It is difficult to rank ports to determine which ones are the "busiest" because you can consider many factors - the weight of the goods, the number of ships, or the number of containers moved. Most port associations rank ports according to volume and number of TEUs.
TEU stands for "Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit;" containers are counted in 20-foot lengths. A twenty-foot container counts as one TEU while a forty-foot container counts as two TEUs.
Many ports are located at transhipment or break-of-bulk points. The top container ports are in Southeast Asia, Northwest Europe, and the West Coast of the United States. These locations reflect the patters of global trade between locations fo production and consumption.
Below are listings of the top ten ports by volume and TEUs, according to the American Association of Port Authorities. Four ports appear on both listings. Links lead you to English language web sites for the ports (when available).
Busiest Ports By Volume
1. Singapore
2. Rotterdam, Netherlands
3. South Louisiana, U.S.A.
4. Shanghai, China
5. Hong Kong, China
6. Houston, U.S.A
7. Chiba, Japan
8. Nagoya, Japan
9. Ulsan, South Korea
10. Kwangyang, South Korea
Hong Kong again captured the title of the world's busiest container port in 2004 when it handled 22 million twenty-footequivalent units (TEUs). This was an increase of 8% from 2003 and means that Hong Kong has been the top container port 12 times in the last 13 years.
During 2004, the new Container Terminal 9 had not become fully operational, but now that it is completed, the nine container terminals at Kwai Chung-Tsing Yi will have a capacity of 18 million TEUs per year.
Hong Kong's Port Master Plan 2020, which was developed to cover port development over a 20-year planning period, recommends initiatives that will further improve efficiency of crossborder trucking and reduce inland transport costs to the Port of Hong Kong. This includes building the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor, which should be operational in mid 2006, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to enhance connections to the Pearl River Delta region.
A study later this year will update the port cargo forecast and determine optimal timing for construction of a new container terminal.
A feasibility study will also be mounted to examine construction of a logistics park at Lantau Island.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Port of Shanghai
Picture from LINK
The Port of Shanghai, located in the vicinity of Shanghai, comprises a deep-sea port and a river port. In 2006, with a total of 537 million tons of cargo transported, it became the world's busiest port by cargo tonnage for the first time.
Geography
The Port of Shanghai faces the East China Sea to the east, and Hangzhou Bay to the south. It includes the heads of the Yangtze River, Huangpu River (which enters the Yangtze River), and Qiantang River.
Administration
The Port of Shanghai is managed by Shanghai International Port which superseded the Shanghai Port Authority in 2003. Shanghai International Port Company Limited is a public listed company which the Shanghai Municipal Government owns 44.23 percent of its outstanding shares.
History
During the Ming Dynasty, what is now the city of Shanghai was a part of Jiangsu Province (with a small part in Zhejiang Province). While Shanghai had become a county seat in the Yuan Dynasty, it remained a relatively small town.
Its location at the mouth of the Yangtze led to its development as coastal trade developed during the Qing Dynasty, especially the Qianlong era. Gradually, the port of Shanghai surpassed the port of Ningbo and the port of Guangzhou to became the largest port of China at the time.
In 1842, Shanghai became a treaty port, thus developing into an international commercial city. By the early 20th century, it was the largest city in the Far East, and the largest port in the Far East.
In 1949, with the Communist takeover in Shanghai, overseas trade was cut dramatically. The economic policy of the People's Republic had a crippling effect on Shanghai's infrastructure and capital development.
In 1991, the central government allowed Shanghai to initiate Economic Reform. Since then, the port of Shanghai has developed at an increasing pace. By 2005, the Yangshan deep water port was built on the Yangshan islands, a group of islands in Hangzhou Bay, linked to Shanghai by the Donghai Bridge. This development allowed the port to overcome shallow water conditions in its current location, and to rival another deep-water port, the nearby Ningbo-Zhoushan port.
Harbour zones
Yangshan Deep-water PortThe port of Shanghai includes 5 major working zones:
Yangtze River estuary
Huangpu River mouth at Wusongkou (Chinese: 吴淞口)
Waigaoqiao (外高桥) in Pudong
Yangshan deep water port (Hangzhou Bay & East China Sea)
Pudong coastline (East China Sea)
Economy
The Port of Shanghai is a critically important transport hub for the Yangtze River region and the most important gateway for foreign trade. It serves the Yangtze economically developed hinterland of Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Henan provinces with its dense population, strong industrial base and developed agricultural sector.
Data
Total area: 3619.6 km sq
1984, 100 million tons (mt) moved
1999, 186 mt
2005, 443 mt
2006, 537 mt
Geography
The Port of Shanghai faces the East China Sea to the east, and Hangzhou Bay to the south. It includes the heads of the Yangtze River, Huangpu River (which enters the Yangtze River), and Qiantang River.
Administration
The Port of Shanghai is managed by Shanghai International Port which superseded the Shanghai Port Authority in 2003. Shanghai International Port Company Limited is a public listed company which the Shanghai Municipal Government owns 44.23 percent of its outstanding shares.
History
During the Ming Dynasty, what is now the city of Shanghai was a part of Jiangsu Province (with a small part in Zhejiang Province). While Shanghai had become a county seat in the Yuan Dynasty, it remained a relatively small town.
Its location at the mouth of the Yangtze led to its development as coastal trade developed during the Qing Dynasty, especially the Qianlong era. Gradually, the port of Shanghai surpassed the port of Ningbo and the port of Guangzhou to became the largest port of China at the time.
In 1842, Shanghai became a treaty port, thus developing into an international commercial city. By the early 20th century, it was the largest city in the Far East, and the largest port in the Far East.
In 1949, with the Communist takeover in Shanghai, overseas trade was cut dramatically. The economic policy of the People's Republic had a crippling effect on Shanghai's infrastructure and capital development.
In 1991, the central government allowed Shanghai to initiate Economic Reform. Since then, the port of Shanghai has developed at an increasing pace. By 2005, the Yangshan deep water port was built on the Yangshan islands, a group of islands in Hangzhou Bay, linked to Shanghai by the Donghai Bridge. This development allowed the port to overcome shallow water conditions in its current location, and to rival another deep-water port, the nearby Ningbo-Zhoushan port.
Harbour zones
Yangshan Deep-water PortThe port of Shanghai includes 5 major working zones:
Yangtze River estuary
Huangpu River mouth at Wusongkou (Chinese: 吴淞口)
Waigaoqiao (外高桥) in Pudong
Yangshan deep water port (Hangzhou Bay & East China Sea)
Pudong coastline (East China Sea)
Economy
The Port of Shanghai is a critically important transport hub for the Yangtze River region and the most important gateway for foreign trade. It serves the Yangtze economically developed hinterland of Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Henan provinces with its dense population, strong industrial base and developed agricultural sector.
Data
Total area: 3619.6 km sq
1984, 100 million tons (mt) moved
1999, 186 mt
2005, 443 mt
2006, 537 mt
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
MS Oasis of the Seas
MS Oasis of the Seas is a cruise ship presently under construction. Once completed, it will displace MS Independence of the Seas as the world's largest passenger vessel, carrying 5,400 passengers.[2] She was designed under the name "Project Genesis". She was ordered in February 2006. Her keel was laid down on December 11, 2007 at STX Europe (formerly Aker Yards) in Turku, Finland. In May 2008 she was named Oasis of the Seas after a contest was held to name the new ship. When she will be completed in late-2009, she will operate Caribbean cruises out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, began construction in February 2008.
Oasis of the Seas will offer passengers innovative things such as two-story loft suites, an amphitheater with poolside performances, zip-lining and a carousel.
In February 2009, the company announced in a financial report that full funding for both of the ships has not been secured so far and that there is a risk that it cannot be secured when the ships are delivered
Neighborhoods
The Oasis of the Seas will include a new concept in cruise ship design - one that bears resemblance to theme park planning. She will have seven "neighborhoods" on board, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Boardwalk
The new AquaTheater, the carousel and the zip line are some activities located on this neighborhood. The Boardwalk also features a variety of restaurants and shops such as Johnny Rockets diner, the Seafood Shack, Candy Beach, and the Boardwalk Doughnut Shop.
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade will have many of the same features as the ones found on the Voyager and Freedom Class ships, but there are some new amenities. These include a skylight; that will let natural light flow inside from above, and the Rising Tide bar, which is a bar that will move between three decks of the ship. There is also going to be a shopping mall of sorts aboard, with some shops and cafes including: a champagne bar, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Close Shave men's groom and barber shop, clothing, jewelery, a general store, and a bar. The space will still be the length of a football field but the width will be 19 meters, more than two times the width of both the Freedom class Royal Promenade and Voyager class Royal Promenade.
Central Park
Central Park, which is intended to have greenery in it, will be open to the sky and will include a variety of shop and restaurant options including the always present Chops Grille.
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center will be larger than the ones on the Voyager and Freedom Class Ships. The Fitness Center will offer different workout studios for a variety of classes. The Spa will offer massages, saunas , steam rooms, a Beauty Salon, and the Vitality Café.
