2.1.2 Guatemala Port of Barrios
Port Overview
The port is located on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala. Access to the port is done via the Santo Tomas de Castilla Port access channel. The Amatique Bay is used as the anchor area.
The breakwater concrete pier handles containerized cargo, general cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk cargo. The types of ships which can moor are: cruise ships, container ships, tankers, barges, general cargo ship, roll on-roll off cargo and vessels other than the above.
Port website: http://puertobarriosonline.net/web
Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com
Port Location and Contact
Country Guatemala
Province or District Izabal
Nearest Town or City Puerto Barrios
with Distance from Port km: 2 KM
Port's Complete Name Terminal Ferroviaria Puerto Barrios
Latitude 15° 43' 42" N
Longitude 88° 36' 23" W
Managing Company or Port Authority COBIGUA
Management Contact Person Cesar Villeda. Port Superintendent
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Airport Name: PUERTO BARRIOS AIRPORT Frequent International Arrivals /Departures Airlines: TAG, Transportes Aereos de Guatemala (Charter) and Private planes. Cobigua has a weekly flight for company personnel. Contact port superintendent to request permission to fly in this plane.
Port Picture
The direction of the pier is to the west. There are four berths: Berth #1 (South) 155m, #2 (South) 140m, #3 (North) 175m and #4 (North) 65m. The draft berths of both South and North of the pier is 9.50m.
With the exception of Berth #4 is used for roll-on roll-off and tugs docking port, the other berths are used for container ships, bulk liquids and solids and general cargo.
Page 1 The port has storage areas for containers (refrigerated, dry) as well as storage areas for vehicles. The port has a capacity for 2,440 TEU’s. There is no storage area for bulk cargo; therefore grains need to be directly transferred to the trucks.
There are 3 shifts which operate from 07:00 to 16:00, from 16:00 to 23:00 and from 23:00 to 07:00 giving 24 hour attention to vessels. Administrative staff works from Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
The loading/unloading goods of handled is by the port’s operations personnel who supervise the labourers. Private companies carry out stevedoring operations on board of the ships.
Three private companies provide transport services from the quay side to the storage areas. Those companies, and the port management, own and operate front loaders and forklifts to move the cargo and containers in the yard.
An indoor area is used for the stripping of containers for Customs (SAT) revision. The port also counts with a parking lot for loaded trucks waiting for the SAT inspection. There are also three container storage areas for export outside the port area, two of them specifically used by DOLE Company and one by COBIGUA.
For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.
Port Performance
Performance: 2013
Vessels Calls 490
Container traffic (TEU’s) 201,121
Total Cargo Handling (t) 3,250 (including container volumen)
Total Annual Capacity of the Port N/A
Seasonal Constraints
Occurs Time Frame
Rainy Season Yes May to October
Major Import Campaigns Yes Nov to April
Handling Figures for 2013
Vessel Calls 490
Container Traffic (TEUs) 201,121
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2013
Bulk (MT) 3,250
Break bulk (MT)
Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: http://puertobarriosonline.net/web/component/content/article/37-tarifas/50-servicios-a-las-naves.html
Berthing Specifications
Type of Berth Quantity
Conventional Berth 1
Page 2 Container Berth N/A
Silo Berth N/A
Berthing Tugs 1 (2 engines of 2,974 HP)
1 (957 mt)
1 (859 mt)
Water Barges 1
For additional information on Port equipment, please visit: http://puertobarriosonline.net/web/remolcadores
General Cargo Handling Berths
Cargo Type Berth Identification
Imports - Bagged Cargo There are four berths: Berth #1 (South) 155m, #2 (South) 140m, #3 (North) 175m and #4 (North) 65m
Exports - Bagged Cargo N/A
Imports and Exports - RoRo N/A
Other Imports N/A
Port Handling Equipment
Is the port equipment managed by the government or privately? PRIVATELY
The port is managed privately by Cobigua. Puerto Barrios has the equipment for handling containers, vehicles, pallets, general cargo and cargo with special dimensions.
Equipment Available Total Quantity and Capacity Available
Dockside Crane No
Container Gantries No
Mobile Cranes Yes 3 cranes with 24 mov/hr
Reachstacker Yes 10 reach stakers + 1 top loader
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) Yes 82
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines No
Transtainer No
Forklifts Yes 9, 4t,
8, 3t,
2 10t
Container Facilities
Facilities 20 ft 40 ft
Container Facilities Available YES YES
Container Freight Station (CFS) YES YES
Refrigerated Container Stations YES YES
Daily Take Off Capacity 1,067 avr (Containers per Day)
Page 3 Number of Reefer Stations 1027 (Connection Points)
Emergency Take-off Capacity 1,500 est
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift 533/shift (Containers per Shift)
Customs Guidance
Custom clearance at the port is efficient. Government authorities from SAT, OIRSA, UCC (Unidad de Control de Contenedores) are inside port premises and will expedite the customs process. Import process can take only one day, if all documents are ready and revised before vessel arrival.
For more information on customs in GUATEMALA, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.
Terminal Information
MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL
No information available
GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING
The port has handling facilities for discharge grain and bulk directly from ship, but no bagging equipment
MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL
The Port of Barrios has no functional storage space for dry cargo.
Storage Type Number of Storage Facilities Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo N/A
Refrigerated Cargo 6 2,250 pallets
General Cargo N/A
Stevedoring
The stevedoring services are subcontracted by Puerto Barrios. Fees are already included in the port tariffs. Stevedoring services can be coordinated directly with companies such as Serpa or Omarsa, and they will organize the vessel unloading.
Hinterland Information
Port Barrios shares part of the Puerto Santo Tomas access channel. It is located in the entrance of the bay of Amatique (15° 57' 8" North 88° 37' 24’’ West), 2 km towards the West (15° 53 ' 36") it has a turn of 90º degrees. The channel has draught restriction of 11m, length of 10.7 km and a width of 90m
The port was near its maximum capacity therefore in September 2014 vessel handling capacity was increased by 39%. The wharf is now 23.8 additional meters long for a total of 300 m. The port is now able to receive 240 mt vessels. Draft increased from 9.5 to 10.5, and now there are 3 new shore cranes. Puerto Barrios is a small port, but woks very efficiently. Average waiting time is less than 5 hours if vessels are included in the weekly program.
For humanitarian cargo, contact the port superintendent.
Page 4 Puerto Barrios wharf with new infrastructure. October 2014
Port Security
Since 1990, Puerto Barrios has continually increase security in the port premises. In 2004 the port implemented the international code of Vessel Protection. Also the port has CCTV in all port premises, access control, Vessel Monitoring (AIS), Canine unit.
Security
ISPS Compliant YES
Current ISPS Level 1 (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)
Police Boats YES
Fire Engines NO
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