GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 6, 2026
port quay
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.
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Source: https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hafenkai
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Definition & Explanation
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.
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