The shipping platform

Location: Boston is situated on the W shore of Massachusetts Bay on the eastern seaboard of the USA. General overview: Boston comprises an inner and outer harbour covering in total, 12,032ha. There are a total of 258 piers, wharves and docks in the port area. The principal exports are vehicles, lumber and logs, iron and steel, leather, recycled paper and machinery. Imports are alcoholic beverages, frozen seafood, footware, furniture and petroleum products. The chief coastal trade is in bulk gypsum, liquid sulphur, cement and petroleum. Traffic figures: Approx 1,200 vessels, 15,500,000t of cargo, 164,500TEU, and 270,000 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31. Max size: Draught 12.1m. Largest vessel handled: "MSC Alyssa", LOA 275.2m, draught 13.1m, 43,575DWT.