Pool and Sports Zone
The Oasis of the Seas will feature 4 pools and 10 whirlpools, there are also several vantage points of Central Park from the pool areas. The Beach Pool is intended to have a beach theme, the typical H20 Zone, a giant octopus and other water features. There is also the traditional main pool,surrounded by 3 bars in the pool area.
The adults-only solarium has moved to the bow and it will feature some whirlpools like the Freedom Class. The sports deck will feature: basketball, two flowriders, two rock walls, "oasis dunes" mini-golf, and a zipline that glides across the boardwalk.
Entertainment Place
The Entertainment Place will be accessible by stairs from the Royal Promenade, it occupies a central location and acts as a crossroads to many of the ship’s amenities. It hosts venues including the Casino Royale, and the Opal Theater.
The Entertainment Place will feature an ice skating rink like the Voyager and Freedom classes. It also will feature a larger Casino Royale, the Opal Theater (main theater), and some other theaters that will include dance lessons and competitions.
Youth Zone
Home to the Adventure Ocean youth program, with space dedicated to youth activities, from teen areas to learning environments for the smaller guests.
The Youth Zone provides for kids ages 3 to 11 who can use the Adventure Science Lab, the Imagination Art Studio and the new Adventure Ocean Children’s Theater, plus hangout areas for teens.
Oasis of the Seas will offer passengers innovative things such as two-story loft suites, an amphitheater with poolside performances, zip-lining and a carousel.
In February 2009, the company announced in a financial report that full funding for both of the ships has not been secured so far and that there is a risk that it cannot be secured when the ships are delivered
Neighborhoods
The Oasis of the Seas will include a new concept in cruise ship design - one that bears resemblance to theme park planning. She will have seven "neighborhoods" on board, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Boardwalk
The new AquaTheater, the carousel and the zip line are some activities located on this neighborhood. The Boardwalk also features a variety of restaurants and shops such as Johnny Rockets diner, the Seafood Shack, Candy Beach, and the Boardwalk Doughnut Shop.
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade will have many of the same features as the ones found on the Voyager and Freedom Class ships, but there are some new amenities. These include a skylight; that will let natural light flow inside from above, and the Rising Tide bar, which is a bar that will move between three decks of the ship. There is also going to be a shopping mall of sorts aboard, with some shops and cafes including: a champagne bar, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Close Shave men's groom and barber shop, clothing, jewelery, a general store, and a bar. The space will still be the length of a football field but the width will be 19 meters, more than two times the width of both the Freedom class Royal Promenade and Voyager class Royal Promenade.
Central Park
Central Park, which is intended to have greenery in it, will be open to the sky and will include a variety of shop and restaurant options including the always present Chops Grille.
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center will be larger than the ones on the Voyager and Freedom Class Ships. The Fitness Center will offer different workout studios for a variety of classes. The Spa will offer massages, saunas , steam rooms, a Beauty Salon, and the Vitality Café.
Pool and Sports Zone
The Oasis of the Seas will feature 4 pools and 10 whirlpools, there are also several vantage points of Central Park from the pool areas. The Beach Pool is intended to have a beach theme, the typical H20 Zone, a giant octopus and other water features. There is also the traditional main pool,surrounded by 3 bars in the pool area.
The adults-only solarium has moved to the bow and it will feature some whirlpools like the Freedom Class. The sports deck will feature: basketball, two flowriders, two rock walls, "oasis dunes" mini-golf, and a zipline that glides across the boardwalk.
Entertainment Place
The Entertainment Place will be accessible by stairs from the Royal Promenade, it occupies a central location and acts as a crossroads to many of the ship’s amenities. It hosts venues including the Casino Royale, and the Opal Theater.
The Entertainment Place will feature an ice skating rink like the Voyager and Freedom classes. It also will feature a larger Casino Royale, the Opal Theater (main theater), and some other theaters that will include dance lessons and competitions.
Youth Zone
Home to the Adventure Ocean youth program, with space dedicated to youth activities, from teen areas to learning environments for the smaller guests.
The Youth Zone provides for kids ages 3 to 11 who can use the Adventure Science Lab, the Imagination Art Studio and the new Adventure Ocean Children’s Theater, plus hangout areas for teens.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Nimitz class aircraft carrier
image from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Nimitz_1997.jpg
The Nimitz-class supercarriers, a line of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy, are the largest capital ships in the world, and are considered to be a hallmark in the United States' superpower status. These ships are numbered with consecutive hull numbers starting with CVN 68. The letters CVN denote the type of ship: "CV" is the hull classification symbol for aircraft carriers, and "N" indicates nuclear-powered propulsion. The number after the CVN means that this is the 68th "CV", or aircraft carrier.
Nimitz (CVN-68), the lead ship of the class, was commissioned in 1975. George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth and last of the class, was built by Northrop Grumman Newport News and entered service on January 10th 2009. Bush will be the first transition ship to the Ford class, the first ship of which began construction in 2007 and will incorporate new technologies including a new multi-function radar system, volume search radar, an open architecture information network, and a significantly reduced crew requirement. To lower costs, some new technologies were also incorporated into Ronald Reagan, the previous carrier to the Bush, though not nearly as many as will be involved with Bush.
Because of construction differences between the first three ships (Nimitz, Eisenhower and Vinson) and the latter seven (from Theodore Roosevelt on), the latter ships are sometimes called Theodore Roosevelt-class aircraft carriers, though the U.S. Navy considers them to all be in one class.[1] As the older ships come in for Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), they are upgraded to the standards of the latest ships.
By tonnage, Nimitz class are the largest class of carriers built so far, holding the world record for displacement of any naval war vessel. When Bush is completed, the ten ships of the class will total just under a million tons combined displacement. Although the Nimitz class ships are the heaviest ships in the US fleet they are not the longest ships in the fleet, as that distinction belongs to the carrier Enterprise.
General characteristics
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Company, Newport News, Virginia
Power Plant: Two A4W reactors, four shafts
Length: 333 m (1092 ft) overall
Flight Deck Width: 76.8 - 78.4 m (252 - 257 ft 5 in)
Beam: 41 m (134 ft)
Displacement: 98,235 - 104,112 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
Aircraft: 85 (current wings are closer to 64, including 48 tactical and 16 support aircraft)
Aircraft current in operation on Nimitz class carriers include: F/A-18A/B/C/D/E/F Hornet/Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, E-2 Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound, SH/HH-60 Seahawk, and T-45 Goshawk (non-combat aircraft, used only for training missions when the ships are in port) for many missions including self defense/interception, land attack/close-air support, electronic warfare, maritime strike and air crew training.
Cost: about US$4.5 billion each
Range: Capable of continuously operating for 20 years without refueling
Average Annual Operating Cost: US$160 million
Service Life: 50+ years
Crew: Ship's Company: 3,200 — Air Wing: 2,480
Armament:
NATO Sea Sparrow launchers: three or four (depending on modification)
20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts: Three on Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower and four on Carl Vinson and later ships of the class, except Theodore Roosevelt and George Washington which have three. (USS Ronald Reagan has none, initially outfitted with Rolling Airframe Missile system during construction)
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile: Two on Nimitz, George Washington and Ronald Reagan, will be retrofitted to other ships as they return for RCOH.
Date Deployed: May 3, 1975 (Nimitz)
Nimitz (CVN-68), the lead ship of the class, was commissioned in 1975. George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth and last of the class, was built by Northrop Grumman Newport News and entered service on January 10th 2009. Bush will be the first transition ship to the Ford class, the first ship of which began construction in 2007 and will incorporate new technologies including a new multi-function radar system, volume search radar, an open architecture information network, and a significantly reduced crew requirement. To lower costs, some new technologies were also incorporated into Ronald Reagan, the previous carrier to the Bush, though not nearly as many as will be involved with Bush.
Because of construction differences between the first three ships (Nimitz, Eisenhower and Vinson) and the latter seven (from Theodore Roosevelt on), the latter ships are sometimes called Theodore Roosevelt-class aircraft carriers, though the U.S. Navy considers them to all be in one class.[1] As the older ships come in for Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), they are upgraded to the standards of the latest ships.
By tonnage, Nimitz class are the largest class of carriers built so far, holding the world record for displacement of any naval war vessel. When Bush is completed, the ten ships of the class will total just under a million tons combined displacement. Although the Nimitz class ships are the heaviest ships in the US fleet they are not the longest ships in the fleet, as that distinction belongs to the carrier Enterprise.
General characteristics
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Company, Newport News, Virginia
Power Plant: Two A4W reactors, four shafts
Length: 333 m (1092 ft) overall
Flight Deck Width: 76.8 - 78.4 m (252 - 257 ft 5 in)
Beam: 41 m (134 ft)
Displacement: 98,235 - 104,112 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
Aircraft: 85 (current wings are closer to 64, including 48 tactical and 16 support aircraft)
Aircraft current in operation on Nimitz class carriers include: F/A-18A/B/C/D/E/F Hornet/Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, E-2 Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound, SH/HH-60 Seahawk, and T-45 Goshawk (non-combat aircraft, used only for training missions when the ships are in port) for many missions including self defense/interception, land attack/close-air support, electronic warfare, maritime strike and air crew training.
