Port Overview

Located in the north-western part of Colombia Bahía de Cartagena is the largest port on the Caribbean coast. It is very close to the major transoceanic routes through the Panama Canal, several container shipping lines use Cartagena as transshipment hub. The port facilities of Cartagena are situated at the shores of a natural bay, sheltered from all directions and surrounded by the city. Minimum depth in the Bocachica entrance channel to the bay is 14.7 m (low tide). Tide range approx. 0.3 m.

Note: Pilotage is compulsory for all ships of more than 200 tons. Pilotage is available on a 24-hour basis. The pilot will board the vessel one (1) mile from Sea Buoy. Distance from pilot station to the port is 9 miles. Maneuvers of large vessels are subject to previous authorization from the harbor master office, the authorization must be requested at least 48 hours in advance.

The three mayor terminals handling cargo in Cartagena are: 

Contecar and Manga are container and cruise terminals operated by Grupo Puerto del Cartagena at international operational standards and are equipped to handle Post-Panamax vessels. 3 Mil. TEUs were handled in 2017 by the two terminals – mostly transshipment cargo with a local percentage of only 25% thus creating low gate throughput relatively to terminal activity.

Cartagena Container Terminal Operator CCTO (http://www.ccto.com.co) is the new joint venture between APM Terminals, a world-renowned company in the port industry, and the Colombian-based port and terminal operator, Compañía de Puertos Asociados S.A. (Compas S.A.) www.compas.com.co. CCTO manages and operates Compas S.A.'s existing multipurpose facility. in Cartagena, Colombia, which includes an annual production capacity of 250,000 TEU and 1.5 million tons of general cargo.

Port website: https://www.puertocartagena.com/           

http://www.apc.es/webapco/

In the southern part of the bay of Cartagena, a large-scale multipurpose terminal began operating in 2015 - Puerto Bahía https://www.puertobahia.com.co/

Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com

Port Picture

Layout of Cartagena Port

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Companies inside the port are major contributors in the supply chain, most of them are private. Services provided: container handling, loading and unloading of vessels, pilots’ services, vehicles, customs agency, port operators, support catering vessels, safety and inspection of goods.

Note: Pilotage is compulsory for all ships of more than 200 tons. Pilotage is available on a 24-hour basis. The pilot will board the vessel one (1) mile from Sea Buoy. Distance from pilot station to the port is 9 miles.

4.4 Colombia Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

Cartagena’s dedicated container terminals are equipped to meet international performance standards. The Port has a regulation for humanitarian aid, in the event of a national emergency declared, humanitarian cargo vessels will have priority in the terminal.

Container Terminal SPRC, Manga

Homepage: https://www.puertocartagena.com/

Located at the north shore of the inner harbour, the SPRC terminal of Sociedad Portuaria Regional Cartagena is closest to the city centre. The main berth is used to handle containers, 2 finger jetties are used for cruise vessels and auxiliary vessels.

Satellite view of SPRC-Terminal at Manga

Satellite view of SPRC-Terminal at Manga

View of Terminal at Manga, Cartagena

Gantries and transtainer at SPRC-Terminal at Manga

The terminal is operated at international operational standards and are equipped to handle Post-Panamax vessels. Containers handled are mostly transshipment cargo with a local percentage of only 25% thus creating low gate throughput relatively to terminal activity. Shipping lines using the terminal to link Pacific and Atlantic trade include Hamburg Süd, Maersk, Hapag Lloyd, CMA-CGM and Cosco. Warehouse spaces are presently rented out or in use; large scale container stripping would likely have to take place outside the terminal.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: https://www.puertocartagena.com/en/cargo-services

 

Berthing Specifications

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

Container Facilities

The terminal is handling container and bulk cargo using mobile cranes and vessel’s gear.

Customs Guidance

DIAN is the main government customs agency in Colombia, when an import or export exceeds USD1000, importer / exporter should use a customs broker for this process. Customs regulations as per decree 2685 and Muisca regulations stipulate that:

1. All cargo on board a vessel, with destination Colombia must be manifested.
2. The manifest and bills of lading have to be registered to Customs systems - Muisca, 12 hours prior to ship's arrival.
3. Cargo not covered by manifest may not be discharged. If discharged it will be immediately confiscated by Customs.

