The Port of St. John’s is the biggest city and capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Lying at the east end of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, the harbor is protected by Signal Hill and South Side Hills. It was the seat of the colonial province and it is the oldest city founded by England in North America. The metropolitan area is Newfoundland’s fastest growing. It includes the city of Mount Pearl and eleven other towns. It’s Newfoundland’s most populous city, with a population of over 181 thousand.

John Cabot sailed into the harbor in 1497 and, in the 1500s, the Port of St. John’s was important to explorers, fishing fleets, and colonists. Known for its rich fishing grounds, the harbor was a meeting place for ships from many European countries. In 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland in the name of Queen Elizabeth from this port, making it Great Britain’s oldest colony.

Through the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Port of St. John’s remained a thriving fishing village. The Port of St. John’s thrived as a fishing port despite numerous attacks by the French and several major fires.

In the late 1700s, new commercial activities developed to support the thousands of fishers that came to Newfoundland waters. Because roads were scarce, the Port of St. John’s grew as a center for the export of fish and fish products and the import of goods to inland Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Port of St. John’s did not keep up with Newfoundland’s expansion during the 1950s. Its port facilities were soon overwhelmed and inadequate, leading to modernization and expansion efforts in the early 1960s. Both the Port Authority and private interests invested in port facilities that included a modern container-handling facility and exploration and development of offshore oil resources.

Today, the Port of St. John’s is equipped with modern cargo terminals and mooring berths. It has outstanding repair facilities and personnel. Ships from all over the world bring containers and bulk cargo to and from the Port of St. John’s. The port also serves the fishing industry, offshore oil industry, and a prosperous cruising industry.

The St. John’s Port Authority was created in 1999 to operate and promote the port as an autonomous federal Agency.

Pier 17 is a 150 thousand square foot multi-use marine supply and service facility with state-of-the-art berth technology. The concrete wharf and paved area cover about 9.7 thousand square meters with a 4500 square meter graveled storage area adjacent. The Pier offers 180 meters of berthage with alongside depth of from 8.1 to 10.3 meters. Newfoundland and Labrador produce almost half of Canada’s light crude oil. Pier 17 is a state-of-the-art petroleum support and service center with the latest environmental containment and safety systems.

The Port of St. John’s Pier 7 was completed in 2004 as a centerpiece for the port’s tourism industry. It has a world-class passenger terminal where people can gather, shop, or dine in comfort.

The Roll-on/Roll-off Ramp at Pier 2 was designed to serve the latest vessels and facilitates the transshipment of automobiles as well.

Cruise ships and tourism are the fastest growing sector in the Port of St. John’s economy. In 2004, almost eight thousand passengers arrived on 16 cruise vessels, bringing about $1.5 million in revenues to the city. Developing this important sector is a top priority for the Port of St. John’s.

Demonstrating their commitment to the cruise industry, a dockside Welcoming Committee meets every cruise ship that enters the port. Passengers are greeted by local entertainers providing dockside amusement, and they may board the vessel to entertain passengers before they depart.

Local tour operators are available to take visitors on adventures to historic sites or for whale watching and iceberg tours. The Port of St. John’s is near many downtown restaurants and shops where visitors are greeted by friendly locals who relish their business. In addition to downtown treats, there are several interesting sites that visitors will not want to miss.

The Cape Spear National Historic Site, 11 kilometers from the Port of St. John’s, is on North America’s easternmost point. It is home to Newfoundland’s oldest surviving lighthouse and a coastal defense battery used in World War II. The historic site also has many walking trails where hikers can enjoy breathtaking coastal scenery, perhaps even spotting whales or icebergs.

The Port of St. John’s Signal Hill National Historic Site stands at the entrance of the harbor and was an important signal station protecting the town. It was used in the early 1700s to announce approaching ships (friends and enemies), and the last North American battle of the Seven Years’ War between England and France was fought here. Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal atop Signal Hill in 1901. Visitors will find picnic areas, walking trails, and panoramic views of the city from Signal Hill.

The Port of St. John’s Waterfront in historic downtown features historic buildings and coves that sheltered explorers, soldiers, pirates, merchants, and mariners over the last five centuries. Visitors will also find museums, galleries, parks, and many places to dine or shop in the narrow winding streets of downtown district.

The Johnson GEO Center, an 18-acre site on Signal Hill, opened in 2002 as a geological interpretation center with many underground exhibits that tell the story of Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique geological history.

Serving the purpose of natural reserve and gardens, the Memorial University Botanical Gardens cover 45 hectares near the center of St. John’s. Visitors can stroll a variety of gardens and take one of five nature trails to view some of the 120 species of birds and 25 species of butterflies that have been identified in the nature reserve.

Travelers who want to tour the Port of St. John’s by sea can get more information at the Cruise Newfoundland website.