The shipping platform

Location: Barranquilla is situated on the Caribbean coast, 10nm upriver on the W bank of the Magdalena River. It is the country’s biggest Caribbean seaport. General overview: The port authority and private operators handles containers, breakbulk, liquid bulk and dry bulk cargo. The port includes the terminals of Monomeros, Gracetales, Vopak, Portmagdelena and SP Del Norte. Import: Rolled wire, steel, bulk grain, chemicals, project cargo, scrap metals, tuna fish, food products, vehicles, containers. Export: Sugar, textiles, wood plates, tuna, synthetic fibres, steel and pharmaceutical products. Traffic figures: Approx 870 vessels, 3,326,400t of cargo and 98,700TEU handled annually. Load line zone: Tropical. It is required that vessels have the above Colombian nautical charts on board before proceeding to Barranquilla. If not on board, the Pilot can deliver on arrival on board to avoid fines. A spout at the mouth of the river reduces the depth to less than 9m, which currently must be constantly dredged to achieve the 11m depth required. Currently, the Panamax ships with 50,000 MT of cargo capacity can transport a maximum of 35,000 MT to reduce draft. Practical piloting and tugging is mandatory for all ships over 200 tons, both available 24 hours. Repairs facilities: Dry dock for small vessels only. Fuel: Small quantities of gas oil and IFO with 3 days' notice by barge from Cartagena Storage facilities: bagged cargo - 12 warehouses - total warehouse area 40,384 m2 (includes 5 warehouses connected to the grain elevator by suction); refrigerated cargo - 1 cold warehouse - 3,200 m2; general cargo - 4 Warehouses - 18,835 m2 covered, 35,000 m2 open