Port Overview
The Port of Beirut is Lebanon's main sea port, and it is one of the busiest ports in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The Port of Beirut and the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport are Lebanon's main points of entry.
The Port of Beirut consists of a General Cargo Terminal, a Container Terminal, a Passenger Terminal, a Free Zone and a Silo area. The Free zone and Silo were hugely affected by the explosion that occurred in Beirut port during Aug 2020.
The total area of Beirut Port is of 1,200,000 m², with a water basin total area of 1,202,000 m² (including the Container Terminal), a main breakwater of 3,190 m and a detached breakwater of 550 m
Port website: http://www.portdebeyrouth.com/index.php/en/
Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com
|
Port Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Country |
Lebanon |
|
Province or District |
Beirut |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port |
Beirut (Capital of Lebanon) |
|
Port's Complete Name |
Port de Beyrouth |
|
Latitude |
33.905000 N |
|
Longitude |
35.521111 E |
|
Managing Company or Port Authority |
Gestion et exploitation du port de Beyrouth (GEPB) |
|
Management Contact Person |
Mr Omar Itani +961 1 58 02 11 till 16 |
|
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures |
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport |
Port Picture
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
- Mediterranean Shipping Company - MSC
- Metz Shipping Agency ltd
- National Shipping Co.
- Sea Line
- Seamen International
- Geazairi Transport
- Company Maritime d'Affretement Agency - CMA
- Merit Shipping
- Maersk Lebanon
- Edouard Cordahi
- Costa Bitar Transport Company
- Akak Marine Cie
- J.B. Shipping Services
- Fast Agency
- Eurabia Intercontinental
- Kawar & Khayat Shipping Agency
- Sea Freight
- Continental Shipping Agency
- Georges Abou Hamad
- H.Heald and Cie
- Gevo Maritime & Transport
- Tourisme & Shipping services
- Carapiperis
- Med Conro Shipping services
- Lebanese Shipping Union
- Hanna Najib Tabet
- Ademar Shipping Lines
- Gulf Agency
- Nicolas Abou Rjeily
- Halim-Roukoz Shipping Agency
- United Navigation Cie
- Abdul Hamid EL Fil & Co.
- Lotus Shipping Agencies SAL
- Pelican International Services
- Barwil Agencies Lebanon SAL
- ETS.PAUL ADEM
- The Levant Shipping Agency
- Gharib Shipping Agency
- Seachart Marine S.A.R.L.
- SALEH SHIPPING
- T. Gargour & Fils SAL
- Ghassan Soubra
- Ultra Maritime Services SARL
- Middle East Transport Company Metco sal
- Blue Wave Shipping sarl
Port Performance
Beirut Port received nearly 2,132 vessels in 2019. In addition, via its container terminal, the port handled 1,229,081 TUEs/year. The port has a channel draft of 16.5 m. A bottleneck in beirut port is the congestion of trucks at entrance and exit gates. WFP has a special agreement, for extending of grace period of all food assistance shipments, from 9 days to 30 days.
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Seasonal Constraints |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Occurs |
Time Frame |
|
|
Rainy Season |
YES |
October to March/April |
|
Major Import Campaigns |
NO |
|
|
Handling Figures for 2019 |
|
|---|---|
|
Vessel Calls |
2,132 |
|
Container Traffic (TEUs) |
1,229,081 |
|
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2018 |
|
|---|---|
|
Bulkand Break Bulk (MT) |
8,660,600 |
Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link:
https://www.portdebeyrouth.com/index.php/en/tariffs/port-tariffs
Berthing Specifications
|
Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Conventional Berth |
7 |
1,654 |
8 to 10.5 |
|
|
Container Berth |
4 |
1,100 |
15.5 to 16.5 |
|
|
2 |
1,334 |
10.5 to 13 |
|
|
|
1 |
500 |
16.5 |
|
|
|
Silo Berth |
1 |
220 |
13 |
|
|
Berthing Tugs |
2 |
|
||
|
Water Barges |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Most container traffic is handled by berth 16 as it can take the biggest container ships. It spans over 36.5 hectares and handles 750,000 TEUs annually. Small ships are handled at berths 12, 13 and 14. Before Beirut Explosion in Aug 2020 the Silo the Silo Terminal, managed by the Ministry of Economy, can store 120,000 mt of grains, especially wheat. There are 48 cells each with 2,500 mt capacity. There are also 500 cells with 500 mt capacity. The Silos were destroyed by the Explosion.
