A specialised facility within a port designed for the handling of a specific type of cargo or vessel. Container terminals, bulk terminals, tanker terminals, and passenger terminals each have dedicated equipment, infrastructure, and operating procedures optimised for their cargo type.
Category: Port & Terminal Operations
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PilotA licensed mariner with extensive local knowledge who embarks on a vessel to advise the master on safe navigation through restricted waters, harbour approaches, and during berthing and unberthing operations.QuayA solid structure built parallel to the shoreline where vessels berth for loading and discharging cargo.STS CraneShip-to-Shore crane, a type of gantry crane specifically designed for loading and discharging containers between vessels and the quay.Tug AssistThe use of tugs to assist a vessel during manoeuvring in confined waters, berthing, and unberthing operations.VTSVessel Traffic Service, a shore-based monitoring system that provides active traffic management of vessel movements within a port or waterway.WharfA structure built along the waterfront for the berthing and servicing of vessels, similar to a quay but sometimes including the warehouse and open storage areas behind the berthing face.
Back to DictionaryEntry updated May 2026