The general objective of this course was to analyze the impact of port centres and cities in the territory. Specific objectives of the subject included:
- 1st.. to analyze how maritime ports were traditionally studied within the framework of Geography,
- 2nd. to illustrate the main characteristics of the Port Geography specialty, and
- 3rd. to outline the geographer’s input and contributions into interdisciplinary port studies.
From a practical standpoint, the purpose of the course was to explain the procedures, methods and logistics of the maritime transport and the port centres, including real-life cases.
The teaching materials provided for this course comprise documents with different approaches which complement each other. The first document, “Port Geography 1” describes the basic working tools: programme, references, internet resources, complementary papers and practical assignments. The second document, “Port Geography 2”, includes graphics and diagrams used during the lectures to explain the five themes in which the course program is subdivided. These five themes are:
- Evolution of port analysis within the framework of Geography. The Port Geography identity;
- Technical transformations of the maritime transport and their effect on ports and their territory of influence;
- The role of ports in the economy from the second half of the twentieth century onwards: from the industrial phase to the globalization of commercial interchanges;
- Jobs derived from the port activities: the “Port Community”; and
- Economic and territorial relationships between the port and the city. The urban ports.
The materials on Port Geography will be complemented with a third document including photographs and studies of real-life cases.
To access the Port Geography documents:
