A more thorough explanation:

A private wharf is a structure built on the shores of navigable waters that can only be used by its owner or lessee for loading or unloading vessels. In contrast, a public wharf can be used by anyone.

• John owns a private wharf on the riverbank behind his house. He uses it to load and unload his boat.
• The company leased a private wharf to transport their goods from the ship to their warehouse.

These examples illustrate that a private wharf is exclusively owned or leased by an individual or organization and cannot be used by the public. It is used for personal or business purposes, such as loading and unloading boats or transporting goods.