The shipping platform

Location: Barahona is located on the S coast of the island. General overview: The port is primarily used for loading bulk cargoes. The two main exports are sugar in bulk, which is loaded manually in bags onto vessels where they are bled through the ship's hatches into the cargo holds, and gypsum, which is loaded mechanically by conveyor belt. Of the four berths in the port, only the sugar and gypsum facilities are used regularly to handle cargo, the other two are used mainly as lay by berths for vessels undergoing repairs or fishing vessels awaiting orders. The sugar mill also exports some bulk molasses. Load line zone: North Atlantic Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Nov 1 to Jul 15, Summer Jul 16 to Oct 31. Max size: LOA 183m, beam 27.4m, draught 9.4m.