While the term ‘seaport’ encompasses most facilities handling ocean-voyage vessels, there are several types that are worth understanding:
- An inland port is located on a lake, river, or canal with access to the ocean, allowing ships to unload cargo closer to an inland destination.
- A dry port is an inland facility directly connected to a seaport by road or rail.
- A warm-water port is one where the water doesn’t freeze in wintertime, making it available all year round.
Seaports can be broken down into two primary types: cruise ports, for commercial passengers, and cargo ports. Cargo ports can then be further categorized as bulk ports (also known as break bulk ports), which handle goods that need to be loaded in bulk or individually, and container ports, which handle any goods that need to be shipped in a container. Most cargo ports can handle all types of cargo, but it’s worth ensuring that you’re not dealing with a port that has specific regulations about what can be brought in that may affect your shipment.