The Kiribati Ports Authority (KPA) operates the two main ports of entry – Port of Betio in Tarawa and Port of Navy Harbour in Kiritimati (Christmas Island). 

The Port of Betio is located right at the edge of Betio lagoon which also accommodates the headquarter for the KPA. There are four operational berths which handle both international and domestic vessels. The Alpha port berths container ships. Alongside the Alpha port towards Betio Yard is Beta port. Charlie port is now a defunct jetty due to old age, but it plays an important role as it is installed with fuel pipes to facilitate bunkering services. The Government of Australia will support the maintenance of Charlie port to its original state. The Delta port is used by RK Teanoai and other smaller local ships. The last port is Echo port which is the old dock beside the shipyard. 

The second port of entry, Navy Harbour, is located at London (Ronton) on Christmas Island and serves the Line and Phoenix Islands. Both ports have customs present and import and export cargo primarily using 20’ and 40’ containers utilizing ships’ onboard cranes. 

There is a third port, Port of Banaba (Ocean Island) that was primarily used to facilitate the export of phosphate for fertiliser from the island. Now that the resource has been depleted it is only used by inter-island shipping to service the resident population. The port can only accommodate small boats that transfer goods from larger ships anchored offshore. 

All the outer islands require larger ships to anchor offshore and transfer cargo using small boats to beach landings or jetties.