Ports and Harbours

Comparison with Other Modes

a. Other modes of transportation i.e. road, rail and air have developed tremendously in the last
century but sea transportation has experienced some setback. However it’s important in no case
can be reduced because of certain inherent advantages: -

(1) Unlike railways and roads, no special track is required to be built.

(2) Little motive power per unit load transportation is required.
(3) Possesses high load carrying capacity.
(4) Most economical mode for foreign trade.
(5) Provides powerful means of defense of coastline.
(6) Assist in industrialization and development of nations.

b. The limitations are: -

(1) Slow means of transportation.

(2) Subject to storms and hurricanes.
(3) Waves and tides hinder loading and unloading of ships.
(4) Fluctuations of water level causing rubbing of ship against berths.
 Terms in Connection with Ships
• Load Line or Plimsoll mark.
• Displacement Light.
• Displacement Load.
• Dead Wight Tonnage (DWT).
• Gross Tonnage.
• Net Tonnage.
• Cargo Tonnage.
• Beam.
• Draft.
• Ballast
 Terms in Connection with Ports and
Harbours
• Marine Terminal.
• Passenger Terminal.
• Freight or Cargo Terminal.
• Anchorage Area.
• Turning Basin
 Requirements of a Good Port
a. Afford shelter, allied facilities and repairs for visiting
ships.
b. Have a hard surface coastline to avoid frequent repairs to
docks and buildings etc.
c. Have adequate area for future expansion.
d. Have communication links specially railway links.
e. Have entrance channel providing easy entrance and exit.
f. Have suitable turning basin.
g. Be located centrally with respect to hinterland.
h. Be strategically located to guard against aggression.
i. Be capable of handling good tonnage of cargo.
j. Be in area having advanced culture, trade and industry.
 Port Design
Following features should be considered
a. Entrance channel should provide easy
entrance and exit.
b. Suitable turning basin
c. To have sufficient width behind the quay to
deal with goods
d. Loading and unloading of cargo is facilitated
if enough provision for railway track exists
 Challenges for Ports
a. Growth of Sea Borne Trade.
b. Increase in Ship Size.
c. New Transport Systems.
d. New Special Trades.
e. Increased Sailing Speed.
f. Regularity of Call in Port.
g. Technological Development in Shipping.
 Ship and Cargo Characteristics
affecting Port Facilities
• Length of Ship.
• Beam of Ship.
• Draft of Ship.
• Cargo-Carrying Capacity of Ships.
• Cargo-Handling Gear of Ships.
• Types of Cargo Carried by Ships.
• Size, Shape and Strength of Hull and
Superstructure of Ships.
• Maneuverability of Ship at low Speed.
 HARBOURS
a. Natural Harbour
b. Semi Natural Harbour.
c. Artificial Harbour.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• Coastal natural.
Represents a sheltered site the outcome of a
natural profile of the coast, creating a natural
barrier such as a cape, a reef or an island. The
above image depicts the harbor of Kingston,
Jamaica. About 2,100 (46.0%) ports are in this
category, underlining that the selection of a port
site is dominantly influenced by the quality of
the harbor.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• Coastal breakwater.
An harbor lying behind an artificial breakwater
construction, built from scratch or built to add to
an existing natural shelter. It is particularly the
case for harbors exposed to dominant winds,
waves or the sea currents. Sherbourg, France is
here depicted. About 810 ports (17.6%) are in
this category.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
Coastal tide gates.
An harbor behind a set of locks or other
mechanical devices built to insure sufficient
water levels in the harbor for all tide levels. In
many cases ships can enter or exit the port only
at certain times of the day when water levels are
adequate. Only 39 (0.8%) such ports exist, such
as Mumbai, India depicted above.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• River natural.
An Harbor Located Along A River Where Water Is Not
Retained In Any Artificial Means. The Harbor Often
Consists Of Quays Or DRY DOCK QUAY SHORE SEA
TURNING BASIN BREAKWATER BREAKWATER
BERTH ENTRANCE APPROACH CHANNEL
TYPICAL LAYOUT OF AN ARTIFICAL HARBOUR
BOAT BASIN ANCHORAGE AREA FERTILIZER
Wharves Parallel To The River Banks. Piers May Also
Extend Into The River. About 850 (18.5%) Such Ports
Exist, Such As Jacksonville, Florida.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• River basins.
A river harbor where basins have been excavated
to accommodate ships, often parallel to the flow
of the river. This confers the advantage of
additional berth space without impeding fluvial
navigation. 77 (1.6%) such ports exist, including
Bremen, Germany.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• River tide gates.
A river harbor behind a set of locks or other
mechanical devices built to insure sufficient
water levels in the harbor for all tide levels. Such
harbors tend to be located close to the ocean,
such as in a river delta or estuary for the case of
Bremenhaven, Germany (estuary of the river
Weser). Only 47 (1.0%) such ports exist.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• Canal or lake.
A harbor located along an artificial canal or by a
river accessible through a navigable waterway.
67 (1.4%) such ports exist, including Brugge,
Belgium.
Harbors on the Basis of Location
• Open roadstead.
An harbor with no natural or artificial protection.
They are often built to accommodate very large
ships (such as oil tankers) or are in a setting where
there are limited tides, implying that sheltering
infrastructure are much less required (Persian Gulf,
Red Sea, Gulf of Mexico). 580 (12.5%) ports are in
this category, including Ra's at Tannurah, Saudi
Arabia, a major oil port in the Persian Gulf.
Classification of Harbours based on
Utility
• Commercial Harbour.
• Refuge Harbour.
• Fishery Harbour.
• Military Harbour.