74 
FOREIGN TRADE ZONES 
Although there is no information available showing the dispatch 
secured in loading and discharging vessels in the free harbor of 
Almeria, yet it is believed that cargo is handled as quickly in the 
free zone as in the customs harbor. 
The free zones of Trieste, Porto Vittorio Emanuele ITI, and Porto 
Emanuele Filiberto Duca d’Acosta contain more modern facilities 
than are available in the customs harbor. The former has 87 cranes, 
4 of which are of 3-ton capacity, while the others are of 114 tons 
capacity, but are now being strengthened to lift 2.5 tons. There 
are also 88 cargo lifts and 4 fixed hydraulic cranes fitted to the upper 
floors of the depots. At the Porto Emanuele Filiberto Duca d’Acosta 
there are 24 electrically driven cranes, 4 of which are of 3-ton capacity 
and 20 of 1.5 tons. There are 16 electric lifts fitted on depots. 
Statistics show that greater dispatch is secured in loading and unload- 
ing vessels in the free zones than in the customs port. 
There are no official figures to indicate the dispatch in the unload- 
ing of vessels at Fiume, but figures from unofficial sources indicate that 
vessels are discharged at an average rate of 500 tons per day. Loading 
and unloading operations are effected by means of 23 cranes of from 
L ton to 5 tons capacity. There are also electric lifts of from 1 to 15 
‘ons capacity, and one 40-ton floating crane. 
In the Greek free zone at Saloniki good dispatch is secured in load- 
ing and unloading vessels. It is reported that vessels are moored in 
the free zone with stern to quay, and are unloaded into lighters, the 
ship’s tackle being employed for all operations. Fifteen vessels can 
be loaded and unloaded simultaneously. Lighters and labor are 
availablein abundance. The crane equipment of the Greek free zone 
consists of one 15-ton crane, two 5-ton cranes, and five 2-ton cranes 
nperated by steam. 
At Sulina, Rumania, grain is transferred by floating elevators, 
capable of handling up to 120 tons per hour, and work can be contin- 
ned both day and night. 
THE LOAD FACTOR AT PORTS OF THE UNITED STATES 
In evidence of the lack of equilibrium in the tonnage of inbound 
and outbound cargoes of vessels engaged in foreign commerce with 
the United States, the following statistics of the commerce of certain 
of our principal ports during the calendar year 1927, prepared by the 
Bureau of Research, United States Shipping Board, are of interest: