Cargo depot (2)

Cargo Depot (2) is a mid-tier shoreline logistics building used to load and unload cargo ships at repaired outposts. It is part of the cargo dock line and serves as the smaller footprint version that can later be upgraded directly into Cargo Depot (4) without needing to demolish and rebuild the setup farther apart.

Each Cargo Depot is built from modules, and the module selection should match the type of cargo available at the outpost. Suitable pairings include unit modules for Sawmill, loose modules for Coal Mine, Sulfur Mine, Limestone Quarry, Quartz Mine, Uranium Mine, and Rock Mine, and fluid modules for Oil Rig and Groundwater Well. Module types can be mixed within a single Cargo Depot, but players often build them in identical pairs for easier management. When mixed, a ship may depart before less-used cargo has finished unloading, which reduces fuel efficiency.

After construction, each module must be configured individually. If only one suitable cargo type is available when the building is placed, that cargo is selected automatically. Otherwise, the desired cargo is chosen by left-clicking the module and selecting the item type in the Stored Product section. Desired cargo can also be mixed and matched within the same dock, but the same efficiency issue applies, so this is usually only worthwhile when the route genuinely needs it.

Placement requires careful shoreline planning. Although Cargo Depot (2) may appear to need a lot of empty space on both sides, that extra room is reserved so the structure can be upgraded directly to Cargo Depot (4) later. To avoid blockage when depots are placed along a parallel shoreline, at least 26 tiles of space are required between the structural parts of the depots, and for Cargo Depot (2) this includes the invisible footprint reserved for the larger upgrade.

Uneven shorelines can make placement awkward. A practical way to ease construction is to dump surplus materials into the water, such as rock or sulfur, to create a straighter and more level shoreline before placing the depot. This is especially useful when arranging multiple cargo docks close together, since the reserved upgrade space makes alignment more important than it first appears.