# port quay

*Last updated: 2026-06-19*

> A port quay is the reinforced, water-level edge of a harbour where seagoing vessels and inland waterway craft berth to load or discharge cargo.

A port quay is the reinforced, water-level edge of a harbour where seagoing vessels and inland waterway craft berth to load or discharge cargo. It acts as the direct interface between ship and shore-based logistics, equipped according to its function with container cranes, bollards, mooring fittings, and adjacent storage areas. Port operations distinguish between container quays fitted with ship-to-shore gantry cranes, breakbulk quays for conventional cargo, and bulk quays with conveyor or suction systems—each with specific requirements for draught, quay length, and load-bearing capacity. Quay charges, often called wharfage, are typically calculated per metre of berth and time alongside, forming a key component of port disbursement accounts.

**Source:** [https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hafenkai](https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hafenkai)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | port quay |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 107 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-19 |
| Source | https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hafenkai |

---

*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-quay](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-quay)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/port-quay](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/port-quay)*

*JSON summary: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/port-quay/llm-summary?lang=en](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/port-quay/llm-summary?lang=en)*