Port of Durrës
Encyclopedia
The Port of Durrës or Durrës Harbor is a biggest port
of Albania
in the city of Durrës
, Albania
.
It is an artificial basin that is formed between two moles, with a west-northwesterly oriented entrance approximately 183 metres (600.4 ft) wide as it passes between the ends of the moles. The Port of Durrës is located at the north end of the Bay of Durrës (Albanian: Gjiri i Durrësit), an extensive body of water between Kala e Turrës and Cape Durrës (Albanian: Kepi i Durrësit). Cape Durrës is located approximately 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) west of the Port of Durrës.
The Port of Durrës has approximately 763 metres (2,503.3 ft) of alongside pier space on the West Mole and a fishing harbor lies at the north end of the East Mole. Several wrecks are located near the entrance channel to the Port of Durrës. The use of tugboats is compulsory in the Port of Durrës. As of 2011, the port is undergoing major renovation and expansion.
Epidamnos (Durrës
) was seized by Glaukias, the king of Illyria
, in 312 BC, but after a war with the Roman Republic in 229 BC ended in a decisive defeat for the Illyrians the city passed to Roman
rule, under which it was developed as a major military and naval base. The Romans renamed it Dyrrachium (Greek: Δυρράχιον/Dyrrhachion). They considered the name Epidamnos to be inauspicious because of its wholly coincidental similarities with the Latin word damnum, meaning "loss" or "harm". The meaning of Dyrrachium ("bad spine" or "difficult ridge" in Greek) is unclear but it has been suggested that it refers to the imposing cliffs near the city. Julius Caesar's rival Pompey made a stand there in 48 BC before fleeing south to Greece. Under Roman rule, Dyrrachium prospered; it became the western end of the Via Egnatia, the great Roman road that led to Thessalonica and on to Constantinople. Another lesser road led south to the city of Buthrotum, the modern Butrint. The Roman emperor Caesar Augustus made the city a colony for veterans of his legions following the Battle of Actium, proclaiming it a civitas libera (free town).
In the 4th century AD, Dyrrachium was made the capital of the Roman province of Epirus nova. It was the birthplace of the emperor Anastasius I in circa 430. Some time later that century, Dyrrachium was struck by a powerful earthquake which destroyed the city's defences. Anastasius I rebuilt and strengthened the city walls, thus creating the strongest fortifications in the western Balkans. The 12m (36ft)-high walls were so thick that, according to the Byzantine historian Anna Komnene
, four horsemen could ride abreast on them. Significant portions of the ancient city defences still remain, although they have been much reduced over the centuries.
Like much of the rest of the Balkans, Dyrrachium and the surrounding Dyrraciensis provinciae suffered considerably from barbarian incursions during the Migrations Period. It was besieged in 481 by Theodoric the Great
, king of the Ostrogoths, and in subsequent centuries had to fend off frequent attacks by the Bulgarians
. Unaffected by the fall of the Western Roman Empire
, the city continued under the Byzantine Empire
as an important port and a major link between the Empire and western Europe. During communism in Albania, the port was named after Albanian communist leader, Enver Hoxha
.
Tides have a maximum variation of 45 to 50 cm (1.5 to 1.6 ft) at Durrës. Southerly winds will raise the water level above astronomical tide levels 0.5 metres (1.6 ft). Strong northerly winds will lower the water level in the port by a similar amount.
has a five-year for equipment servicing and maintenance contract, it was given by the Durrës Port Authority (DPA) in Albania.
a depth ranging from 7.5 to 11.5 meters and 11 berths with about 2200 meters of quay. The total land area is about 80 hectares.
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
in the city of Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
It is an artificial basin that is formed between two moles, with a west-northwesterly oriented entrance approximately 183 metres (600.4 ft) wide as it passes between the ends of the moles. The Port of Durrës is located at the north end of the Bay of Durrës (Albanian: Gjiri i Durrësit), an extensive body of water between Kala e Turrës and Cape Durrës (Albanian: Kepi i Durrësit). Cape Durrës is located approximately 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) west of the Port of Durrës.