Cost: about US$4.5 billion each
Range: Capable of continuously operating for 20 years without refueling
Average Annual Operating Cost: US$160 million
Service Life: 50+ years
Crew: Ship's Company: 3,200 — Air Wing: 2,480
Armament:
NATO Sea Sparrow launchers: three or four (depending on modification)
20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts: Three on Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower and four on Carl Vinson and later ships of the class, except Theodore Roosevelt and George Washington which have three. (USS Ronald Reagan has none, initially outfitted with Rolling Airframe Missile system during construction)
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile: Two on Nimitz, George Washington and Ronald Reagan, will be retrofitted to other ships as they return for RCOH.
Date Deployed: May 3, 1975 (Nimitz)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Knock Nevis
image link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knock_Nevis.jpg#file
The Knock Nevis is a floating storage and offloading unit (FSO) owned by the Norwegian company Fred Olsen Production.[1] It was previously a supertanker and as such held the record for the world's largest ship. As a tanker the ship was known under the names Seawise Giant, Happy Giant, and Jahre Viking.
The ship has a draft of 24.6 m (81 ft) when fully loaded, which makes it impossible for it to navigate even the English Channel, let alone the man-made canals at Suez and Panama
Knock Nevis was built in 1979 at Sumitomo Heavy Industries's Oppama shipyard as Seawise Giant. The ship was built for a Greek owner who was unable to take delivery of the ship.
Size comparison of some of the longest ships. From top to bottom: Knock Nevis, Emma Mærsk, RMS Queen Mary 2, MS Berge Stahl, and USS Enterprise.The shipyard then exercised its right to sell the ship. A deal was brokered with Hong Kong shipping magnate C. Y. Tung, founder of the shipping line Orient Overseas Container Line. A deal was reached, but Tung required the ship's size be increased by several metres in length and 87,000 metric tons of cargo capacity by jumboisation. Two years later, the vessel was launched and named Seawise Giant.
After the refit, the ship had a capacity of 564,763 metric tons deadweight (DWT), a length overall of 458.45 metres (1,504.1 ft) and a draft of 24.611 metres (80.74 ft). She had 46 tanks, 31,541 square metres (339,500 sq ft) of deck space, and was too large to pass through the English Channel.
From 1979 to 2004, she was owned by the company Loki Stream AS. During this period she flew the Norwegian flag.
The ship was damaged during the Iran–Iraq War while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.[9] As a result she was declared a total loss and laid up in Brunei. At the end of the war, she was towed to the Keppel Company shipyard in Singapore, repaired, and renamed Happy Giant. The ship was sailing again in October 1991.
Jorden Jahre bought the ship in 1991 for the sum of US$39 Million. It was at this stage that the ship was renamed Jahre Viking. It was sold in 2004.
In 2004, she was bought by First Olsen Tankers Pte. Ltd., renamed Knock Nevis and converted into a permanently moored storage tanker. On November 30, 2004 the conversion to FSO was completed.[11] The ship is now permanently moored in the Qatar Al Shaheen oil field in the Persian Gulf, operating as an FSO.
Size record
The Knock Nevis rivals some of the world's largest buildings in size
Size comparison of the Knock Nevis (in red) and other ships and buildings:
The Pentagon, 431m (Light Blue)
USS Enterprise, 342m (Yellow)
RMS Queen Mary 2, 345m (Pink)
Hindenburg, 245m (Green)
Battleship Yamato, 263m (Dark Blue)
Empire State Building, 443m (Grey)In terms of length, Knock Nevis has a length overall of 458.45 m (1,504 ft), making her the largest ship ever constructed. The vessel is longer than many of the world's tallest buildings are tall, for example the Petronas Twin Towers at 452 metres (1,480 ft). She is smaller than the Sears Tower at 527.3 metres (1,730 ft), and Taipei 101 at 509.2 metres (1,671 ft), and considerably smaller than the skyscraper Burj Dubai, at 818 metres (2,680 ft).
Knock Nevis is not the largest ship in all measures, though. By gross tonnage, for example, she ranks fifth, at 236,710 GT, behind the four Batillus-class supertankers, which range from 274,838 to 275,276 GT. These ships are the largest self-propelled objects ever constructed
The ship has a draft of 24.6 m (81 ft) when fully loaded, which makes it impossible for it to navigate even the English Channel, let alone the man-made canals at Suez and Panama
Knock Nevis was built in 1979 at Sumitomo Heavy Industries's Oppama shipyard as Seawise Giant. The ship was built for a Greek owner who was unable to take delivery of the ship.
Size comparison of some of the longest ships. From top to bottom: Knock Nevis, Emma Mærsk, RMS Queen Mary 2, MS Berge Stahl, and USS Enterprise.The shipyard then exercised its right to sell the ship. A deal was brokered with Hong Kong shipping magnate C. Y. Tung, founder of the shipping line Orient Overseas Container Line. A deal was reached, but Tung required the ship's size be increased by several metres in length and 87,000 metric tons of cargo capacity by jumboisation. Two years later, the vessel was launched and named Seawise Giant.
After the refit, the ship had a capacity of 564,763 metric tons deadweight (DWT), a length overall of 458.45 metres (1,504.1 ft) and a draft of 24.611 metres (80.74 ft). She had 46 tanks, 31,541 square metres (339,500 sq ft) of deck space, and was too large to pass through the English Channel.
From 1979 to 2004, she was owned by the company Loki Stream AS. During this period she flew the Norwegian flag.
The ship was damaged during the Iran–Iraq War while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.[9] As a result she was declared a total loss and laid up in Brunei. At the end of the war, she was towed to the Keppel Company shipyard in Singapore, repaired, and renamed Happy Giant. The ship was sailing again in October 1991.
Jorden Jahre bought the ship in 1991 for the sum of US$39 Million. It was at this stage that the ship was renamed Jahre Viking. It was sold in 2004.
In 2004, she was bought by First Olsen Tankers Pte. Ltd., renamed Knock Nevis and converted into a permanently moored storage tanker. On November 30, 2004 the conversion to FSO was completed.[11] The ship is now permanently moored in the Qatar Al Shaheen oil field in the Persian Gulf, operating as an FSO.
Size record
The Knock Nevis rivals some of the world's largest buildings in size
Size comparison of the Knock Nevis (in red) and other ships and buildings:
The Pentagon, 431m (Light Blue)
USS Enterprise, 342m (Yellow)
RMS Queen Mary 2, 345m (Pink)
Hindenburg, 245m (Green)
Battleship Yamato, 263m (Dark Blue)
Empire State Building, 443m (Grey)In terms of length, Knock Nevis has a length overall of 458.45 m (1,504 ft), making her the largest ship ever constructed. The vessel is longer than many of the world's tallest buildings are tall, for example the Petronas Twin Towers at 452 metres (1,480 ft). She is smaller than the Sears Tower at 527.3 metres (1,730 ft), and Taipei 101 at 509.2 metres (1,671 ft), and considerably smaller than the skyscraper Burj Dubai, at 818 metres (2,680 ft).
