Port, Port

Also in the United Kingdom, London, on the River Thames, and Manchester, on the Manchester Ship Canal, were once important international ports, but changes in shipping methods, such as the use of containers and larger ships, put them at a disadvantage.

Because they are available year-round, warm water ports can be of great geopolitical or economic interest, with the ports of Saint Petersburg, Dalian, and Valdez being notable examples.

It is also where the cruise ship's supplies are loaded for the cruise. this includes everything from the wate and fuels to fruits, vegetable, champagne, and any other supplies needed for the cruise. "Cruise home ports" are a very busy place during the day the cruise ship is in port as the passengers along with their baggage debark and the new passengers board the ship in addition to all the supplies. Currently, the Cruise Capital of the World is the Port of Miami closely followed behind by Port Everglades and the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

At these ports a cargo ship may take on supplies or fuel as well as unloading and loading their cargo. But for a cruise ship, it is their premier stop where the cruise lines take their passengers to enjoy their vacation.

They are very different since each handles very different cargo which has to be loaded and unloaded by very different mechanical means. The port may handle one particular type of cargo or it may handle numerous cargoes such as grains, liquid fuels, liquid chemicals, wood, automobiles, etc.

Those ports that handle containerized cargo are known as container ports. Most cargo ports handle all sorts of cargo but some ports are very specific as to what cargo they handle. Additionally, the individual cargo ports are divided into different operating terminals which handle the different cargoes and are operated by different companies also known as terminal operators or stevedores.

Source: Wikipedia > Port