A wharf is a structure built on the seaside or river that is specifically designed for ships or ferries to berth, allowing passengers to get on and off and goods to be loaded and unloaded. Wharves are typically found in commercial cities with well-developed water and land transportation.

The composition of a wharf consists of two parts: the main structure and the ancillary facilities. The main structure includes the superstructure, substructure, and foundation.

The role of the superstructure is to connect the lower components into a whole, directly bear the load and transmit these loads to the lower structure, and serve as the basis for setting up anti-scour facilities, mooring facilities, process facilities, and safety facilities.

The wharf serves as a ferry berth for humans to pick up and drop off passengers and goods. Additionally, it may also serve as a landmark to attract tourists and host events.

As humans were creating canoes, there were primitive piers, and natural river banks where people could board and disembark. As ship size increased, the natural river bank became too shallow for ships to dock directly. Thus, people set up springboards on the shore or piled earth and rocks from the shore and extended them into the water, making it easier for boats to dock.

With the development of social productivity, the structure type and construction method of the wharf has gradually changed. It has developed from a simple slope-type wharf that docks small boats and loads and unloads goods by shoulders to a vertical container wharf that can dock container ships.

As ships have become larger, the wharves have developed from small and medium-sized wharves along the riverbank to open wharves extending to the open sea.

The wharf is an important transportation hub. It is the connection point of water transportation and land transportation, and it is a place of great economic value. The wharf is an important part of the urban economy and an important infrastructure for the country's economic development.

With the continuous development of science and technology and the rapid development of modern transportation, the functions and capabilities of the terminal are also increasing.

Firstly, docks can promote economic development. As an important node connecting waterways and land transportation, the wharf plays a vital role in logistics transportation.

Secondly, docks can promote urban construction. As the process of urbanization continues to accelerate, more and more people flock to cities, and the scale of cities continues to expand. The development of the city requires a lot of material support, and the wharf, as an important link in logistics and transportation, can ensure the normal operation of the city.

With the continuous development of technology, modern terminals have become more intelligent and automated. For example, advanced automated container operating systems are used to monitor the transportation and stacking status of goods through drones and sensor technology.

Additionally, some countries and regions are still trying to use new technologies to reduce the impact of terminals on the environment. Examples include building eco-friendly docks, using renewable energy to power dock equipment, and using environmentally friendly materials for dock structures.

Furthermore, due to the continuous growth of global trade, many countries and regions are actively building new terminals to meet the growing demand for shipping. These new terminals typically have higher throughput and greater capacity to better support modern international trade.

In summary, the wharf is a fundamental construction for human beings to use waterway transportation in the ocean and rivers. With the continuous development of society and economy, the structure and function of the wharf are constantly changing and upgrading.

The wharf is an important transportation hub that plays a vital role in economic development and urban construction. With the advancement of technology, modern terminals have become more intelligent.