Port Industry Glossary Ports connect us to the world. Goods we touch every day travel to and from one of hundreds of deep draft ports that accommodate ocean-going vessels. They are located in coastal areas, as well as on the Great Lakes and on inland river systems. Ports are busy, dynamic transportation hubs that are constantly adapting to meet the demands of global trade.
Ports are the nexus of business transactions for imported and exported goods.
We depend on ports to increase international trade, to strengthen local and national economies, to provide higher paying jobs, and to increase our standards of living. Trade creates new opportunities for citizens in every country. By virtue of their location, ports also serve as environmental stewards of our coastlines. Ports spend millions of dollars each year to minimize the impacts of port operations and development of their surrounding communities and natural resources. Ports play another critical role in our communities as well.