Overview

In Colombia, the waterway network is composed of four river basins: Magdalena, Atrato, Orinoco and Amazon basins. The Magdalena river has a significant waterflow passing through areas with high population density, which makes it the main waterway in Colombia. It is 24,725 km long, of which permanent small vessels navigation is allowed for 18,225 km (74%) throughout the year. Of these, permanent large vessels navigation is allowed for 7,063 km (39%) and temporary larger vessels navigation is allowed for 4,210 km (23%). The remaining 6,500 km (26%) are not navigable.

Small vessels are defined as any of the following: Canoes, speedboats, panga boats, boats. Tugboats and ferries are considered large vessels.

The Magdalena and Cauca rivers are the most important trade routes, especially for cargo, but to a much lesser extent than road transport. Others are slow-moving rivers supporting nearby localities isolated from the rest of the country. Due to infrastructure problems, river navigation generally remains underutilized as river ports are not prepared for a large number of passengers and most rivers have a low capacity. Waterways are still very important in the Amazon, Colombian Orinoco and Chocó regions. However, jungle conditions have hindered road development so far.

Source: Invías

Source: Invías

The Ministry of Transport, through the Land, Water and Rail Transit Task Force, is responsible for issuing and certifying crew and cargo licenses and supporting the Territorial Directorates and River Inspections under the Ministry.

The Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Rio Grande de la Magdalena (CORMAGDALENA) is a government agency responsible for the recovery of navigation and port activity, land adaptation and conservation, energy generation and distribution, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental preservation.

http://www.cormagdalena.gov.co/

DIMAR is the government entity responsible for rate registration, additions or modifications, liner conferences and/or transport agreements registration, operation authorizations and permits, ship chartering approvals, ship registration approvals, coastal chartering authorizations, company additions and/or modifications, ship arrival authorizations, ship departure authorizations, among others.

https://www.dimar.mil.co/

River Ports of National Interest

Inland Navigation Companies

Barranquilla Container Terminal (BCT): This company reactivated container barge transportation along the Magdalena River, achieving an average loading capacity of 25 units per hour from dock to barge using Panamax gantry cranes.

https://dgcinternacional.com/

Impala Terminals Colombia: The company provides specialized river container cargo, general cargo and project cargo transportation along the Magdalena River with land transport links from Barrancabermeja to the main consumption and dispatch centers in the country.

https://www.impalaterminals.com/our-global-network/latin-america/colombia/

Naviera Central S.A.: The company provides river and multimodal transport services and port terminals along the Magdalena and Cauca rivers in Colombia. Backed by new equipment and extensive logistics and shipping experience.

https://www.navieracentral.com/

Naviera Fluvial Colombiana: The company provides diversified fluvial mass cargo transportation services along the Magdalena River, operating 91 specialized barges for hydrocarbon transportation, steel bulk cargo, containers cargo, bagged cargo and oversized cargo.

       http://www.naviera.com.co/

Passenger Carrying Capacity

Distance Matrix

Key Routes

Port Information

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