A substantial amount of warehousing takes place at ports, which takes unique forms depending on the cargo type, which can be terminal-specific. First-tier warehousing involves storage taking place directly within the terminal, while second-tier warehousing is port-centric and directly connected with the terminals. For general (unitized) cargo:
- Break Bulk. The most common form of first-tier break bulk storage involves on-dock or near-dock warehouses where the cargo can be temporarily stored, waiting to be loaded into a tramp cargo ship or distributed inland. For large pieces of breakbulk cargo, open storage areas are common. Break-bulk cargo comes from (or is bound to) manufacturing and assembly plants acting as storage facilities.
- RORO. Since vehicle carriers carry large quantities (3,000 to 5,000 units), RORO facilities require large parking areas with options for parking configurations. Multideck facilities can be available for high-density terminals. Vehicles are related to processing facilities (vehicle preparation and storage before final distribution) or assembly lines that commonly ship directly to terminal facilities vehicles for exports.
- Containerized. Require large stacking areas that act as a buffer between the maritime and inland circulation systems with a dwell time usually less than 7 days. Staking density will vary according to the types of yard equipment used. Container freight stations may be present within the terminal facility, with the role of stuffing or destuffing containers depending on the trade orientation. Container terminals are part of complex supply chains and an ecosystem of port-centric facilities (second tier), including transloading facilities, distribution centers, and container depots (mostly for empties), which are common.
For bulk (loose) cargo:
- Liquid bulk. Often composed of tank farms, which are groupings of tanks storing similar products accessed through pipelines and pumps. Refineries and petrochemical plants are dominantly port-centric activities, often including the terminal facility to load and unload liquid products.
- Dry bulk. Rely on stockpiles, bulk warehouses, or silos to handle a volume large enough for the economies of scale that commonly characterize bulk shipping. Dry bulk is associated with large processing plants involving in the transformation of resources.