Customs may take 1-3 days maximum in the process, depending on the selectivity of inspection which goods was subjected. In Colombia the customs authorities are the most influential institution in the process of nationalization. Customs procedures can be affected by delays or technical problems by the DIAN system when making  records, or documentary procedures unrealized by the importer / exporter. It is recommended to do load tracking every time and obey the instructions of the officials, as long as they are legal and fair.

DIAN have a special type of import procedure for emergencies, under this mode delivery to the end user may do without any prior processing. 

For more information on customs in Colombia, please see the following links: https://www.dian.gov.co/andhttps://muisca.dian.gov.co/.

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

Cartagena Container Terminal Operator (www.ccto.com.co)

On the east coast of the inland port, the terminal of CCTO (Operador de Terminal de Contanedores de Cartagena S.A.S), a joint venture of COMPAS and APM TERMINALS is located on an artificial island. In 2016, APM Terminales, a world-renowned company in the port industry (member of the MAERSK group) and the Colombian-based port and terminal operator, Compañía de Puertos Asociados S.A. (Compas S.A.) formed Cartagena Container Terminal Operator (CCTO). The joint venture manages and operates the multipurpose terminal at the second busiest container port in Colombia.

With a planned investment of US $ 200 million, CCTO has three Ship-to-Shore cranes, increased the draft from 12 to 14.5 meters and has automated its operations for maximum efficiency. This allows the terminal to handle new Panamanian vessels of up to 13,000 TEU capacity, which can now transit through the Panama Canal after its lock expansion project completed in the summer of 2016.

CCTO institutional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3OgWgKpEJ4

 Satellite view of  CCTO-Terminal at el Bosque

Mobile harbour cranes at berth of CCTO-Terminal

Warehouses and silos at CCTO-Terminal

Big bag storage at warehouse of CCTO-Terminal

Grain and Bulk Handling

The terminal handles CONTAINER cargo, FRACTIONAL cargo, PROJECT cargo, BULKS, COKE and VEHICLES, using both: mobile cranes and ship equipment. 

Main Storage Terminal

The CCTO – multipurpose terminal offers 65,000 tons silo capacity for grains and 7,000 m2 warehouse space.

Other capabilities:

• Dock storage, filling and dewatering, and last mile delivery (estimated savings of up to US $ 150 per container)

• Efficient cargo dispatch process in 12 hours

• Optimized door process with truck turn time of 23 minutes

• Well-connected hinterland serving the automotive and petrochemical industry

Total area: 22 Hectares

Operating capacity: Handling 4 million tons / year

Annual container capacity: 250,000 TEU

Access lanes tracks: 5

Refrigerated Container Connections: 110

Berth length: 660m

Handling Equipment

Mobile harbor cranes: 4 (capacity of 100 tons each)

Reach Stacker: 5

Top Loaders: 5

Access channels

North Channel, with a maximum depth of 12 meters BW. and channel width 80 meters Canal Sur, with a maximum depth of 11.5 meters BW. and channel width of 100 meters.

CONTAINER TERMINAL Contecar, Mamonal

Homepage: http://www.puertocartagena.com

https://www.puertocartagena.com/en/companies-withinorganization/contecar

Located in the north-east part of Cartagena Bay, the Contecar terminal (Terminal de Contenedores de Cartagena) of Sociedad Portuaria Regional Cartagena is handling container and RoRo cargo.

Satellite view of  Contecar-Terminal at Mamonal

The terminal is operated at international operational standards and are equipped to handle Post- Panamax vessels. Containers handled are mostly transshipment cargo thus creating low gate through put relatively to terminal activity. Warehouse spaces are presently rented out or in use; large scale container stripping would likely have to take place outside the terminal.

Additional Information:

• CONTECAR It is prepared to receive the largest ships in the world.
• It has the capacity to mobilize 3.2 million TEUs per year.
• It functions as a connection center (hub) for shipping companies and as an International Logistics Distribution Center (CDLI) for multinationals.
• It has the latest technology infrastructure and equipment to offer high-quality services.
• It has infrastructure to mobilize self-rolling cargo (Ro-Ro) and is a specialist in car cargo for the national and regional market.
• Handles project loads: heavy or oversized parts (over gauge)
• It has connectivity to direct routes in global trade networks.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

 https://www.puertocartagena.com/en/cargo-services

 

