Explore world map shipping routes with ports to locate all the major sea ports on the earth.
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Top Seaports of the World
Rank
Port Name
Country
Container Throughput (TEUs, 2022)
1
Port of Shanghai
China
47,303,000
2
Port of Singapore
Singapore
37,290,000
3
Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan
China
33,351,000
4
Port of Shenzhen
China
30,036,000
5
Port of Qingdao
China
25,670,000
6
Port of Guangzhou
China
24,180,000
7
Port of Busan
South Korea
22,000,000
8
Port of Tianjin
China
20,270,000
9
Port of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
17,800,000
10
Port of Rotterdam
Netherlands
14,500,000
11
Port of Jebel Ali (Dubai)
United Arab Emirates
14,100,000
12
Port of Klang
Malaysia
13,700,000
13
Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Belgium
13,500,000
14
Port of Los Angeles
United States
9,911,159
15
Port of Tanjung Pelepas
Malaysia
9,500,000
16
Port of Hamburg
Germany
8,900,000
17
Port of New York and New Jersey
United States
9,493,664
18
Port of Laem Chabang
Thailand
8,000,000
19
Port of Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
7,900,000
20
Port of Xiamen
China
7,800,000
21
Port of Yokohama
Japan
7,500,000
22
Port of Kaohsiung
Taiwan
7,200,000
23
Port of Colombo
Sri Lanka
7,000,000
24
Port of Seattle-Tacoma
United States
6,800,000
25
Port of Tanjung Priok
Indonesia
6,500,000
26
Port of Algeciras
Spain
4,767,000
Seaports
Seaports are important assets in the physical infrastructure and are facilities consisting of warehouses and other infrastructure through which cargoes and passengers are loaded onto, and off, ships. These ports are important in the economy because they facilitate movement of goods and passengers, link up different industries, and facilitate movement of raw materials, finished goods, fuels and food stuffs. More than 80 percent of the trade by volume and 70 percent by value is handled by water transport and seaports are central to this. There is a huge difference among ports in terms of their size, location and the kind of activity they perform; some are very large and handle millions of containers while others are engaged in the handling of bulk cargoes or in cruise tourism.
Major Seaports and Global Rankings
The busiest seaports are usually situated in the areas of high industrial output and consumer demand. Shanghai is currently the world's largest seaport by container throughput, and it is located in China; the port handled more than 47 million TEUs in 2022. It is almost equally close to the Port of Singapore, which handled over 37 million TEUs, and the Port of Ningbo Zhoushan in China, which handled more than 33 million TEUs. Others are Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Busan, and Qingdao all in East Asia. These ports are intended to handle large volumes of containerized cargo and are accompanied by well-developed inland infrastructure, including railways, highways, and logistics centers.
Functions and Types of Seaports
The activities based primary on can Seaports be categorized broadly. Container ports are those that deal with cargo in the standardized containerization form, and they are buried, loaded and unloaded very rapidly. Bulk ports are those that move commodities such as coal, grain, iron ore and petroleum while RoRo (roll on roll off) ports move wheeled cargo such as vehicles. There are also cruise ports for passenger ships and general cargo ports for all types of goods. Some ports are also multi-purpose, they handle a number of kinds of cargo, passenger and passengers' cargo. Berthing, storage, customs clearance, logistics and distribution are their operations, which are often carried through digital port management systems.
Economic Importance of Seaports
Ports are major factors in the economic growth of countries and their regions. They create employment in the shipping, warehousing, logistics, security and transportation industries. For instance, the Port of Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach are the biggest port complex in the United States, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in California and other states. In Europe, the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is a very important hub for the European Union, helping trade with countries all over the world. Port expansion and upgrading are usually accompanied by enhanced economic development and foreign investment.
Environmental and Logistical Challenges
However, seaports are not without their problems. Environmental issues are pollution of air and water, waste management and the effects of ecology for dredging and increasing of infrastructure. Thus, the necessity of reducing carbon emissions has been increased, which results in investment in the clean fuel, electric cargo handling gear, and shore power facilities which enable vessels to switch off their engines while berthed. Another challenge is congestion, particularly in busy ports where congestion can cause disruptions to supply chains. Many countries and regions are paying much attention to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of ports through automation, proper planning as well as synchronization with the rail and road transport facilities.
Port Governance and Global Standards
The governance of seaports comprises public authorities, private operators and international organisations. Some are run by port authorities who regulate, police, and develop the ports. Others are public private partnership or concession arrangement. Generally, port operations are framed by maritime conventions and regulations from international organisations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for safe, secure and environmentally friendly shipping. Customs procedures, port security and labour practices are also regulated to guarantee the smooth and compliant trade operations.
