Harbours Flashcards
Harbour
Area where ships, boats and barges can seek shelter from the sea or in rivers, to dock and transfer people or cargo to land.
Wharf
A structure made of timber, stone or concrete where the loading and unloading of ships take place.
Dock
An area between two wharves or piers used for mooring ships.
Dry dock
An are of water that can accommodate a ship and be closed off. The water is then drained, leaving the dock dry, making it easier for repairs to take place.
Pier
Similar to a wharf, a pier is a structure with a deck built out over water that is used as a landing place for ships.
Mooring
A place used to anchor a ship.
Berth
A place assigned to a ship at mooring.
Jetty
A structure built from the shore that extends into the water.
Quay
A wharf built parallel to the shoreline.
Breakwater
A massive wall built out into the sea, that is used to protect the harbour from wave action.
Slipway
This is the sloping area (ramp) in a harbour from which a vessel is launched.
Buoy
A distinctly shaped and usually orange-coloured float that is anchored on the seabed to serve as a warning or to designate moorings.
Functions of a harbour
- Shelters vessels from destructive forces like wind,current and waves.
- Used as a navigational aids to support ships at sea.
- Element of service provision eg. refueling, telephone and medical services and stock replenishment.
- Need to be able to receive and dispatch cargo via land and sea.
Types of harbours
Function of harbour usually determines the type of harbour designed.
- Natural harbours- Developed naturally, shelters carved out of the land.
- Improved harbours- Vessel harbours become improved harbours by providing breakwaters or removing sandbars.
- Artificial harbours- Are built on dry land then opened to the sea.