Berthing Specifications

Container Handling Equipment

Container Facilities

Puerto Bahia, Barú Multi-purpose Terminal

Website:  www.puertobahia.com.co

The multipurpose terminal Puerto Bahía was inaugurated on August 28, 2015, it is the youngest port in the region. Puerto Bahía, being a new terminal, has always seen a growth in its volumes, equipment and facilities. In 2018, after three years of its inauguration in the bay of Cartagena, the Puerto Bahía multimodal maritime terminal met the objective of covering the deficit in hydrocarbon export and storage capacity in Colombia and managed to mobilize 118 million barrels. Currently the hydrocarbons business mobilizes 85% of total revenues, 10% are vehicles and 5% project cargo (machinery and materials) and others. Added to these figures are accumulated exports of more than 128,000 tons and imports that exceed 195,000 tons in general cargo since 2015.

Puerto Bahía is located on the southern coast of Cartagena Bay and is adjacent to a liquid bulk terminal. Known today as the first mobile cargo terminal in the Caribbean, the port specialized in hydrocarbons will enable an additional 10 hectares to transport merchandise without the need for cranes.

 Container storage yard at the Puerto Bahía terminal, Cartagena. Courtesy Puerto Bahía

Multipurpose Terminal 

Puerto Bahía has a specific area for the transport of general cargo, specialized in handling extra-heavy, oversized and rolling cargo (Roll On - Roll Off), in addition to having a state-of-the-art logistics system.

In its first phase, this terminal includes a 300-meter dock and 27 hectares of storage yards. Once the Port is completed, this pier will increase its capacity by another 300 meters, thus completing 600 linear meters and 18 meters of natural draft along the pier line.

 

General Cargo Terminal

The general cargo terminal will supply a great need in Cartagena's port transport, handling loose cargo, which includes shipping with unique specifications and that generally do not adhere to container transport processes. Without a doubt, Puerto Bahía will become the first departure from Cartagena for this type of cargo, with a personalized service that adjusts to the needs of each customer and their shipments.

Ro-Ro Terminal

Puerto Bahía is the only port terminal specialized in Roro cargo in the Caribbean, providing its users with ample spaces for cargo storage (10,000 parking lots), value-added services and cargo handling facilities such as designated areas in the port for centers. of distribution.

Liquid Terminal

The Puerto Bahía Port Society houses the first fully automated bulk liquid handling dock in the country, which has the highest technology for loading and unloading of hydrocarbons and a direct transfer capacity to the dock of up to 1.2 million barrels per ship in less than 36 hours. The liquids terminal has two berthing positions, a depth of 22 meters, a dock for loading and unloading barges, and a station for dispatching and receiving cargo by land. In terms of liquid transportation, Puerto Bahía is the first terminal in Latin America with the capacity to receive Suezmax and Panamax type tankers.

In its first phase, there are eight storage tanks with a capacity of 333,000 barrels each. Once all expansions are completed (which includes a total of 12 additional tanks), the capacity will be increased to 3.33 million barrels. The storage and transportation of the liquids terminal will be managed by the Oiltanking company, one of the world's leading organizations in the storage of oil, chemicals, gases and dry bulk products, with more than 40 years of experience in the sector.

 Puerto Bahía Liquid Terminal, Cartagena

 

Puerto Buenavista Multi-Purpose Terminal 

https://www.puertobuenavista.com/es/la-empresa

Puerto Buenavista S.A. was created in August 2009 with the need to improve efficiency in the import of raw materials for the company Yara Colombia S. A. in the city of Cartagena. In November 2012, and visualizing the opportunities to orient itself to new customers and markets, it was consolidated as a multipurpose terminal in the Mamonal industrial zone. Therefore, Compas and Saam join this company, who contribute their extensive experience in the development and management of port activities in Latin America.

Main Partners:

• Yara Colombia S. A.
• Compas S. A.
• Saam Puertos S. A.

Infrastructure 

Number of docks - (1) -221m

Operating Draft - 10.2 m

Maximum Heel - 190 m

Maximum Beam - 32m

Max Airdraft -14m WLTHC

Hours of Operation -24 hours

Photo Puerto Buenavista- Cartagena

 

Satellite view of Terminal Puerto Buenavista, Cartagena

Hinterland Information

All port terminals of Cartagena are linked to the national road network. Traffic from and to Puerto Bahia  does NOT have to traverse the city center.

Port Security

The Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena has a special security department to protect the integrity of the persons, goods and port operations, with all the policies established by: ISPS, Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism and a Container Security Initiative.