A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more berths (mooring locations), and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.
A wharf commonly comprises a fixed platform, often on pilings. Commercial ports may have warehouses that serve as interim storage areas, since the typical objective is to unload and reload vessels as quickly as possible. Where capacity is sufficient a single wharf with a single berth constructed along the land adjacent to the water is normally used; where there is a need for more capacity multiple wharves, or perhaps a single large wharf with multiple berths, will instead be constructed, sometimes projecting into the water. A pier, raised over the water rather than within it, is commonly used for cases where the weight or volume of cargos will be low.
Smaller and more modern wharves are sometimes built on flotation devices (pontoons) to keep them at the same level as the ship, even during changing tides.
In everyday parlance the term quay is common in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other Commonwealth countries, and the Republic of Ireland, whereas the term wharf is more common in the United States. In some contexts wharf and quay may be used to mean pier, berth, or jetty.
This is the seventeenth cache in this series and it is dedicated to the men and women in the armed forces...and especially to those young men and women who have aspirations to join the active services once they enter their adult years.
N41 08.Kings Bay Kings Bay Guam
W95 52.Mayport San Diego Mayport
After computing the coordinates make the following corrections: N +.276 W+.335. THEN run the coordinate checker.
Added 3/14/2016: BTCO was the owner of this military series of 26 caches either through the initial publication or through adoption. When he moved to Iowa he did not think he would be able to continue to properly maintain the series. As I had served 27 years in the Air Force he thought I would be a logical choice to assume the ownership of the series. I agreed with his assessment and I adopted the series from him.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Adopted by a Nebraskache Member