PORT ECONOMICS
CHAPTER 1
PORTS AND HARBOURS

THE student of Port Economics will advisedly, at the
outset, make himself acquainted with the purview of his
studies; and, as the subject is one which comprises several
branches of traffic administration and operation, we will
devote this opening chapter to an explanation of some
general principles, which will be considered in greater
detail, as occasion requires, at a later stage.
PORTS

In the first place, let us consider the word Port, its
meaning and its implications. In root form (Latin porta,
a gate), signifying an entrance, it is essentially a gateway
to the land from the sea, and also, none the less truly, a
gateway to the sea from the land. Briefly stated, it is
the point of change from land carriage to sea carriage,
and vice versa. Ships bring passengers and goods from
overseas and discharge them within the precincts of a
port for conveyance to inland destinations, and, con-
trariwise, passengers and goods from towns and inland
centres are assembled on the quays of a port for the purpose
of going on board ship. This dual operation of loading
and discharging, of embarkation and disembarkation,
involves two important characteristics in a port, without
which its functions cannot be satisfactorily performed.
These characteristics are Shelter and Accommodation.

Shelter is an obvious requirement. In an exposed and
unprotected situation on the sea coast, there are many
days in the year when it would be impossible to load or