Maritime Art By BobbyR

Seaports operate 24/7 so it takes a lot of hard work to keep them operating safely and efficiently. To accommodate the ships that bring goods into and out of the U.S., seaports have to provide lots of services. They have to provide pilot services to help guide ships into and out of the port, tug and tow services to help the big freighters and tankers maneuver inside the port, harbormaster services to control traffic in the port and help ships dock, shipping agent and dockworker services to load and unload cargo, and wharfinger services to provide space to warehouse goods until trucks and trains can bring them to their final destinations. They also provide security to protect ships and their cargos from theft or attack, maintenance services to make sure that basins and channels are dredged so big ships can pass through without going aground, repair services to insure that seawalls and docks are in good working order, and commercial realty services so that shipping and cruise line companies can have office space to operate, and parking facilities for workers and cruise passengers to park their cars. Yep, seaports are busy places.

In these galleries, you will find paintings of some of the vessels and operations that keep seaports running and help make them the special places they are.

There are 361 ports in the United States of which 126 are seaports that have waters deep enough to handle ocean going ships. Seaports are America's gateways to the world with nearly 600 billion dollars worth of goods passing through American seaports every year. Excluding trade with Mexico and Canada, 95% of all trade goods that enter or leave the U.S. pass through American seaports. Our seaports serve as international trade centers, fuel distribution centers, recreation centers, job centers, environmental protection centers, defense centers and international diplomacy centers. They provide Americans with over 8 million jobs and add nearly 2 trillion dollars to the American economy every year. American seaports are probably the most important institutions in the United States that most Americans know little about. Take time to learn more about our seaports. After all, they bring in the goods.

Security has always been a top priority of American seaports. The tragic events of 9/11/2001 were a sobering reminder of how important America's seaports are to its national security and economic vitality.. As a result, America has seen an unprecedented increase in the amount of resources spent on securing its ports. More importantly, America has also seen an unprecedented level of partnership and cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to increase and maintain seaport security requirements. For example, there are 10 different federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in Port Everglades Florida that work together 24/7 to protect the port from terrorist attack and insure that its maritime commerce proceeds in a safe and lawful manner. As you review our gallery of Port Security vessels, think about the important role that law enforcement plays in keeping the goods flowing so that you can continue to maintain your lifestyle.