Knock Nevis is not the largest ship in all measures, though. By gross tonnage, for example, she ranks fifth, at 236,710 GT, behind the four Batillus-class supertankers, which range from 274,838 to 275,276 GT. These ships are the largest self-propelled objects ever constructed
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
LIST OF CRUISES OPERATING
Alaska's Marine Highway System
Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West
American Cruise Lines (US East Coast Cruises)
American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc (small ship)
American Hawaii Cruises
Azamara Cruises (High-end subsidiary of Celebrity Cruises)
BC Ferries (British Columbia - Alaska Coastal Ferries)
Bay Ferries and NFL Ferries (Nova Scotia, Maine, Nassau and Freeport)
Bergen Line (Norwegian Coastal Voyages)
Blue Cruise, Southwest Turkey
Carnival Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises UK
Clipper Cruise Line
Costa Cruises
(European River Cruises)
Cruise West (US Pacific NW, S. Pacific, Alaska, Asia)
Crystal Cruises
Cunard (QE II)
D, E, F
Delta Queen
Discovery Cruises (one-day Florida/Bahamas)
Discovery Voyages (Alaska small-boat eco-tours, Prince William Sound)
Disney Cruise Line
Fred.Olsen Cruises
G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N
Great Lakes Cruises (US and Canadian Great Lakes)
Heritage Cruise Lines (Overnight river cruises in the St. Lawrence River, Ontario)
Imperial Majesty Cruise Line (M/V Regal Empress)
Indian Ocean Cruises (M.S. Royal Star)
The Maine Windjammer Association (Maine Sailing Ships)
Norwegian Coastal Voyages (Bergen Line)
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines
O, P, Q, R
Oceania Cruises (European, Caribbean, Transatlantic, 3 mid-size ships)
Orient Lines (the Marco Polo)
P&O European Ferries
P&O Cruises
Peter Deilmann - EuropAmerica Cruises (European River Cruises)
Princess Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
SilverSea Line
Regency Seven Seas Cruises
RiverBarge Excursions (Central and South-Central US)
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Olympic Cruises
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
SAGA Holidays Ltd. (UK Over 50s Travel Agency - One Vessel: Saga Rose)
Scotia Prince Cruises (No longer in service, this site tells why)
SeaDream Yacht Club (Small, luxury cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean)
Sea Escape (Florida to Bahamas)
Silja Line (Baltic between Finland and Sweden)
SongLine-SeaTrek Cruises (Indonesia - Traditional Bugis Schooners)
Sven-Olof Lindblad's Special Expeditions (Unique Specialty cruises)
Star Clipplers (Passenger Sailing Ships)
StarCruises (Asian)
Swan Hellenic (Mediterranean & vicinity)
Tall Ship Adventures
Thompson Cruises (UK)
Uniworld cruises (River cruises/cruisetours of Europe, Russia, and China)
Victoria Cruises (Yangtze River Cruises)
Viking River Cruises (European River Cruises)
Wanderbird (Maine and Canadian Maritimes Expedition Cruises - 90' Auxiliary Ketch)
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises (Sailing ships)
Windstar Cruises
World Explorer Criuses (Alaska, Latin America)
Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West
American Cruise Lines (US East Coast Cruises)
American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc (small ship)
American Hawaii Cruises
Azamara Cruises (High-end subsidiary of Celebrity Cruises)
BC Ferries (British Columbia - Alaska Coastal Ferries)
Bay Ferries and NFL Ferries (Nova Scotia, Maine, Nassau and Freeport)
Bergen Line (Norwegian Coastal Voyages)
Blue Cruise, Southwest Turkey
Carnival Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises UK
Clipper Cruise Line
Costa Cruises
(European River Cruises)
Cruise West (US Pacific NW, S. Pacific, Alaska, Asia)
Crystal Cruises
Cunard (QE II)
D, E, F
Delta Queen
Discovery Cruises (one-day Florida/Bahamas)
Discovery Voyages (Alaska small-boat eco-tours, Prince William Sound)
Disney Cruise Line
Fred.Olsen Cruises
G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N
Great Lakes Cruises (US and Canadian Great Lakes)
Heritage Cruise Lines (Overnight river cruises in the St. Lawrence River, Ontario)
Imperial Majesty Cruise Line (M/V Regal Empress)
Indian Ocean Cruises (M.S. Royal Star)
The Maine Windjammer Association (Maine Sailing Ships)
Norwegian Coastal Voyages (Bergen Line)
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines
O, P, Q, R
Oceania Cruises (European, Caribbean, Transatlantic, 3 mid-size ships)
Orient Lines (the Marco Polo)
P&O European Ferries
P&O Cruises
Peter Deilmann - EuropAmerica Cruises (European River Cruises)
Princess Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
SilverSea Line
Regency Seven Seas Cruises
RiverBarge Excursions (Central and South-Central US)
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Olympic Cruises
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
SAGA Holidays Ltd. (UK Over 50s Travel Agency - One Vessel: Saga Rose)
Scotia Prince Cruises (No longer in service, this site tells why)
SeaDream Yacht Club (Small, luxury cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean)
Sea Escape (Florida to Bahamas)
Silja Line (Baltic between Finland and Sweden)
SongLine-SeaTrek Cruises (Indonesia - Traditional Bugis Schooners)
Sven-Olof Lindblad's Special Expeditions (Unique Specialty cruises)
Star Clipplers (Passenger Sailing Ships)
StarCruises (Asian)
Swan Hellenic (Mediterranean & vicinity)
Tall Ship Adventures
Thompson Cruises (UK)
Uniworld cruises (River cruises/cruisetours of Europe, Russia, and China)
Victoria Cruises (Yangtze River Cruises)
Viking River Cruises (European River Cruises)
Wanderbird (Maine and Canadian Maritimes Expedition Cruises - 90' Auxiliary Ketch)
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises (Sailing ships)
Windstar Cruises
World Explorer Criuses (Alaska, Latin America)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Worlds Largest Cargo Ship
World's Largest Cargo Ship Get a load of this ship! 15,000 containers and a 207' beam! And look at the crew size (13) for a ship longer than US aircraft carriers, which have complements of 5,000 men and officers. Think it's big enough? Notice that 207' beam means it was NOT designed for the Panama or Suez canal . It is strictly transpacific. Check out the "cruise speed". 31 mph means the goods arrive four days before the typical container ship traveling at 18 to 20 mph on a China-to-California run. So this behemoth is hugely competitive when carrying perishable goods.This ship was built in three, perhaps as many as five sections. The sections floated together and then welded. It is named Emma Maersk. The command bridge is higher than a ten story building and has eleven rigs that can operate simultaneously.
Additional info:
Country of origin - Denmark
Length - 1,302 ft Width - 207 ft Net cargo - 123,200 tons
Engine - 14 in-line cylinders diesel engine (110,000 BHP)Cruise Speed - 31 mi/h
Cargo capacity - 15,000 TEU (1 TEU = 20 ft3 container) Crew - 13 people
First Trip - Sept. 08, 2006
Construction cost - US $145,000,000+
The silicone paint applied to the ship's bottom reduces water resistance and saves 317,000 gallons of diesel per year
Additional info:
Country of origin - Denmark
Length - 1,302 ft Width - 207 ft Net cargo - 123,200 tons
Engine - 14 in-line cylinders diesel engine (110,000 BHP)Cruise Speed - 31 mi/h
Cargo capacity - 15,000 TEU (1 TEU = 20 ft3 container) Crew - 13 people
First Trip - Sept. 08, 2006
Construction cost - US $145,000,000+
The silicone paint applied to the ship's bottom reduces water resistance and saves 317,000 gallons of diesel per year
Friday, February 6, 2009
MS Adventure of the Seas Cruiseship
MS Adventure of the Seas is the third Voyager-class cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International that cannot transit the Panama Canal. Voyager-class ships are the third largest passenger ships in the world; currently, only Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Royal Caribbean International's Freedom Class ships are larger. She was built in Aker Finnyards in Turku, Finland and completed in 2001. Since 2001, she sails in the Southern Caribbean and departs weekly from the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.Activities
Ice skating rink (for guest use and ice shows)
Rock climbing wall
Inline skating
3 outdoor pools with several jacuzzis
Nine-hole miniature golf course
Golf simulators
Full-sized basketball court
Adventure Ocean youth facilities
Game room
Other Amenities
Four-story Royal Promenade (see photo)
Casino
Three-story main dining room
Restaurants such as Johnny Rockets (1950s-style) and Portofino (Italian)
Themed bars and lounges
Day spa and Fitness Center
Wedding chapel
Library and Internet café
SS Black Osprey Cargo Ship
SS Black Osprey was a cargo ship for the American Diamond Lines and the British Cairn Line. She was formerly known as SS West Arrow when she was launched for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) during World War I. The ship was inspected by the United States Navy for possible use as USS West Arrow (ID-2585) but was neither taken into the Navy nor ever commissioned under that name.
West Arrow was built in 1918 for the USSB, as a part of the West boats, a series of steel-hulled cargo ships built on the West Coast of the United States for the World War I war effort. Information about her early career is largely absent, but by the 1920s, news reports revealed that the ship was sailing on the North Atlantic. By the mid 1920s, West Arrow was sailing for American Diamond on their cargo service to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1935, American Diamond changed the ship's name to Black Osprey and the ship continued in Rotterdam service.
After the outbreak of World War II, Black Osprey, still under the registry of the still-neutral United States, was detained twice by British authorities, before the U.S.-established "Neutrality Zone" ended Black Osprey's Dutch service in late 1939. Sailing under charter to the Isthmian Line in 1940, Black Osprey called at various ports in the Pacific Ocean. American Diamond sold Black Osprey to the British Ministry of War Transport in late 1940. During the ship's first transatlantic crossing under the British flag, she was sunk by German submarine U-96 on 18 February 1941, with the loss of 25 men. The 11 survivors were picked up by a Norwegian ship and landed in at Barry.
Career
West Arrow was inspected by the 13th Naval District of the United States Navy after completion and was assigned the identification number of 2585. Had she been commissioned, she would have been known as USS West Arrow (ID-2585), but the Navy neither took over the ship nor commissioned her.
