PORT DESCRIPTION

What is a port?
A port is a place where goods, passengers and mail are transferred to, from, or between
carriers of the same or different modes. Ships and cargo carriers move people and cargo from
one place to another, so they need ports where they can load and unload. Every port has areas
called docks where ships tie up along the quayside. The docks are often inside an area of
water called a harbour, which is protected from the sea by a massive stone wall or natural
cliffs. On the docks there are huge cranes for unloading the ships and warehouses for storing
cargo.
In the port area there may be ship repair yards, parts shops and customs offices. Until recently,
large numbers of people were employed as dockers and many major coastal towns and cities
have grown up around ports. But the increased use of containers has dramatically reduced the
number of workers. Huge merchant ships now dock at purpose-built ports or terminals, which
are specially designed for handling cargoes, such as containers, oil and gas.
Tying up. Berthing ropes hooked over bollards are used to tie ships to the quayside. Quays
may also be known as wharves.
The pilot. The entrance to a harbour is often narrow and busy. It may also have treacherous
shallow areas such as sandbanks outside it. A pilot is a person who knows the harbour well.
He or she always takes control of large ships to guide them as they enter and leave the port.
High and dry. Repair and maintenance facilities in port may include a dry dock. Scaffolding is
erected to keep the ship upright.
Unloading in port. Dockside cranes unload ships in the port. The crane can be moved along
the dockside on railway tracks.
Facts: A marina is a small harbour area where leisure craft such as motorboats and
sailing yachts tie up. Marinas are usually separate from the normal harbour. They are also
common on coasts where there are few natural harbours for small boats to shelter in. each bay,
called a berth, in a marina has water and electricity supplies.
Port location. The location of a port is a major consideration with regard to its economic
functions. Geographers consider location in terms of site and situation. Site refers to the
characteristics of the area occupied by the port; situation refers to the relations of the port
location to the hinterland and to overseas or forelands with which the port has connections.
What is the difference between a port and a harbour?
Nearly all ports include portions of one or more harbours; a harbour may serve a single port,
as in the case of a large harbour (San Francisco Bay), several ports, or several harbours may
serve one port (London, Chicago, Sydney).
VOCABULARY
Load (to) = a incarca
Unload (to) = a descarca
Tie up (to) = a lega
Quay = cheu
Crane = macara

Warehouse = depozit
Shipyard = santier naval
Handle (to) = a manevra, a manipula
Hook (to)= a indoi, a incovoia
Bollard = bolard, baba, binta
Wharf/-ves = chei, debarcader, ponton
Treacherous = inselator, nesigur
Shallow area = zona cu apa mica
Maintenance = intretinere
Scaffolding = schelarie
Railway track = sina de cale ferata
Shelter = adapost
Berth = dana
Leisure craft = ambarcatiune de agrement
Hinterland = regiune situata in interior (dincolo de tarm sau de granita)
Foreland = cap, promontoriu
Site = loc, amplasament