The shipping platform

Location: The port of Iquique lies at the S end of the bay, between Peninsula Serrano and Punta Negra (1.5nm NE). General overview: The artificial port of Iquique is comprised of a connecting breakwater, 480m in length, that links Serrano Island with the mainland. A main breakwater, 846m in length, lies N-S in a 028° direction. The port comprises 7 berths and 2 offshore oil terminals. Berths No 1 to 3 are administered by Empresa Portuaria Iquique under multi-operator modality and Berths No 4 to 7 are leased under a mono operator modality at Iquique's International Terminal. Iquique mainly handles containers; principle imports being machinery, iron, oil, explosives, paper, sacks and general cargo. Other cargoes handled include copper concentrates, slag or ores, vegetable and soya oils and petroleum products. It is also a fishing port, with local factories producing fish meal, frozen and canned fish. Traffic figures: Approx 1,350,000t of cargo and 570 vessels handled annually. Load line zone: Tropical. Max size: 50,000DWT.