The Port of Hueneme is open to the public for tours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. School tours are particularly encouraged. No group is too small, however a comfortable size can range up to 25. Groups larger than 25 can be accommodated with advance arrangements. To arrange a tour of the Port, please call (805) 488-3677.


ABOUT THE TOUR
The Port of Hueneme offers an excellent educational experience for students of all ages with tour content tailored to meet the educational needs of elementary, secondary and post secondary educational levels. Tours are generally divided into two sections, inside classroom style presentation followed by an outside tour by motorcoach. In general port tours take approximately an hour and a half to two hours but can be shortened to accommodate class schedules.

ELEMENTARY
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of ports in our community. The differences in size and function of ships vs. boats and the design of our ports tasked with handling both are discussed and contrasted. Displacement, an important principle by which all vessels float is presented to students using everyday terms. 95% of all cargo worldwide travels by water and students learn not only why ocean commerce is so efficient but to also distinguish between the various classifications of cargos that ports worldwide and in particular California specialize in handling. Breakbulk, Containerized, Liquid bulk, bulk and Ro-Ro cargos are all discussed. Bananas, a particular niche (breakbulk) of the Port of Hueneme are introduced in depth. Students are shown a power point presentation of the growing, handling and shipping of Bananas from plantation to your local supermarket. Students learn about the chemistry of fruit ripening and how the produce industry manipulates (using temperature controls) the ripening process in order to ensure the arrival of the freshest fruit possible at our supermarkets throughout the region. In addition students are introduced to Roll On – Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ships and cargos and are shown various examples of Ro-Ro ships. Further, students will learn the origins of the Port of Hueneme and how the name Hueneme came to be identified with this area.

SECONDARY
In addition to a brief review of the items mentioned above, secondary students are introduced to Special District governance and how special districts work with other local governmental entities (city, county & state) to provide services to the citizens of California. Additionally students will be introduced to ports and their roll in the Goods Movement Industry and the jobs created by this important sector of our economy. Students are introduced to the challenges created (social, environmental & financial) by our modern economy as well as some of the particular job skills needed in today’s Goods Movement Industry. Secondary student tours also take from one and a half to two hours including classroom lecture and motorcoach drive.

POST SECONDARY
In addition to reviewing Special District governance and the Goods Movement Industry, post secondary students are provided the opportunity to see the operations of international commerce.  The tour provides information regarding the administration and operation of port services.  Students are also introduced to port operations terminology such as "wharfage & dockage fees", "Foreign Trade Zone", Breakbulk, Ro-Ro, and more.  These terms are easily transferred to their classroom learning when discussing concepts of export/import and the Goods Movement industry.  Students are also provided the opportunity to see the logistical system processes for bringing products and goods into the port as well as the various employment positions associated with those processes.