Definition of Port Terminal

As its name suggests, a port terminal is a infrastructure located in a port and intended for the transport of passengers and goods that are imported or exported for their commercialization later. For the set of activities to be possible, a series of services must be organized, such as the coordination of maritime traffic, surveillance services, port towing, loading and unloading of luggage and vehicles, storage of goods, etc.

Main characteristics of port terminals

From the organizational point of view, the set of activities are managed by a authority port. Those responsible must manage all the processes that take place in the terminal (ship berthing, handling of merchandise or services for passengers, among others).

For nautical maneuvers to be carried out with criteria of safety there is an advisory service for captains and this service is called pilotage operations.

Regarding the technical operations carried out, the following should be highlighted: the mooring and unmooring of ships, stowage and unloading, unloading and transshipment of goods.

The set of port operations can be divided into three groups:

1) those that are carried out with the arrival of a boat to the port (for example, administrative procedures, berthing or towing),

2) those that are carried out while the ship remains in port (for example, handling of goods) and

3) those operations that are carried out before the ship leaves the port (certain administrative procedures and a part of the processes related to the merchandise).

From the point of view of infrastructure, port terminals are divided into zones: maritime, land, cargo evacuation and logistics activities zones.

Companies related to port terminals

In the port terminals there are companies of a different nature:

1) The consignees focus on the procedures related to the entry and exit of goods and normally each company shipping company has a consignee agent in the ports where its ships operate,

2) freight forwarders are engaged in the organization of international transport,

3) The customs service is a service dependent on the state and deals with tax and tariff issues related to maritime activity.

Photos: Fotolia - Alex Green / Aunging

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