Are ports, Portganisms? Ports constitute an important economic activity in coastal and suburban areas. Ports bring varying degrees of benefit to the local and regional economies. Ports are also important for the support of economic activities. As a broker of jobs, ports do not only serve economic and social functions but, to some extent, political functions. Seaports are not only critical economic engines, but living "organisms." In biology, an organism is defined as a contiguous living system of which, in at least some form, capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance as a stable whole. One of the basic parameters of an organism is its life span. Some organisms live as short as one day, while some can live thousands of years.For a ports/seaports to continue to thrive or develop, takes constant care and understanding and commitment from shippers, port tenants, residents, public officials, and other stakeholders to address the fundamentals of these systems. ports, in essence, are what I've coined living "Portganisms." What are the planning functions of ports? How do ports planners assist in port development? How are U.S. ports mostly funded?