Port can be understood as a place, where loading and unloading of ships and boats are done. The term port is often juxtaposed with harbour, which implies a place along a coast where ships or boats can take shelter if the atmospheric conditions are not well for sailing.
While ports are man-made, harbours can be natural or man-made.
Many times they serve similar purposes relating to administration, development, industry and commerce. And due to this reason, there is always a buzz, whenever we talk of these two riverine. So take a look at the article presented to you which explain the difference between port and harbour.
Content: Port Vs Harbour
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | Port | Harbour |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Port refers to an arrangement, where boats and ships moor and transfer passengers and cargo, to/from land. | Harbour alludes to an area next to the shore, where water crafts are anchored for getting safety from stormy weather. |
| What is it? | It is a place for docking, traffic and storage of boats. | It is a place for storing boats. |
| Construction | Man-made | Natural or man-made |
| Used for | Trading of goods and cargo, between countries. | Seeking shelter from bad weather. |
| Vessels | It is a safe place for vessels. | It is a haven for vessels. |
| Onshore facilities | Available | May or may not be available |
Definition of Port
Port is defined as the place situated at the shore of the sea which connects land with the waterbody. They work as junction points for trading internationally, as in the exchange of modes of transport, goods, etc. These are located in harbours, alongside the coastlines.
Ports provide a number of facilities that help ships to handle cargo, which includes cranes and forklifts to load or discharge goods, warehouses for storage and docks for ships to attach to. Moreover, various amenities are also available at the port like hotels, restaurants, shipbuilding and repair companies, customs facilities, etc.
Right from economy to strategy, ports have a great role to play in every country, as they are used for shipping out consumer goods and also to load troop ship for sailing to war.
Definition of Harbour
Harbour is defined as a parking or storage space along the coastline, where boats, barges and ships can take shelter from bad weather or are kept for future. It is the area alongside the coast, which consists of a thick wall providing protection from the waves and currents to the ships, vessels, and cargo container loaders.
Harbours are so deep to provide safe anchorage to various ships and crafts, but they need not possess onshore facilities. There are two types of the harbour, which are:
- Natural harbour: A landform where a portion of ocean or sea is protected and is so deep to allow vessels to take refuge.
- Artificial harbour: An arrangement, which is so constructed to perform the functions of a port.
Key Differences Between Port and Harbour
The points given below are substantial so far as the difference between port and harbour is concerned:
- An area situated at the edge of the waterbody where boats and ships moor and transfer passengers and cargo, to/from land, is called port. An area next to the shore, where water crafts are anchored for getting safety from stormy weather, is called harbour.
- Port is nothing but a place for docking, traffic and storage of boats. On the contrary, a harbour is a place for storing boats.
- Ports are a creation of man, whereas harbours are both natural or man made.
- The basic purpose served by ports are to provide trading facilities goods and cargo, from one country to another. Conversely, harbours are used for taking safe anchorage, if the weather is not fit for sailing.
- While ports are a safer place for vessels. As against this, harbours are a haven for vessels.
- Ports always have onshore facilities like hotels, restaurants, repair companies and so on. However, in the case of harbours may or may not have onshore facilities.
Conclusion
Human-made harbours work as ports, as they are constructed like one. Ports are basically developed to handle international trading between countries like imports and exports of goods. On the flip side, harbours serve as a vast spacing place where boats and ships are stored, when the atmospheric conditions are not well.
Shamsun nahar says
really informative