Inland ports can be located on rivers, lakes or far from any body of water. They can service large vessels or allow modular cargo to be transferred between trucks, rail and other modes of transportation. Some large and crucial ports lie far inland and are accessed by rivers that have been dredged or modified to allow shipping access. Inland ports can also perform various processing and receiving functions, freeing up valuable waterfront space.
An inland port can be one of two things, both related to shipping and freight. Historically, these ports were located on rivers, lakes, or other inland waterways. Some of these facilities can service large vessels, while others require cargo to be transferred to smaller ships before being sent down the canal or river. Another use of this term refers to a facility that performs many of the same functions as a port, despite being located far from any body of water. These are typically shipping and logistics centers that allow modular cargo from ocean-going vessels to be transferred between trucks, rail, and other modes of transportation.
A traditional inland port is located on a navigable body of water, such as a lake or river, while facilities with direct access to the ocean through a saltwater body, such as a sound or bay, are simply known as ports. . Some large and crucial ports lie far inland and are accessed by rivers that have been dredged or modified to allow shipping access. Locking systems and channels can also be used to move larger vessels inland.
Other inland port cities serve traffic that never leaves a river or lake system. Some large rivers have historically been very important means of facilitating trade through shipping. The great lakes or inland seas have also been used extensively for shipping. The Great Lakes system in the United States contains approximately 20% of all liquid freshwater in the world and has several major inland port cities. Trade between these inland ports was especially important before the development of land transportation systems.
Inland port also refers to a special type of shipping and logistics facility. These so-called ports can perform many of the same functions as a wet port without any access to the water. Modular loading can allow the same shipping containers carried by ocean-going vessels to be transported directly onto tractor trailers. Inland ports can serve as the location for this type of modular cargo to be transferred between trucks or other methods of transportation, such as trains.
When functioning as a logistics facility, the inland port also performs various processing and receiving functions. If modular containers are shipped directly to one of these facilities, they cannot be inspected at the wet port. Customs and other checks can be carried out exclusively at inland facilities. Shifting these types of functions to inland ports can free up valuable waterfront space for increased shipping capacity or other uses.
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