Port Overview

Located on the Caribbean Sea, the Port of Santa Marta is a major commercial port importing grain and general cargo and exporting coal, bagged coffee, containerized fruit, fuel oil and palm oil. Santa Marta moves the third largest cargo volume in Colombia. Its modern container terminal uses two Post-Panamax gantry cranes (STS) and transtainers (RTG). The terminal claims to be presently operating at 60 % of its capacity. 90 % of import containers are stripped in the port.

Automated bulk discharge into silos (600 – 800 mt/h) for one hatch. Additional or alternative discharge by grabs to trucks possible. An external operator is offering bagging operations at the jetty. The berthing preference of cruise vessels and perishables export might – in single instances - cause delays for container imports. The port is operated by Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Santa Marta S.A..

Port website: http://www.spsm.com.co/

Port of Santa Marta Institutional video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC7foJl-H3Y

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

Port Picture

Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta

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: Pilot assistance compulsory for vessels going in/out of the port as well for shifting between piers. Pilot station/boarding position 0.5 nautical mile at the light:   Morro Grande. Santa Marta port control station and pilots can be contacted on VHF channels 11, 16 and 74. A pilot ladder shall be rigged on the starboard side of each Vessel unless otherwise instructed. 

Santa Marta International Terminal Company S.A. (SMITCO), is a company incorporated under a partnership between SSA International and Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta. It is constituted as a port operator; however, it is committed to managing, controlling and marketing the Container Terminal of the Port of Santa Marta. SMITCO has a wide portfolio of services for the handling of containerized cargo. The services provided are: Maritime operation, land operations, containers and container emptying, authorities inspection services, 24-hour sentry box service, areas for handling refrigerated cargo, connection and monitoring of refrigerated containers 24 hours, covered warehouse storage. for loose cargo handling, cargo traceability.

4.4 Colombia Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

Port of Santa Marta Institutional video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC7foJl-H3Y

Port extension: 336,356 m², port connected to hinterland by both road and rail. 7 berths of a total length of 1070 m. Due the last investment, the port increase the annual capacity of the container terminal, plus Santa Marta Port is the only one in the Atlantic Coast with rail service, offering the possibility of direct upload and download at docks, but to exploit this advantage, port is awaiting that government authorized the construction of a railway cargo variant of 17.5 km, which would allow the terminal to be connected with the centre of the country.

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.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

http://www.spsm.com.co/SIPEN/Servicios/TarifasPuerto.aspx

Berthing Specifications

http://www.spsm.com.co/SIPEN/Puerto/Plano.aspx

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

A private company manages Santa Marta Port by a concession granted by the government. Santa Marta port offers an excellent infrastructure and logistic services for solid grain imports in the country.

Container Facilities

Terminal Container is managed by Santa Marta International Terminal Company S.A., a cooperation between the port and SSA International.

PUERTO DE SANTA by tatianatrujillo1808

Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta

Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta

Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta

Customs Guidance

DIAN is the government customs agency in Colombia. If import or export value exceeds USD1,000, a custom’s agency should be employed. Customs regulations 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 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 is 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 be affected without any prior processing.

Import and export procedures: http://www.spsm.com.co/Servicios/Procedimientos.aspx 

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

Terminal Information

Multipurpose Terminal

General cargo terminal operated by Sociedad Portuaria’s affiliate Operlog. Operations by MHC (mobile crane) and vessel’s gear.

Grain and Bulk Handling

Sociedad Portuaria/Operlog and Almagrario are the main port operatorsfor bulk cargo. About 100,000 tons can be stored in warehouses and silos within the port, additional 50,000 in the vicinity. The automated suction grain elevator has a capacity of 400 to 600 tons/h and is connected to the port’s silos. Additionally 4 shutes (45 m³), 6 grabs, excavators and trucks are available for operations with vessel’s gear.

Bagging equipment can be rented locally.

Main Storage Terminal

Stevedoring

Private, Main Port operators: Coremar S.A.S.; Estinorte; Intertug S.A.; Operlog and Almagrario, handling the main cargo types: Bulk, container, general cargo. They offer modular storage, all certified under ISO 9001-2000, and provide equipment and a range of services.

Hinterland Information

Among the advantages offered by the capital of Magdalena, its geographical location stands out. It is the Caribbean city closest to the center of the country compared to cities like Barranquilla and Cartagena, which is why its land freight is cheaper and more competitive compared to other terminals in the Colombian Caribbean. It is also the only port on the Atlantic coast with a railway, which is why it is able to offer loading and unloading services directly at the docks.

Close to the port operates the free trade Tayrona Zone.

Port Security

Santa Marta port have a security regulation for personal protection, industrial and environmental activities. They have an emergency plan that divide the port in 7 zones. The port has a special security lounge with the last generation in security equipment’s, long distances cameras with night vision and infrared detection as well as modern communication equipment.