Editing Transportation in Boston (section)

== Water transportation ==

=== Port of Boston ===
[[Image:Boston Long Wharf.JPG|thumb|right|[[Long Wharf (Boston)|Long Wharf]] in waterfront downtown Boston was once the main commercial wharf of the port, but is now used by ferries and cruise boats.]]
{{main|Port of Boston}}
The Port of Boston is a major [[seaport]] and the largest port in [[Massachusetts]]. It was historically important for the growth of the city, and was originally located in what is now the downtown area of the city. Land reclamation and conversion to other uses means that downtown area no longer handles commercial traffic, although the [[United States Coast Guard|US Coast Guard]] maintains a major base there, and there is still considerable ferry and leisure usage.

Today the principal cargo handling facilities are located in the Boston neighborhoods of [[Charlestown, Massachusetts|Charlestown]], [[East Boston]], and [[South Boston]], and in the neighbouring city of [[Everett, Massachusetts|Everett]]. In 2011, the port handled over 11.5 million [[metric ton]]s of cargo, including 192,000 [[Containerization|container]] [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEUs]]. Other major forms of cargo processed at the port include [[petroleum]], [[liquefied natural gas]] (LNG), [[automobile]]s, [[cement]], [[gypsum]], and [[salt]].<ref name=stats>{{cite web | url = http://www.massport.com/port-of-boston/About%20Port%20of%20Boston/PortStatistics.aspx | title = MASSPORT - About the Port - Port Stats | publisher = Massachusetts Port Authority | access-date = April 12, 2013 | archive-date = April 9, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130409202850/http://www.massport.com/port-of-boston/About%20Port%20of%20Boston/PortStatistics.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The ''[[Black Falcon Cruise Terminal]]'' situated in South Boston, was renovated and expanded in 2010. 
<ref name=bfct>{{cite web | title = Black Falcon Terminal - Boston's cruise terminal | url = http://www.bostoncruiseguide.com/black-falcon.html | publisher = Boston Cruise Guide  | access-date = May 8, 2008}}</ref> During 2012, it served 117 ships and more than 380,000 passengers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.massport.com/port-of-boston/Documents/Cruise%20Documents/Fact%20Sheets/2013%20Cruiseport%20Boston%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |title=2013 Cruiseport Boston Fact Sheet |access-date=April 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910094215/http://www.massport.com/port-of-boston/Documents/Cruise%20Documents/Fact%20Sheets/2013%20Cruiseport%20Boston%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2013 }}</ref>

=== Passenger boat services ===
{{main|MBTA Boat}}
[[Image:Boston water taxis.jpg|thumb|right|A pair of water taxis operating on the waterfront of Boston]]

The MBTA Boat system comprises several [[ferry]] routes on [[Boston Harbor]]. One of these is an inner harbor service, linking the downtown waterfront with [[Boston Navy Yard]] in [[Charlestown, Massachusetts|Charlestown]]. The other routes are commuter routes, linking downtown to [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]], [[Hull, Massachusetts|Hull]] and [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]. Some commuter services connect via [[Logan International Airport]]. All services are operated by [[private sector]] companies under contract to the MBTA.

Outside the MBTA system, seasonal passenger ferry services operate to the [[Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area|Boston Harbor Islands]], to the city of [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]] north of Boston, and to the town of [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]] on [[Cape Cod]]. [[Water taxi]]s provide on-demand service from various points on the downtown waterfront and from [[Logan International Airport|Logan Airport]], and in particular between the airport and downtown.

Several companies operate tourist oriented cruise boats on the harbor and on the [[Charles River]]. Other companies operate [[duck tour]]s that use amphibious vehicles (mostly derived from World War II era [[DUKW]]s), and encompass both the city's streets and its waterways. On a much smaller scale, but perhaps more [[cultural icon|iconic]] of Boston, are the human-powered [[Swan Boats (Boston, Massachusetts)|Swan Boats]] on the lake of the city's [[Public Garden (Boston, Massachusetts)|Public Garden]].