Port
Port is the African naval production building used by Ethiopians and Hausa. It trains ships and researches ship technologies, filling the role that a Dock serves for many other civilizations.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 200 Wood
- Available
- Exploration Age
- Builder
- Ethiopian Villager and its counterparts, Dock Wagon, Dock Rickshaw, Trade Builder, Hausa Builder, Red Sea Wagon
- Function
- Trains ships; Researches ship technologies
- Construction
- 20 sec · up to 8 builders
- Structure
- 2,500 hit points · 34 line of sight · 3x4 footprint
- Garrison
- 20 Fishing Boats, Canoes, War Canoes, Tlaloc Canoes, Fishing Canoes
Function & construction
Several African builders and wagons can construct a Port. Its recorded special rule lets a Canoe load into the building in three seconds, which makes the Port part of the Canoe’s transport interaction as well as naval production.
Placement & timing
Build one when water supports fishing, transport or a naval objective. Keep the coast and loading area protected, and include ship technologies when planning how the African fleet will contest enemy vessels.
African naval production and garrison
The Port is the Exploration Age naval building for the Ethiopians and Hausa, replacing the Dock. It costs 200 Wood, takes 20 seconds to build, has 2,500 hit points and 34 line of sight, and can garrison up to twenty eligible Fishing Boats and warships. It trains Fishing Canoes, warships and civilization-specific vessels such as the Ethiopian War Dhow or Hausa Xebec, and researches naval technologies. The Port repairs nearby ships at 10 hit points per second. A Canoe can load into it in three seconds; if Fishing Canoes are garrisoned, the building can also use its anti-ship attack. This makes its shoreline position important both for fishing and fleet defense. A Port placed far from the fishing area may still support warship production, but it will not protect the economy as efficiently. Build it near water that can be defended and coordinate ships with shore forces, since the enemy may attack from land while the fleet is occupied.
Water investment and shipyard support
The African Port serves both economy and combat. Fishing Canoes and other eligible vessels can be garrisoned, and the building repairs nearby ships, giving a damaged fleet a place to recover if it can disengage. Its 34 line of sight can reveal approaches around the shoreline, while the garrison capacity protects some boats from a direct raid. African naval rosters differ: the Hausa can field a Xebec and the Ethiopians a War Dhow, alongside shared economic or standard vessels. Research options and ship costs vary by Age and civilization, so check the current technology tree before investing in a particular fleet. On a map where naval transport matters, place the Port to cover the crossing or fishing zone and keep land defenders nearby. A Port is not automatically an answer to naval pressure; opponent warships can still outrange or outnumber a small fleet, and shore defenses may be needed to protect its access point.