The Port of Erie (porterie.org) on the southeast shore of Lake Erie is located in a natural bay sheltered by Presque Isle in Erie, Pennsylvania. The harbor's entrance channel is 29 feet deep. The Port of Erie is the state's only port in the Great Lakes and serves cargo ships on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System in the United States and Canada. The port also features a seasonal campground and marinas for recreational boaters, as well as ship-building and repair facilities.
The Port of Pittsburgh (port.pittsburgh.pa.us) in southwestern Pennsylvania serves 12 counties and approximately 200 miles of commercially navigable waterways. The port and a system of 17 locks and dams links with four interstate highways and the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads. Supporting more than 200 river terminals and barge industry service suppliers, the port links with the Inland Waterway System and is the second busiest inland port in the country.
The Port of Philadelphia is one of 14 ports in the United States permitted to handle military cargoes destined for international ports. It has a dedicated cruise ship terminal operated by the Delaware River Port Authority (drpa.org) and specialized terminals operated by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (philaport.com). The port links with three major railroads and two interstate highways, and plans for the future include deepening the main shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet to handle larger cargo vessels.
Since 1892, oil refineries have been built on the waterfront of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania (marcushookboro.com). A deep water harbor allows for delivery of crude oil and the export of refined products to overseas markets. The community's link with its harbor dates back to the 18th century when it was the first port of call for Philadelphia and, for a time, a haven for pirates. It was also the site of a U.S. quarantine station for the Port of Philadelphia from 1887 to the late 1960s.
