It lies on the south bank of the River Stour 1 mi (1.6 km) upstream from the town of Harwich, opposite the Port of Felixstowe.

By 1872, shipping trade had increased so that more capacity was required and the Great Eastern Railway obtained permission to reclaim land at Ray Farm, a mile to the west of Harwich, and build a new quay.

While the majority of opinion puts this down to the recent economic downturn, others feel the reason is due to the lack of facilities for visitors when compared to the likes of Southampton or Dover.

[11] The operations and maintenance base for the Galloper wind farm is housed in the port and is made up of a dedicated pontoon, warehouse and office space.

There are extensive railway sidings adjacent to and within the port with 40 acres of standing for cars including electric vehicle charging points.