The Port of Durrës has approximately 763 metres (2,503.3 ft) of alongside pier space on the West Mole and a fishing harbor lies at the north end of the East Mole. Several wrecks are located near the entrance channel to the Port of Durrës. The use of tugboats is compulsory in the Port of Durrës. As of 2011, the port is undergoing major renovation and expansion.
History
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
) was seized by Glaukias, the king of Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
, in 312 BC, but after a war with the Roman Republic in 229 BC ended in a decisive defeat for the Illyrians the city passed to Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
rule, under which it was developed as a major military and naval base. The Romans renamed it Dyrrachium (Greek: Δυρράχιον/Dyrrhachion). They considered the name Epidamnos to be inauspicious because of its wholly coincidental similarities with the Latin word damnum, meaning "loss" or "harm". The meaning of Dyrrachium ("bad spine" or "difficult ridge" in Greek) is unclear but it has been suggested that it refers to the imposing cliffs near the city. Julius Caesar's rival Pompey made a stand there in 48 BC before fleeing south to Greece. Under Roman rule, Dyrrachium prospered; it became the western end of the Via Egnatia, the great Roman road that led to Thessalonica and on to Constantinople. Another lesser road led south to the city of Buthrotum, the modern Butrint. The Roman emperor Caesar Augustus made the city a colony for veterans of his legions following the Battle of Actium, proclaiming it a civitas libera (free town).
In the 4th century AD, Dyrrachium was made the capital of the Roman province of Epirus nova. It was the birthplace of the emperor Anastasius I in circa 430. Some time later that century, Dyrrachium was struck by a powerful earthquake which destroyed the city's defences. Anastasius I rebuilt and strengthened the city walls, thus creating the strongest fortifications in the western Balkans. The 12m (36ft)-high walls were so thick that, according to the Byzantine historian Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
, four horsemen could ride abreast on them. Significant portions of the ancient city defences still remain, although they have been much reduced over the centuries.
Like much of the rest of the Balkans, Dyrrachium and the surrounding Dyrraciensis provinciae suffered considerably from barbarian incursions during the Migrations Period. It was besieged in 481 by Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
, king of the Ostrogoths, and in subsequent centuries had to fend off frequent attacks by the Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
. Unaffected by the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, the city continued under the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
as an important port and a major link between the Empire and western Europe. During communism in Albania, the port was named after Albanian communist leader, Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
.
Tides
There is a large counterclockwise stream in the center of the Adriatic Sea. The large stream sometimes breaks into two smaller ones. In both scenarios, the general current flow is northward along the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea and southward along the western shores. Currents are negligible inside the harbor.Tides have a maximum variation of 45 to 50 cm (1.5 to 1.6 ft) at Durrës. Southerly winds will raise the water level above astronomical tide levels 0.5 metres (1.6 ft). Strong northerly winds will lower the water level in the port by a similar amount.
Cargotec
CargotecCargotec
Cargotec Oyj is a Finnish company that makes cargo-handling machinery for ships, ports, terminals and local distribution.Cargotec was formed in June 2005 when Kone Corporation was split into two companies to be listed: Cargotec and new KONE...
has a five-year for equipment servicing and maintenance contract, it was given by the Durrës Port Authority (DPA) in Albania.
Additional information
The port is formed by two breakwaters which protect an inner basin of 67 hectares witha depth ranging from 7.5 to 11.5 meters and 11 berths with about 2200 meters of quay. The total land area is about 80 hectares.
Main road's to the port
The port of Durrës is well connected with the national road network. The main routes for freight transport are:- DurrësDurrësDurrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
- TiranaTiranaTirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
- ElbasanElbasanElbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
(and further to the border with Macedonia) - Durrës - Tirana - Lezhe - Shkoder - KukesAlbania-Kosovo HighwayThe Albania-Kosovo Highway is a 4-lane highway being built between Albania and Kosovo...
(and further to the border with Kosovo) - DurrësDurrësDurrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
- FierFierFieri is a city in southwest Albania, in the district and county of the same name. It is located at , and has a population of 82,297 . Fier is from the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Apollonia.-History :...
- VlorëVlorëVlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
(and further to the border with Greece)