Port of Chester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port of Chester |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 39°51′10″N 75°20′39″W / 39.8527302°N 75.3442906°W |
| Details | |
| Draft depth | 45 feet |
| Air draft | 188 feet |
The Port of Chester is a busy American port located on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. It's a key part of the larger Delaware Valley port system. This port stretches through the towns of Chester, Marcus Hook, and Eddystone.
Long ago, the Port of Chester was famous for building ships and later for assembling cars. Today, it's used for different kinds of manufacturing and fun activities. Only one main shipping facility, Penn Terminals, still operates there.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Port
The area near the port has a rich history.
- William Penn Landing Site: This important historical spot is close to where Chester Creek meets the Delaware River. It's where William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, first landed.
- Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company: This was once the largest shipyard in the United States after the Civil War. It started in 1917 to build oil tankers. Even when many other shipyards closed, Sun Shipbuilding kept building ships. This was because ships were starting to use oil instead of coal. The shipyard closed in 1990. The U.S. Navy even named some ships USS Chester to honor this port!
- Chester Waterside Station: This was a power plant that helped provide electricity.
- Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works: This shipyard built nearly 350 ships over many years. It later became the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation. In 1927, the Ford Motor Company bought it and turned it into a car factory called Chester Assembly. This factory made cars until it closed in 1961.
- Eddystone Arsenal: This was a factory that made weapons, and it was part of a company called Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Where is the Port of Chester Located?
The Port of Chester is on the west side of the Delaware River. It's located in the towns of Chester, Eddystone, and Ridley Park. It's downstream from the Philadelphia International Airport. Several smaller creeks, like Chester Creek and Ridley Creek, flow into the Delaware River along the port's shore.
How Ships Get Here: The Shipping Channel
Ships need a deep path to travel safely. This path is called a shipping channel.
- In 1885, the U.S. government started making a deep shipping channel. It was 26 feet deep and 600 feet wide, going from Philadelphia all the way to the deep waters of Delaware Bay.
- By 1899, the channel was made even deeper, to 30 feet.
- Since 1941, the main channel has been kept at a depth of 40 feet.
- In 2017, a 102.5-mile part of this channel was deepened to 45 feet. This helps very large ships reach the port.
Lights and Signals for Ships
Special lights and signals, called navigational aids, help ships find their way.
- The Marcus Hook Range Lights are downstream from the port.
- The Tinicum Island Range Lights are upstream.
- Many other aids are also along the shore to guide ships safely.
Roads Around the Port
- Pennsylvania Route 291 runs right next to the river. It's known as the Industrial Heritage Highway because of all the factories and businesses along it.
- The Commodore Barry Bridge carries U.S. Route 322 over the river.
- U.S. Route 13 also goes through Chester.
- Major highways like Interstate 95 and Interstate 476 are close by.
Train Service to the Port
Trains also help move goods to and from the port.
- Train services are part of Conrail's network.
- The Stoney Creek Secondary train line runs next to the port and has special tracks that go right into the port facilities.
- Other train companies like Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation also operate here.
- The Wilmington/Newark Line is a train line for people traveling to work or school. It's part of SEPTA's train network.
What's at the Port Today?
The Port of Chester is home to many different kinds of businesses and activities.
Shipping, Factories, and Energy
- DELCORA: This is a facility that treats wastewater for Delaware County.
- Covanta Energy: This plant turns waste into energy.
- Evonik Degussa: A company that makes special chemicals.
- GWSI Warehousing: A large storage facility.
- River Bridge Industrial Center: An area with many industrial businesses.
- Kimberly-Clark: A company that makes paper products.
- Chester Water Authority: Provides water to the area.
- Penn Terminals: This is the main traditional shipping facility at the port, covering 80 acres.
- Barry Callebaut: A company that makes chocolate and cocoa products.
- Exelon Eddystone Generating Station: A power plant.
- Boeing: This company makes helicopters, including the MH-47 Chinook.
Fun and Recreation
- Wharf at Rivertown: A place along the river for people to enjoy.
- Subaru Park: This is a stadium built just for soccer! It's the home field for the Philadelphia Union, a team in Major League Soccer. The stadium was built with money from Delaware County and Pennsylvania.
- Harrah's Philadelphia: This entertainment center was built where the old Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company used to be.
- East Coast Greenway: A long trail for walking and biking that runs along the shore.
Gallery
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Chester Waterside Station Machine Shop, now part of Subaru Park
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Subaru Park
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Harrah's Philadelphia
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Eddystone Rifle Factory
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MH-47 Chinook helicopter produced at Boeing
