Wharf

As Kai ( 17th century Dutch kaai of French quai borrowed ) refers to a fortified by walls seawall - usually located in harbors or on river or canal banks for loading and unloading of cargoes. The fairway is in front of it so deep that ships can moor.

The quay wall is a vertical or almost vertical wall in solid or pile structure design, which can carry the burden of shore cranes, rail car or stacked charge ( see also sheet piling ). Up or on the quay wall to bollards or rings are for mooring the ships. In order to create more space for berthing ships, quays may be supplemented by piers and jetties.

The once important transport activities have shifted to ship to the outskirts or outside on the river banks of large cities. The name Kai has been preserved for these embankments, however. They often serve as a promenade or boulevard. Examples are the Quai d' Orsay ( with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ) on the left bank of the Seine in Paris, the Bund in Shanghai or the Franz- Josef - Kai on the city side bank of the Danube Canal in Vienna.

In the Weser region (eg in Bremen, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven ) the quay is called the quay. Particularly well known is the Columbus Quay in Bremerhaven, moored at the former passenger ships to America and England ( Harwich ) ( liner shipping ). In Hamburg, the name Kai has prevailed.