Little is known of West Arrow's early career, with almost no information regarding her World War I activities. During that war, many of the West ships carried grain products to the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, but it is not known whether West Arrow did so or not. One early mention of West Arrow in contemporary news accounts is found in The Washington Post, which reported in February 1921 that the cargo ship had delivered 742 "milch cows" to Bremen as a gift from American farmers from Texas and Kansas. The New York Times reported in September 1923 that West Arrow, heading from Liverpool to Boston, had been struck by the White Star Line ocean liner Haverford 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) west of Queenstown, Ireland. Haverford, headed from Philadelphia to Liverpool with passengers, struck the cargo ship on the port side, 10 feet (3.0 m) from the bow. A radio dispatch from West Arrow reported that she was proceeding under her own power and was not taking on any water. By March 1926, West Arrow was sailing for American Diamond Lines[Note 2] in New York – Rotterdam service on a U.S. government-subsidized mail route. In July 1932, the ship was moved to a new Baltimore – Antwerp route, but by December 1934 was again sailing to Rotterdam.
In 1935, American Diamond changed the name of West Arrow to Black Osprey, which remained on the Rotterdam route into 1936. In March of that year, The Wall Street Journal—reporting on a large gold shipment from the United States to Holland—speculated that Black Osprey was the ship that had been selected to carry $345,000 of gold for export. On 25 March 1938, Black Osprey was sailing in a dense fog off St. Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight when she struck the 311 GRT British cargo ship Chagford, which sank within five minutes. Three of Chagford's six-man crew were picked up by Black Osprey, whose crew searched in vain for three hours for the other three men. After the fog lifted, the Chagford survivors were transferred to a fishing vessel that landed the crewmen, and Black Osprey resumed her Rotterdam – Philadelphia journey.
World War II
After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Black Osprey, still registered in the neutral-United States, was seized by British authorities on 6 September and detained at Weymouth. After carefully inspecting the ship for any contraband, the British released the ship after a week. However, on 31 October, the British again seized Black Osprey, and had not yet released her by 8 November, when the U.S. State Department released a list of 40 American ships that had been detained by belligerents.
The United States established a "Neutrality Zone"—a zone where American-flagged ships could not enter—in late 1939. As a result, American Diamond was unable to continue its Dutch route, and chartered the eight vessels it employed in that service (which included Black Osprey) to other U.S. companies. Black Osprey was one of several chartered to the Isthmian Line, and made voyages in the Pacific, calling at ports such as Singapore and Honolulu in 1940. After a typhoon with winds in excess of 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) hit Wake Island in early October, Black Osprey was diverted through heavy seas to check on the welfare of the 35 men on the island, all found to be safe.
In November, American Diamond sought the permission of the United States Maritime Commission (USMC), a successor to the USSB, to sell Black Osprey and seven other ships to the British. The USMC granted the permission, and Black Osprey was sold to the Ministry of War Transport for operation by the Cairn Line of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for about $50 per deadweight ton, or around $440,000.
The deal was completed before Black Osprey's 10 December sailing from Philadelphia to Baltimore under the British flag. Black Osprey then sailed from Baltimore on 25 January 1941 for Halifax, where she arrived on 30 January. Black Osprey, loaded with a cargo of steel, joined convoy HX 107 that sailed from that port for Liverpool on 3 February. After falling behind in the convoy, Black Osprey was torpedoed by U-96 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock at 02:27 on 18 February south of Iceland, near position 61°18′N 18°6′W / 61.3°N 18.1°W / 61.3; -18.1Coordinates: 61°18′N 18°6′W / 61.3°N 18.1°W / 61.3; -18.1. The ship's master and 24 crewmen died in the attack. Black Osprey's 11 survivors were picked up by the Norwegian refrigerated cargo ship Mosdale and landed at Barry.
West Arrow was built in 1918 for the USSB, as a part of the West boats, a series of steel-hulled cargo ships built on the West Coast of the United States for the World War I war effort. Information about her early career is largely absent, but by the 1920s, news reports revealed that the ship was sailing on the North Atlantic. By the mid 1920s, West Arrow was sailing for American Diamond on their cargo service to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1935, American Diamond changed the ship's name to Black Osprey and the ship continued in Rotterdam service.
After the outbreak of World War II, Black Osprey, still under the registry of the still-neutral United States, was detained twice by British authorities, before the U.S.-established "Neutrality Zone" ended Black Osprey's Dutch service in late 1939. Sailing under charter to the Isthmian Line in 1940, Black Osprey called at various ports in the Pacific Ocean. American Diamond sold Black Osprey to the British Ministry of War Transport in late 1940. During the ship's first transatlantic crossing under the British flag, she was sunk by German submarine U-96 on 18 February 1941, with the loss of 25 men. The 11 survivors were picked up by a Norwegian ship and landed in at Barry.
Career
West Arrow was inspected by the 13th Naval District of the United States Navy after completion and was assigned the identification number of 2585. Had she been commissioned, she would have been known as USS West Arrow (ID-2585), but the Navy neither took over the ship nor commissioned her.
Little is known of West Arrow's early career, with almost no information regarding her World War I activities. During that war, many of the West ships carried grain products to the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, but it is not known whether West Arrow did so or not. One early mention of West Arrow in contemporary news accounts is found in The Washington Post, which reported in February 1921 that the cargo ship had delivered 742 "milch cows" to Bremen as a gift from American farmers from Texas and Kansas. The New York Times reported in September 1923 that West Arrow, heading from Liverpool to Boston, had been struck by the White Star Line ocean liner Haverford 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) west of Queenstown, Ireland. Haverford, headed from Philadelphia to Liverpool with passengers, struck the cargo ship on the port side, 10 feet (3.0 m) from the bow. A radio dispatch from West Arrow reported that she was proceeding under her own power and was not taking on any water. By March 1926, West Arrow was sailing for American Diamond Lines[Note 2] in New York – Rotterdam service on a U.S. government-subsidized mail route. In July 1932, the ship was moved to a new Baltimore – Antwerp route, but by December 1934 was again sailing to Rotterdam.
In 1935, American Diamond changed the name of West Arrow to Black Osprey, which remained on the Rotterdam route into 1936. In March of that year, The Wall Street Journal—reporting on a large gold shipment from the United States to Holland—speculated that Black Osprey was the ship that had been selected to carry $345,000 of gold for export. On 25 March 1938, Black Osprey was sailing in a dense fog off St. Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight when she struck the 311 GRT British cargo ship Chagford, which sank within five minutes. Three of Chagford's six-man crew were picked up by Black Osprey, whose crew searched in vain for three hours for the other three men. After the fog lifted, the Chagford survivors were transferred to a fishing vessel that landed the crewmen, and Black Osprey resumed her Rotterdam – Philadelphia journey.
World War II
After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Black Osprey, still registered in the neutral-United States, was seized by British authorities on 6 September and detained at Weymouth. After carefully inspecting the ship for any contraband, the British released the ship after a week. However, on 31 October, the British again seized Black Osprey, and had not yet released her by 8 November, when the U.S. State Department released a list of 40 American ships that had been detained by belligerents.
The United States established a "Neutrality Zone"—a zone where American-flagged ships could not enter—in late 1939. As a result, American Diamond was unable to continue its Dutch route, and chartered the eight vessels it employed in that service (which included Black Osprey) to other U.S. companies. Black Osprey was one of several chartered to the Isthmian Line, and made voyages in the Pacific, calling at ports such as Singapore and Honolulu in 1940. After a typhoon with winds in excess of 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) hit Wake Island in early October, Black Osprey was diverted through heavy seas to check on the welfare of the 35 men on the island, all found to be safe.
In November, American Diamond sought the permission of the United States Maritime Commission (USMC), a successor to the USSB, to sell Black Osprey and seven other ships to the British. The USMC granted the permission, and Black Osprey was sold to the Ministry of War Transport for operation by the Cairn Line of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for about $50 per deadweight ton, or around $440,000.
The deal was completed before Black Osprey's 10 December sailing from Philadelphia to Baltimore under the British flag. Black Osprey then sailed from Baltimore on 25 January 1941 for Halifax, where she arrived on 30 January. Black Osprey, loaded with a cargo of steel, joined convoy HX 107 that sailed from that port for Liverpool on 3 February. After falling behind in the convoy, Black Osprey was torpedoed by U-96 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock at 02:27 on 18 February south of Iceland, near position 61°18′N 18°6′W / 61.3°N 18.1°W / 61.3; -18.1Coordinates: 61°18′N 18°6′W / 61.3°N 18.1°W / 61.3; -18.1. The ship's master and 24 crewmen died in the attack. Black Osprey's 11 survivors were picked up by the Norwegian refrigerated cargo ship Mosdale and landed at Barry.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
SHIPS
Today
In 2007, the world's fleet included 34,882 commercial vessels with gross tonnage of more than 1,000 tons, totaling 1.04 billion tons. These ships carried 7.4 billion tons of cargo in 2006, a sum that grew by 8% over the previous year. In terms of tonnage, 39% of these ships are tankers, 26% are bulk carriers, 17% container ships and 15% were other types.
