Port & Shipping Guides
Clear, practical explanations of the data behind every port — what the codes and numbers mean, and how to use them.
What Is a UN/LOCODE? The Port Code Explained
A plain-English guide to UN/LOCODE — how the United Nations location codes for ports work, how to read the 5 characters, and what they are used for.
4 min readPort Depth & Vessel Draft Explained
Channel depth, anchorage depth, cargo pier depth and maximum vessel draft — what each figure means and how to read it on a port page.
5 min readWhat Is the World Port Index (Pub 150)?
A guide to the NGA World Port Index — the public-domain dataset documenting the physical characteristics of major ports worldwide.
4 min read