important port in the Middle Ages, but the coastline changed and it is now {{convert|2|mi|km}} from the sea, while the ports of [[Ravenspurn]] and [[Dunwich]] have been lost to [[coastal erosion]]. Also in the [[UK]], [[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.
== See also ==
Water port topics
*[[Bandar]] (Persian word for "port" or "haven")
*[[Dock (maritime)]]
*[[Harbour]]
*[[Marina]] - port for recreational boating
*[[Port operator]]
*[[Ship transport]]
*[[United States ports]]
Other types of ports
*[[Airport]]
*[[Spaceport]]
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]]
Support to seafarers
*[[Apostleship of the Sea]]
*[[International Christian Maritime Association]]
*[[:Category:Sea rescue organisations|Sea rescue organisations]]
==External links==
{{wiktionary|port}}
* [http://www.aapa-ports.org/Industry/content.cfm?ItemNumber=900&navItemNumber=551 Port Industry Statistics, American Association of Port Authorities]
* [http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%202005.xls World Port Rankings 2005, by metric tons and by TEUs, American Association of Port Authorities] ('''[[Microsoft Excel|xls]] format''', 26.5kb)
* [http://www.portvision.eu/Terminals/Terminals.aspx World ports database at www.portvision.eu]
* [http://www.noonsite.com/text/Countries Information on 1,613 ports in 191 countries from Noonsite.com]
* [http://www.photius.com/seaports Seaport codes 2002] Seaport codes around the World - IATA 3 Letter Sea Port Codes
*[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/esb/?goal=commerce&file=obs/marine/ports/ Social & Economic Benefits of PORTS] from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative
[[Category:Ports and harbours| ]]
[[ar:ميناء]]
[[br:Porzh (evit listri)]]
[[bg:Пристанище]]
[[ca:Port]]
[[cs:Přístav]]
[[da:Havn]]
[[de:Hafen]]
[[et:Sadam]]
[[el:Λιμάνι]]
[[es:Puerto marítimo]]
[[eo:Haveno]]
[[fa:بندر]]
[[fr:Port (marine)]]
[[ko:항구]]
[[hr:Luka]]
[[id:Pelabuhan]]
[[it:Porto (struttura)]]
[[he:נמל]]
[[la:Portus]]
[[lt:uostas]]
[[ln:Libóngo]]
[[nl:Haven]]
[[ja:港湾]]
[[no:Havn]]
[[pl:Port morski]]
[[pt:Porto (transporte)|Porto]]
[[ro:Port]]
[[ru:Порт]]
[[simple:Port]]
[[sl:Pristanišče]]
[[fi:Satama]]
[[sv:Hamn]]
[[tl:Pundahang pandagat]]
[[tr:Liman]]
[[vi:Cảng]]
[[zh:港口]]
[[wa:Pôrt (ås bateas)]]