GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
seaport
Efficient global trade depends on seaports as the critical link between ocean shipping and land-based transport networks.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaport
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Efficient global trade depends on seaports as the critical link between ocean shipping and land-based transport networks. A seaport is a coastal or estuarine facility designed to accommodate deep-sea vessels and to handle the loading, discharge, transshipment, and storage of cargo. Infrastructure ranges from quay walls and ship-to-shore cranes to Ro-Ro ramps, open yards, and covered warehouses; major hubs operate dedicated container terminals alongside separate general cargo and bulk facilities. Services extend well beyond physical handling to include customs clearance, dangerous goods processing, and value-added logistics such as consolidation and labelling. Unlike inland ports, seaports are engineered for the draught requirements of ocean-going ships and fall under the ISPS Code maritime security framework. Annual throughput in TEU is the standard performance metric — leading ports like Shanghai, Singapore, and Rotterdam move volumes in the tens of millions.
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