Ballast water – Seawater pumped in and out of a ship to keep the ship balanced and at the correct level in the water. The ballast water is stored in ballast tanks.  

Bilge – Collection basin at the bottom of a ship that collects waste oil and dirty water.

Bollard – A very solid structure, often like a short post, built into wharfs and piers for ships’ mooring lines to be placed on to.

Bulk carrier – A type of ship that carries a large volume of loose dry cargo. The cargo can include grain, minerals e.g. coal, iron ore etc or wood chips.

Bunker barge – A barge that supplies  ships with fuel while the ships are either tied up alongside in port or at anchor in a port.

Cargo hold – The space inside a ship where cargo is loaded (stowed).

Container Ship Cargo Plan – A plan that shows where each container is to be loaded on a ship so the ship remains balanced and the containers can be removed when they get to the right port.

Cargo Ship Cargo Plan – A plan that shows where different types of cargo is loaded in a ship and the port where it must be offloaded or discharged.

Channel – A deep area of water that ships can safely travel in to enter and move within a port.

Containers – A large steel box used to carry  items of cargo. Shipping containers and are designed to be stacked on top of each other and will fit on ships, trucks and railway wagons.  

Conveyor belt – A machine that transports goods such as grain or minerals along a belt from one location to another.

Forklift – A drivable machine designed to lift, stack and move goods in containers or on pallets around.

Grabber – a pair of metal jaws that can grab large volumes of loose materials such as minerals or grain.

Harbour Master – The person who is responsible for making sure ships safely move around  in a port and that everyone obeys the law..

Hopper – Collects the grain, minerals etc. The special train wagons or truck trailers can open from the bottom, pouring their goods into the hopper.   

Pier – A raised structure over water standing on pillars. The water can move freely under the structure.

Pilot – A person who boards a ship to help them get safely into and out of a port.

Pollution – Materials including liquids, garbage and exhaust gases that may  escape into the environment and can harm the environment.

Port – A port connects the land to the sea. It is a safe place with equipment to load and unload cargo on to and off ships. Ports have roads and often railways to move the cargo in and out of the port across land.

Quarantine – A way of preventing plant, animal and human diseases and pests from ships that have come from a foreign country from spreading in Australia.

Skimmer – A boat that can mop up oil which has been spilled onto the surface of the water.

Stevedore – The name given to the people who load and unload ships.

Straddle carrier – A drivable machine used on wharfs to pick up and transport containers around the port.

Wharf – It is a large platform where ships can dock and the cargo can be moved.