Wharf - Definition and Overview

A wharf (plural wharfs, or (especially in American English) wharves, collectively wharfing or wharfage) is a fixed platform, commonly on pilings, roughly parallel to and alongside navigable water, where ships are loaded and unloaded. In the north-east of England the term staithe (from the Norse for landing stage) is also used. A pier extends perpendicularly to the shore.

Related terms dock -- harbor -- marina -- pier -- drydock -- floating dock -- berth.

Well known wharves

• Canary Wharf, London, England, part of the London Docklands and now redeveloped into commercial space which contains the three tallest buildings in Britain.
• Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, USA, now redeveloped into a tourist area with stores and restaurants instead of serving its maritime purpose.

• Derby (1762), Hatch's (1819) and Central (1791) Wharves in Salem, Massachusetts are the last of the 50 wharves which lined Salem harbor. They are part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site (http://www.nps.gov/sama/tour1.html), the only remaining intact waterfront from the US age of sail. In 1790, Salem was the sixth largest city in the country.