General Cargo Handling Berths
|
Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
|---|---|
|
Imports - Bagged Cargo |
General (no dedicated import quay) |
|
Exports - Bagged Cargo |
General (no dedicated export quay) |
|
Imports and Exports - RoRo |
No dedicated RoRo quay. however, the Port handles RoRo vessels with quarter ramps |
|
Other Imports |
n/a |
Port Handling Equipment
All port equipment is managed privately by the Beirut Port Company (Compagnie de Gestion et d’Exploitation du Port de Beyrouth). The port has ample equipment to handle large volumes and a wide variety of cargo.
|
Equipment |
Available |
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dockside Crane |
Yes |
||
|
Container Gantries |
Yes |
Container Terminal: |
|
|
Mobile Cranes |
Yes |
General Cargo Terminal:
Containers: - 6 mobile cranes for containers (255-300 MT) |
|
|
Reachstacker |
Yes |
33 top loaders for containers (full) |
|
|
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) |
Yes |
- 4 Ro-Ro tractors: 4x4 drive. |
|
|
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines |
No |
||
|
Forklifts |
Yes |
General Cargo Terminal: |
Container Facilities
|
Facilities |
20 ft |
40 ft |
|---|---|---|
|
Container Facilities Available |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Container Freight Station (CFS) |
The CFS is under the management of CMA CGM; however, management and tariffs are controlled by the Beirut Port Company. |
|
|
Refrigerated Container Stations |
No |
No |
|
Number of Reefer Stations |
904 (for either 20’’ or 40’’) |
|
|
Emergency Take-off Capacity |
||
|
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift |
Yes |
|
Link to container yard website CMA beirut terminal:
https://cma-beirut.com/
Customs Guidance
- The receiving organization sends the Notification of Arrival to the C&F Agent
- The C&F Agent initiates the process by informing customs authorities of the expected date of arrival of the cargo, and all cargo details.
- The receiving organization sends all original documents to the C&F Agent
- The C&F Agent provides original documents to customs authorities.
- Generally, the cargo is cleared within 5-7 days (if all documents are in order).
- Once the cargo is cleared, the customs authorities provide a Release Note to the C&F Agent.
- The transport company can then bring trucks inside the port for onward dispatch of cargo.
- (Clearing & Forwarding Agent Contacts are available in the Port Contact List
Terminal Information
GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING
The Silo was destroyed due to Aug 2020 Explosion, and it still in the same condition since that date. The Port is being used a transit point for Wheat shipments. The Wheat is moved directly form the vessel and loaded into the trucks that move the wheat to the cargo owners. Vessels are unloaded by mobile cranes with clamshell “grabs” to fill bulk trucks driving under hoppers at quayside. The daily discharge rate is 5,000 mt.
MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL
Pre-blast:
The general cargo area in the Port of Beirut contains 12 warehouses and a grain silo. The Port of Beirut does not have temperature-controlled storage facilities but has a total of 800 reefer points for refrigerated containers. Transit storage facilities are also available at the Port Authorities’ warehouses.
Stevedoring
Stevedoring service providers are private companies which have a permit to operate by the Ministry of Transport. They are contracted directly by the customs agents/ transporters.
Hinterland Information
Cargo is commonly moved out of the port by truck (generally 40 mt capacity)
Port Security
Security at the Port of Beirut is provided by the “Surete Generale” together with the Port Police and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
|
Security |
|
|---|---|
|
ISPS Compliant |
Yes |
|
Current ISPS Level |
2 |
|
Police Boats |
Yes |
|
Fire Engines |
Yes |