In 2002, there were 1,240 warships operating in the world, not counting small vessels such as patrol boats. The United States accounted for 3 million tons worth of these vessels, Russia 1.35 million tons, the United Kingdom 504,660 tons and China 402,830 tons. The twentieth century saw many naval engagements during the two world wars, the Cold War, and the rise to power of naval forces of the two blocs. The world's major powers have recently used their naval power in cases such as the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands and the United States in Iraq. Warships were also key in history's great explorations and scientific and technological development. Navigators such as Zheng He spread such inventions as the compass and gunpowder. On one hand, ships have been used for colonization and the slave trade. On the other, they also have served scientific, cultural, and humanitarian needs.
The harbor at Fuglafjørður, Faroe Islands shows seven typical Faroe boats used for fishing.
The size of the world's fishing fleet is more difficult to estimate. The largest of these are counted as commercial vessels, but the smallest are legion. Fishing vessels can be found in most seaside villages in the world. As of 2004, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated 4 million fishing vessels were operating worldwide. The same study estimated that the world's 29 million fishermen caught 85.8 million metric tons of fish and shellfish that year.
Types of ships
Ships are difficult to classify, mainly because there are so many criteria to base classification on. One classification is based on propulsion; with ships categorised as either a sailing ship or a motorship. Sailing ships are ships which are propelled solely by means of sails. Motorships are ships which are propelled by mechanical means to propel itself. Motorships include ships that propel itself through the use of both sail and mechanical means.
Other classification systems exist that use criteria such as:
The number of hulls, giving categories like monohull, catamaran, trimaran.
The shape and size, giving categories like dinghy, keelboat, and icebreaker.
The building materials used, giving steel, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, and plastic.
The type of propulsion system used, giving human-propelled, mechanical, and sails.
The epoch in which the vessel was used, triremes of Ancient Greece, man' o' wars, eighteenth century.
The geographic origin of the vessel, many vessels are associated with a particular region, such as the pinnace of Northern Europe, the gondolas of Venice, and the junks of China.
The manufacturer, series, or class.
Another way to categorize ships and boats is based on their use, as described by Paulet and Presles. This system includes military ships, commercial vessels, fishing boats, pleasure craft and competitive boats. In this section, ships are classified using the first four of those categories, and adding a section for lake and river boats, and one for vessels which fall outside these categories.
In 2007, the world's fleet included 34,882 commercial vessels with gross tonnage of more than 1,000 tons, totaling 1.04 billion tons. These ships carried 7.4 billion tons of cargo in 2006, a sum that grew by 8% over the previous year. In terms of tonnage, 39% of these ships are tankers, 26% are bulk carriers, 17% container ships and 15% were other types.
In 2002, there were 1,240 warships operating in the world, not counting small vessels such as patrol boats. The United States accounted for 3 million tons worth of these vessels, Russia 1.35 million tons, the United Kingdom 504,660 tons and China 402,830 tons. The twentieth century saw many naval engagements during the two world wars, the Cold War, and the rise to power of naval forces of the two blocs. The world's major powers have recently used their naval power in cases such as the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands and the United States in Iraq. Warships were also key in history's great explorations and scientific and technological development. Navigators such as Zheng He spread such inventions as the compass and gunpowder. On one hand, ships have been used for colonization and the slave trade. On the other, they also have served scientific, cultural, and humanitarian needs.
The harbor at Fuglafjørður, Faroe Islands shows seven typical Faroe boats used for fishing.
The size of the world's fishing fleet is more difficult to estimate. The largest of these are counted as commercial vessels, but the smallest are legion. Fishing vessels can be found in most seaside villages in the world. As of 2004, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated 4 million fishing vessels were operating worldwide. The same study estimated that the world's 29 million fishermen caught 85.8 million metric tons of fish and shellfish that year.
Types of ships
Ships are difficult to classify, mainly because there are so many criteria to base classification on. One classification is based on propulsion; with ships categorised as either a sailing ship or a motorship. Sailing ships are ships which are propelled solely by means of sails. Motorships are ships which are propelled by mechanical means to propel itself. Motorships include ships that propel itself through the use of both sail and mechanical means.
Other classification systems exist that use criteria such as:
The number of hulls, giving categories like monohull, catamaran, trimaran.
The shape and size, giving categories like dinghy, keelboat, and icebreaker.
The building materials used, giving steel, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, and plastic.
The type of propulsion system used, giving human-propelled, mechanical, and sails.
The epoch in which the vessel was used, triremes of Ancient Greece, man' o' wars, eighteenth century.
The geographic origin of the vessel, many vessels are associated with a particular region, such as the pinnace of Northern Europe, the gondolas of Venice, and the junks of China.
The manufacturer, series, or class.
Another way to categorize ships and boats is based on their use, as described by Paulet and Presles. This system includes military ships, commercial vessels, fishing boats, pleasure craft and competitive boats. In this section, ships are classified using the first four of those categories, and adding a section for lake and river boats, and one for vessels which fall outside these categories.
Port of Bellingham
Port of Bellingham -- a diverse countywide port operating transportation terminals, marinas, real estate developments, public parks and trails, environmental stewardship programs and economic development services.
Located between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Bellingham offers excellent access to these growing cities, along with the lifestyle benefits of a smaller community. Bellingham features strong colleges providing a highly trained workforce.
The Port of Bellingham believes in bringing community visions to reality and in creating a sustainable local economy that balances the values of environmental stewardship and of meeting the needs of a growing community.
Located between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Bellingham offers excellent access to these growing cities, along with the lifestyle benefits of a smaller community. Bellingham features strong colleges providing a highly trained workforce.
The Port of Bellingham believes in bringing community visions to reality and in creating a sustainable local economy that balances the values of environmental stewardship and of meeting the needs of a growing community.
BEAUFOR PORT
Known as "Fish Town" in the early 1700's when Blackbeard frequented the coast, "Beaufort Town" was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs in 1722. During the American Revolution, it was the third largest port in the state.
As in most of eastern North Carolina, early trade centered around lumber products. These were shipped from the rich Newport River area plantations to the West Indies in exchange for glassware, cloth, furniture, coffee and rum.Historically significant, the "Old Burying Ground" was deeded to the town in 1731. It contains graves of soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Captain Otway Burns' grave with the cannon from his privateer, is perhaps one of the best known.
A salt works, which was established by order of the Provincial Congress in 1776 for Revolutionary War use, is located slightly over a mile to the east.A whaling community, Diamond City, was located on Shackleford Banks, six miles to the southeast by boat, during the 18th & 19th centuries. This perhaps explains the "New England feel" which is blended with traditional southern colonial architecture.Beaufort continued to prosper into the nineteenth century as a port and as an agricultural, commercial and governmental center. Nearby Fort Macon, a large brick fortress guarded the eastern end of Carteret County. Beaufort became a favorite summer retreat for the well-to-do.
Beaufort was relatively unscarred by the Civil War, due to an early and prolonged occupation by Union forces. Following the war's conclusion, Beaufort again resumed its importance as a summer retreat. Trade was strong for a time; lumber, barrel staves, rum, and molasses were some of Beaufort's exports. However, the port declined as a trade center and commercial fishing became the primary business in the area. Beaufort served as home port for a large fishing fleet and as the site of the processing plants for the menhaden trade. In the 1970s, Beaufort again became a major summer resort as the town and waterfront were restored. In 1997, Beaufort was highlighted in national and international news as the wreckage of what is presumed to be Blackbeard's flagship, Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered in 20 feet of water --2 miles from Beaufort Inlet. Artifact recovery operations were immediately able to identify --and in some cases retrieve-- many pieces, including the ship's bronze bell, cannons, and deck guns. Some of these artifacts are already touring the country or are on exhibit in Beaufort. Be sure to stop by the NC Maritime Museum, it's now one of the most popular attractions in the state.
As in most of eastern North Carolina, early trade centered around lumber products. These were shipped from the rich Newport River area plantations to the West Indies in exchange for glassware, cloth, furniture, coffee and rum.Historically significant, the "Old Burying Ground" was deeded to the town in 1731. It contains graves of soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Captain Otway Burns' grave with the cannon from his privateer, is perhaps one of the best known.
A salt works, which was established by order of the Provincial Congress in 1776 for Revolutionary War use, is located slightly over a mile to the east.A whaling community, Diamond City, was located on Shackleford Banks, six miles to the southeast by boat, during the 18th & 19th centuries. This perhaps explains the "New England feel" which is blended with traditional southern colonial architecture.Beaufort continued to prosper into the nineteenth century as a port and as an agricultural, commercial and governmental center. Nearby Fort Macon, a large brick fortress guarded the eastern end of Carteret County. Beaufort became a favorite summer retreat for the well-to-do.
