Kingston Harbour
Encyclopedia
Kingston Harbour is the seventh largest natural harbour in the world. It is an almost landlocked sheet of water approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long by 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) wide. Most of it is deep enough to accommodate large ships, even close to shore. It is bordered to the north by the city of Kingston
, the capital of Jamaica
, to the west by Hunts Bay and the municipality of Portmore
, and to the south and east by the Palisadoes
spit
.
The harbour is home to the Kingston Container Terminal, Jamaica's largest port. Other docks on Kingston Harbour are at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica in downtown Kingston and at the Jamaica Flour Mills and the Caribbean Cement Company at Rockfort.
Norman Manley International Airport
, Jamaica's second largest, is also located in the outer harbor, on the Palisadoes spit.
There is a fishing village at Rockfort and fishing docks at Harbour View
and at Port Royal
.
but following its destruction in the 1692 earthquake
Kingston
was founded and the development of the Kingston waterfront began.
Historically, the harbour was safe from attack with its narrow entrance being protected by two forts, one the tip of the Palisadoes
at Port Royal
and the other on a small sand spit opposite.
Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries it handled a large local trade and was the chief entrepot
for British exports to the Spanish colonies. For the remainder of the 19th century its development as a port was retarded by a decline in the Jamaican economy. Throughout this period there was a gradual increase in the number of finger piers and wharves along its long sheltered waterfront.
In 1720 the body of Calico Jack
was hanged at the entrance of the harbour as a warning to other pirates.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, the capital of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, to the west by Hunts Bay and the municipality of Portmore
Portmore
Portmore is a coastal city in southern Jamaica in Saint Catherine, and a dormitory town for the neighbouring cities of Kingston and Spanish Town.-Geography:...
, and to the south and east by the Palisadoes
Palisadoes
Palisadoes is the thin tombolo of sand that serves as a natural protection for Kingston Harbour, Jamaica. Norman Manley International Airport and the historic town of Port Royal are both on Palisadoes....
spit
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
.
The harbour is home to the Kingston Container Terminal, Jamaica's largest port. Other docks on Kingston Harbour are at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica in downtown Kingston and at the Jamaica Flour Mills and the Caribbean Cement Company at Rockfort.
Norman Manley International Airport
Norman Manley International Airport
-Cargo :The following Cargo/Courier serve Norman Manley International Airport:-Accidents and incidents:*On 17 July 1960, the captain of a Vickers Viscount of Cubana de Aviación hijacked the aircraft on a flight from José Martí International Airport, Havana to Miami International Airport, Florida...
, Jamaica's second largest, is also located in the outer harbor, on the Palisadoes spit.
There is a fishing village at Rockfort and fishing docks at Harbour View
Harbour View
-Jamaica:* Harbour View, Jamaica, a community at the eastern extreme of the city of Kingston, Jamaica.-Schools:* Harbour View Elementary School, a public school on the north end of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada....
and at Port Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
.
History
As a large, natural, well protected harbour it has been used since the very beginning of European exploration and settlement of the island. Initially the main settlement was at Port RoyalPort Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
but following its destruction in the 1692 earthquake
1692 Jamaica earthquake
The 1692 Jamaica earthquake struck Port Royal, Jamaica on June 7, at exactly 11:43 a.m., according to a stopped pocket watch found in the harbour in the 1950s. Port Royal was then the unofficial capital of Jamaica, and one of the busiest and wealthiest ports in the West Indies...
Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
was founded and the development of the Kingston waterfront began.
Historically, the harbour was safe from attack with its narrow entrance being protected by two forts, one the tip of the Palisadoes
Palisadoes
Palisadoes is the thin tombolo of sand that serves as a natural protection for Kingston Harbour, Jamaica. Norman Manley International Airport and the historic town of Port Royal are both on Palisadoes....
at Port Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
and the other on a small sand spit opposite.
Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries it handled a large local trade and was the chief entrepot
Entrepôt
An entrepôt is a trading post where merchandise can be imported and exported without paying import duties, often at a profit. This profit is possible because of trade conditions, for example, the reluctance of ships to travel the entire length of a long trading route, and selling to the entrepôt...
for British exports to the Spanish colonies. For the remainder of the 19th century its development as a port was retarded by a decline in the Jamaican economy. Throughout this period there was a gradual increase in the number of finger piers and wharves along its long sheltered waterfront.
In 1720 the body of Calico Jack
Calico Jack
John Rackham , commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas during the early 18th century...
was hanged at the entrance of the harbour as a warning to other pirates.
Pollution
In modern times Kingston Harbour has suffered a number of pollution incidents. In one such during 2009, 300 tons of sulphuric acid are said to have been accidentally discharged from one of the wharves.External links
- Aerial view
- Photos: