Marine terminal operators [1] provide wharfage, dock, warehouse, or other marine facilities to vessel carriers and shippers. Private terminal operators are companies that lease terminals from a port authority and operate the leased terminal as a private business.
Stevedores are those that work at or are responsible for the loading and unloading of vessels at a marine terminal location, primarily located at a port. Most ports have at least one general terminal that can handle all kinds of cargo for shippers and shipping lines.
These Marine Terminal/Stevedoring Operators are responsible for quoting the loading, discharge, storage, and other services related to the handling of cargoes. They may employ labor from a unionized group such as the International Longshoremen’s Association, or have their own non-unionized labor pool to select from.
Westport – Port of Hamilton
Marine terminals on the Great Lakes operate all year round, although they handle vessels primarily during the navigation season which is from mid-March until early January. There are some cases where vessels offer inter-lake services, which keep those terminals handling vessels all year round. Terminals generally offer rail and truck connectivity to support the logistics supply chain. Direct vessel-to-rail connectivity is very useful and cost-effective. Typical cargoes handled include bulk, breakbulk, project cargoes, and containers.
Some considerations to note when selecting a marine terminal:
- Number of berths available
- Available laydown space
- Connectivity to rail
- Labour options
- Available draft for vessels
- Custom bonded areas and/or sufferance areas
- Storage availability
- Access to markets
[1] Marine Terminal Operators
