Harbor in Köln

The harbor is a water basin for ships. It consists of the harbor basin, quays and jetties. Sometimes also joins a shipyard. At the seashore, on the shore lake or on the riverbank you find the harbor complex. In addition to mooring and anchorage points for ships, facilities for unloading and loading of ships are common port components. Large-scale storage and handling areas are frequently to be found.
Private boaters or shipowners know not only the moorings but also places of refuge for ships in case of damage or bad weather. Often you can find shipping companies near ports.

A distinction is made between different port types, which differ according to location and intended use. There is the passenger port (including cruise port, ferry port, marina for yachts and pleasure boats) and commercial ports (container port, general cargo port, liquefied port). In addition, there are harbor and naval port facilities as well as supply harbors, cargo ports, and emergency and protection ports.

The Port of Hamburg, the port of Bremen, the port of Lübeck and the port of Kiel are the most well-known ports in Germany. Here visitors can watch the harbor, buy souvenirs and make harbor cruises.