Beaufort was relatively unscarred by the Civil War, due to an early and prolonged occupation by Union forces. Following the war's conclusion, Beaufort again resumed its importance as a summer retreat. Trade was strong for a time; lumber, barrel staves, rum, and molasses were some of Beaufort's exports. However, the port declined as a trade center and commercial fishing became the primary business in the area. Beaufort served as home port for a large fishing fleet and as the site of the processing plants for the menhaden trade. In the 1970s, Beaufort again became a major summer resort as the town and waterfront were restored. In 1997, Beaufort was highlighted in national and international news as the wreckage of what is presumed to be Blackbeard's flagship, Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered in 20 feet of water --2 miles from Beaufort Inlet. Artifact recovery operations were immediately able to identify --and in some cases retrieve-- many pieces, including the ship's bronze bell, cannons, and deck guns. Some of these artifacts are already touring the country or are on exhibit in Beaufort. Be sure to stop by the NC Maritime Museum, it's now one of the most popular attractions in the state.
PORT OF GREATER BARTON ROUGE
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is strategically located on the Mississippi River and is an integral part of the Louisiana maritime industry and overall economy. Handling a diverse range of cargo and accommodating special requests is a trademark of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, and we have proof: the Port of Greater Baton Rouge ranks among the top ten ports in total tonnage. Present us with a challenge or a unique situation, and we'll always respond with, "We Can Handle That!"
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge Location Facts:
Located in Port Allen, LA, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge is situated at the convergence of the Mississippi River and the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and is linked to major Gulf Ports between north Florida and south Texas and through the Mississippi River inland waterway system.
The port provides easy accessibility to world markets.
The port is the head of deep water navigation on the Mississippi River; a 45 foot shipping channel to the mouth of the Mississippi River is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A total of 85 miles, on both the east and west bank of the Mississippi River, the jurisdiction of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge operates within river mile 168 AHP to the south ( Sunshine Bridge) and 253 AHP to the north (Exxon Mobil Refinery).
The ports jurisdiction includes the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes.
The port is adjacent to the Port Allen Lock. The northern most point on the Mississippi River where barges can access the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge provides excellent accessibility to all types of intermodal transportation needs. The port is located adjacent to U.S. Interstate 10, and is in close proximity of U.S. Interstate 12, 49, 55, and 59; U.S. Highway 61, 65, and 90 and LA Highway 1.
The Port’s excellent infrastructure and connectivity provides direct access to ship, barge, truck and rail. Our strategic location provides ready access to the nation’s heartland via nearly 15,000 miles of inland water transportation as well as to the Gulf of Mexico and ocean trade lanes to and from Latin America and the rest of the world.
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge Location Facts:
Located in Port Allen, LA, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge is situated at the convergence of the Mississippi River and the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and is linked to major Gulf Ports between north Florida and south Texas and through the Mississippi River inland waterway system.
The port provides easy accessibility to world markets.
The port is the head of deep water navigation on the Mississippi River; a 45 foot shipping channel to the mouth of the Mississippi River is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A total of 85 miles, on both the east and west bank of the Mississippi River, the jurisdiction of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge operates within river mile 168 AHP to the south ( Sunshine Bridge) and 253 AHP to the north (Exxon Mobil Refinery).
The ports jurisdiction includes the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes.
The port is adjacent to the Port Allen Lock. The northern most point on the Mississippi River where barges can access the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge provides excellent accessibility to all types of intermodal transportation needs. The port is located adjacent to U.S. Interstate 10, and is in close proximity of U.S. Interstate 12, 49, 55, and 59; U.S. Highway 61, 65, and 90 and LA Highway 1.
The Port’s excellent infrastructure and connectivity provides direct access to ship, barge, truck and rail. Our strategic location provides ready access to the nation’s heartland via nearly 15,000 miles of inland water transportation as well as to the Gulf of Mexico and ocean trade lanes to and from Latin America and the rest of the world.
CARGO SHIPS
A CARGO SHIP or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usually specially designed for the task, often being equipped with cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes. Today, they are almost always built of welded steel, and with some exceptions generally have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years before being scrapped
Types
Specialized types of cargo vessels include container ships and bulk carriers (technically tankers of all sizes are cargo ships, although they are routinely thought of as a separate category).
History
The earliest records of waterborne activity mention the carriage of items for trade; the evidence of history and archaeology shows the practice to be widespread by the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. The desire to operate trade routes over longer distances and at more seasons of the year motivated improvements in ship design during the Middle Ages.
Before the middle of the 19th century, the incidence of piracy resulted in most cargo ships being armed, sometimes quite heavily, as in the case of the Manila galleons and East Indiamen.
Piracy
Further information: Piracy
Piracy is still quite common in some waters, particularly around Asia, and cargo ships are still commonly targeted. In 2004, the governments of those three nations agreed to provide better protection for the ships passing through the Straits. Also piracy prone are the waters off Somalia and Nigeria, while smaller vessels are also in danger along parts of the South American, Southeast Asia coasts and near the Caribbean.
Definitions
While the definitions have become "cross-pollinated" over the years, "cargo" technically refers to the goods carried aboard the ship for hire, while "freight" refers to the compensation the ship or charterer receives for carrying the cargo.
Generally, the modern ocean shipping business is divided into two classes:
Types
Specialized types of cargo vessels include container ships and bulk carriers (technically tankers of all sizes are cargo ships, although they are routinely thought of as a separate category).
History
The earliest records of waterborne activity mention the carriage of items for trade; the evidence of history and archaeology shows the practice to be widespread by the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. The desire to operate trade routes over longer distances and at more seasons of the year motivated improvements in ship design during the Middle Ages.
Before the middle of the 19th century, the incidence of piracy resulted in most cargo ships being armed, sometimes quite heavily, as in the case of the Manila galleons and East Indiamen.
Piracy
Further information: Piracy
Piracy is still quite common in some waters, particularly around Asia, and cargo ships are still commonly targeted. In 2004, the governments of those three nations agreed to provide better protection for the ships passing through the Straits. Also piracy prone are the waters off Somalia and Nigeria, while smaller vessels are also in danger along parts of the South American, Southeast Asia coasts and near the Caribbean.
Definitions
While the definitions have become "cross-pollinated" over the years, "cargo" technically refers to the goods carried aboard the ship for hire, while "freight" refers to the compensation the ship or charterer receives for carrying the cargo.
Generally, the modern ocean shipping business is divided into two classes:
- Liner business: typically (but not exclusively) container vessels (wherein "general cargo" is carried in 20 or 40-foot "boxes"), operating as "common carriers", calling a regularly-published schedule of ports. A common carrier refers to a regulated service where any member of the public may book cargo for shipment, according to long-established and internationally agreed rules.
- Tramp-tanker business: generally this is private business arranged between the shipper and receiver and facilitated by the vessel owners or operators, who offer their vessels for hire to carry bulk (dry or liquid) or break bulk (cargoes with individually handled pieces) to any suitable port(s) in the world, according to a specifically drawn contract, called a charter party.
Larger cargo ships are generally operated by shipping lines: companies that specialize in the handling of cargo in general. Smaller vessels, such as coasters, are often owned by their operators.
Vessel prefixes: Before the vessel's name will be found a category designation. Naval ships, for example, will have "USS" (United States Ship), "HMS" (Her/His Majesty's Ship), "HTMS" (His Thai Majesty's Ship). Merchant ships may have "RMS (Royal Mail Ship, usually a passenger liner), "MV" (Motor Vessel, powered by Diesel). "SS" (Steam Ship, now seldom seen, powered by steam). "TS", sometimes found in first position before a merchant ship's prefix, denotes that it has Twin Screws. (For further discussion, see Ship prefixes.)
Famous cargo ships would include the Liberty ships of World War II, partly based on a British design, the sections for which were prefabricated all over the USA and then assembled by shipbuilders in an average of 6 weeks with the record being just over 4 days. These ships allowed the Allies to replace sunken cargo vessels at a rate greater than the Kriegsmarine's U-boats could sink them, and contributed significantly to the war effort, the delivery of supplies, and eventual victory over the Axis powers.
Lake freighters built for the Great Lakes in North America differ in design from "salties" because of the difference in wave size and frequency in the lakes. A number of these boats are so large that they cannot leave the lakes because they do not fit into the locks on the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Sizes of cargo ships
Cargo ships are categorized partly by their capacity, partly by their weight, and partly by their dimensions (often with reference to the various canals and canal locks through which they can travel). Some common categories include:
- Small Handy size, carriers of 20,000 long tons deadweight (DWT)-28,000 DWT
- Handy size, carriers of 28,000-40,000 DWT
- Handymax, carriers of 40,000-50,000 DWT
- Seawaymax, the largest size which can traverse the St Lawrence Seaway
- Aframax, oil tankers between 75,000 and 115,000 DWT. This is the largest size defined by the average freight rate assessment (AFRA) scheme.
- Panamax, the largest size which can traverse the Panama Canal (generally: vessels with a width smaller than 32.2 m)
- Suezmax, the largest size which can traverse the Suez Canal
- Malaccamax, the largest size which can traverse the Straits of Malacca
- Capesize, vessels larger than Panamax and Suezmax, which must traverse the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn in order to travel between oceans
- VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), supertankers between 150,000 and 320,000 DWT.
- ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier), enormous supertankers between 320,000 and 550,000 DWT.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
PORT OF MONTREAL
Montreal is also one of the busiest inland ports in the world and a key transfer point for transatlantic cargo. Along with its port, the metropolis has railway and highway networks leading to all parts of North America. Montreal is also one of the main cruise attractions on the St. Lawrence River and the North American East Coast.
Linked to more than 100 countries around the world by many reputable shipping lines, the Port of Montreal is located on one of the largest navigable waterways in the world – the majestic St. Lawrence River – and offers the shortest route between major European and Mediterranean ports and North American markets. Situated 1,600 kilometres inland from the Atlantic, it is the international port closest to North America’s industrial heartland, representing a hinterland of some 100 million Canadian and American consumers.
Of all the ports along the North American East Coast, Montreal is the one that offers, year-round, the fastest, most direct and most economical access to major markets in Central Canada, the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Northeast. Ships need only stop at one port - Montreal – to access these vast markets. Nearly all shipping lines offering regular service to the Port of Montreal fully unload and load their vessels here, offering considerable savings in time and money. Transatlantic, rail and road links interconnect to shorten distances and reduce door-to-door cargo transportation costs.
A leader among container ports serving the North Atlantic, every year the Port of Montreal handles more than 20 million tonnes of highly-diversified cargo: containerized and non-containerized general cargo, grain and other dry bulk, petroleum and other liquid bulk products. Its export and import container traffic is such that it fosters economies of scale, allowing shipping lines to offer regular, high-frequency services which are particularly appreciated by companies requiring just-in-time delivery.
Economic impactIn addition to facilitating exports and supplying industry with all types of raw materials and finished products, the Port of Montreal creates close to 18,000 direct and indirect jobs, and generates business revenues of almost $2 billion annually.
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Linked to more than 100 countries around the world by many reputable shipping lines, the Port of Montreal is located on one of the largest navigable waterways in the world – the majestic St. Lawrence River – and offers the shortest route between major European and Mediterranean ports and North American markets. Situated 1,600 kilometres inland from the Atlantic, it is the international port closest to North America’s industrial heartland, representing a hinterland of some 100 million Canadian and American consumers.
Of all the ports along the North American East Coast, Montreal is the one that offers, year-round, the fastest, most direct and most economical access to major markets in Central Canada, the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Northeast. Ships need only stop at one port - Montreal – to access these vast markets. Nearly all shipping lines offering regular service to the Port of Montreal fully unload and load their vessels here, offering considerable savings in time and money. Transatlantic, rail and road links interconnect to shorten distances and reduce door-to-door cargo transportation costs.
A leader among container ports serving the North Atlantic, every year the Port of Montreal handles more than 20 million tonnes of highly-diversified cargo: containerized and non-containerized general cargo, grain and other dry bulk, petroleum and other liquid bulk products. Its export and import container traffic is such that it fosters economies of scale, allowing shipping lines to offer regular, high-frequency services which are particularly appreciated by companies requiring just-in-time delivery.
Economic impactIn addition to facilitating exports and supplying industry with all types of raw materials and finished products, the Port of Montreal creates close to 18,000 direct and indirect jobs, and generates business revenues of almost $2 billion annually.
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Caribbean Port Industry Information
Ports in the Caribbean region are extremely diverse in their structure, governance and in the cargoes that move across their wharves. Many are ports-of-call for major cruise lines and serve as tourist destinations. Others are transshipment points for cargo coming to and from the United States and other countries.
Resources:
Canadian Port Industry
Canada's major seaports, on the East and West Coasts and on the Great Lakes, are governed and managed by federal port authorities. The Canada Marine Act, which took effect in January 1999, created a National Ports System that now consists of 17 independently managed Canada Port Authorities (CPAs). In 2003, CPAs accounted for 58% of the international trade, 36.4% of the domestic trade, and 100% of the container traffic handled by Canadian ports. Unlike their U.S. counterparts, Canadian port authorities are for the most part prohibited from engaging in in activity unrelated to their maritime functions, such as airport, rail or toll bridge operations. CPAs are also required to be financially self-sufficient and must pay be a tax or dividend to the national government. They are subject to rigorous disclosure requirements as well.
Many other ports that previously were owned and managed by the federal transport agency, Transport Canada, have been transferred, or "divested" to provincial and municipal entities or to the private sector.
Many other ports that previously were owned and managed by the federal transport agency, Transport Canada, have been transferred, or "divested" to provincial and municipal entities or to the private sector.
As of March 31, 2006, Transport Canada had transferred, deproclaimed (to revoke the designation of a port as a public facility) or terminated its interest at 466 of the 549 sites identified at the outset of the program. The agency claims that the process "has saved Canadian taxpayers more than $210 million, and accounts for 85 per cent of Transport Canada’s public port inventory." Only 83 ports remained to be divested as of that date.
U.S. Port Industry
America's Ports: Gateways to Global Trade
Seaports are gateways to domestic and international trade, connecting the United States to the world. Because of the nation's port system, food grown by Iowa farmers reaches tables in Japan and Russia. Manufacturers in Texas can sell goods and services profitably to foreign countries. And Appalachian and Midwest coal moves through inland waterways and coastal ports to power plants domestically and around the world, providing the fuel to heat and light homes, businesses and cities.
North America's history has been shaped by its ports on the seacoasts, rivers and the Great Lakes. From the late 1400s, the sheltered harbors provided safe refuge for early explorers and settlers. Cities depended on docks and shipping terminals as their communications and commerce lifeline to the rest of the world. As port cities prospered and grew, the bustling wharfs and big ships became less visible, but no less important, as major highways and tall buildings dominated the waterfront.
For more information, download U.S. Ports Fact Sheet.
Ports Benefit the Nation
Today, the U.S. is served by publicly- and privately-owned marine facilities located in approximately 360 commercial sea and river ports. These are found along the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf and Great Lakes coasts, as well as in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some 150 state, local and county seaport agencies, navigation districts and port authorities make up the public sector port industry today.
Public ports develop and maintain the shoreside facilities for the intermodal transfer of cargo between ships, barges, trucks and railroads. Ports build and maintain cruise terminals for the growing cruise passenger industry.
In addition to maritime functions, port authority activities may also include jurisdiction over airports, bridges, tunnels, commuter rail systems, inland river or shallow draft barge terminals, industrial parks, Foreign Trade Zones, world trade centers, terminal or short-line railroads, ship repair, shipyards, dredging, marinas and other public recreational facilities. Ports may also undertake community or regional economic development projects beyond those of direct benefit to the port itself.
Ports play a major role in industrial plant location. Many manufacturing and processing industries locate their plants at or near waterfront sites to take advantage of low-cost inbound transportation of raw materials for production and outbound shipments of finished products to both export and domestic markets. Foreign Trade Zones, located on port property, also provide incentives for value-added manufacturing services and trade.
What Moves Through Ports
U.S. ports and waterways handle more than 2 billion tons of domestic and import/export cargo annually. By 2020, the total volume of cargo shipped by water is expected to be double that of 2001 volumes. Much of total domestic production of basic commodities and finished products is shipped by water, including apples, wastepaper, corn, lumber, iron ore, steel, scrap steel, potatoes, phosphate, plastics, film, machinery, and modular homes. About two-thirds of all U.S. wheat and wheat flour, one-third of soybean and rice production and almost two-fifths of U.S. cotton production is exported via U.S. ports. U.S.- produced coal, grain and forest products also compete well in international markets because of our efficient transportation system.
Automobiles and the passenger cruise industry are also highly dependent on deep-draft seaports. For example, reports from the individual ports that handle autos show that the more than 5 million passenger cars, vans, SUVs and light trucks were imported and exported through U.S. seaports in 2007. And, for the cruise industry, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports that 9.45 million U.S. residents were cruise passengers in 2007, accounting for 75 percent of all cruisers, while passenger embarkations at U.S. ports totaled 9.18 million, a 2 percent increase and a 73 percent share of global embarkations. CLIA also notes that the North American cruise industry grew by 7 percent in 2007, while creating more than 350,000 jobs and generating $38 billion in total economic output. These economic impacts affected all 50 U.S. states. The top 10 states accounting for 78 percent of direct purchases and 82 percent of the total employment and income impacts were: 1. Florida, 2. California, 3. Alaska, 4. New York, 5. Texas, 6. Hawaii, 7. Georgia, 8. Washington, 9. Illinois and, 10. Colorado.
Imports provide American consumers access to the global marketplace. Electronics, clothing and other consumer goods from China, bananas from Central America, wine from Chile and Australia, and shoes from Italy all make their way to U.S. consumers on cargo ships that arrive at ports. Many products are shipped in big metal boxes called containers. Containers are then loaded onto trains or trucks for delivery to their final destinations. One of our most popular beverages -- coffee -- would not be readily available without ports. Coffee beans arrive on ships and are often roasted at facilities on port property. The roasted beans are then moved by truck or rail to inland markets.
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