Port Overview 

The Port of Port Vila on Efate Island, Shefa Province is the principal port in Vanuatu. It consists of the Main International Wharf and Lapetasi International Wharf. The Main International Wharf handles cruise ships and oil tankers and Lapetasi Wharf handles international cargo vessels. A smaller dock currently handles domestic cargo carriers. A larger domestic wharf is currently being built beside the Lapetasi International Wharf. 

 

Port website: N/A 

Key port information may also be found at: https://www.maritime-database.com/port.php?pid=1594 

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Vanuatu
Province or District	Port Vila, Shefa Province
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Port Vila  11.5 km
Port's Complete Name	Port of Port Vila
Latitude	-17.75534
Longitude	168.30601
Managing Company or Port Authority	Department of Ports and Marine  Ifira Wharf and Stevedoring
Management Contact Person	Department of Ports and Marine  P: +678 22339 / 33600  F: +678 22475  Ifira Wharf and Stevedoring  P: +678 22929  F: +678 25351
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Bauerfield International Airport – approx. 12 km from port  Aircalin  Air Vanuatu  Fiji Airways  Solomon Airways  Virgin Australia

 

Port Picture 

 

• Lapetasi International Wharf 

• Main International Wharf 

• Container Storage 

• Ifira Port Development Services 

• Biosecurity Vanuatu Wharf Office 

• Customs Wharf Office 

 

Aerial view of Lapetasi International Wharf (left) and the Main International Wharf (right) 

Warehouse at the Main International Wharf 

 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority: Ensures the safety of all vessels and passengers on international and domestic vessels. Ensure the effective regulation of ports and port facilities through the promotion of efficient and safe port operations and the protection of rights of port users to access ports and port facilities. 

Department of Ports and Marine: The Department of Ports and Marine has jurisdiction over the two commercial harbours in Vanuatu: Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Espiritu Santo. The Department is responsible for the implementation of the Shipping and Ports Act which regulates Vanuatu’s ports of entry, internal ports, the role of harbourmasters who oversee the ports and additional related aspects of maritime operations. 

Ifira Port Development Services (IPDS): Responsible for all stevedoring activities at the Lapetasi International Wharf. 

Vanuatu Customs & Inland Revenue (Border Control): Execute and enforce relevant laws and regulations to protect the welfare of Vanuatu by boarding international crafts (air and sea) to assess the risk of possible threat through our borders, maintaining the level of compliance to relevant laws and regulations, and providing clearance for entry, coast-wise movement, and departure. 

Biosecurity Vanuatu (Border Control):  Mandated to protect Vanuatu from the introduction of harmful exotic and invasive plant and animal pests and diseases. Biosecurity Vanuatu’s sea port operation is to ensure that all sea going crafts, people, and goods do not bring with them organisms that can affect the livelihood and the environment of the people of Vanuatu. Biosecurity Vanuatu has offices in Port Vila (Post Office, Bauerfield International Airport and Main International Wharf) on Efate Island and in Luganville on Espiritu Santo Island. 

 

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List. 

 

Port Performance 

The port is currently not congested in terms of ships berthing. Containers continue to be offloaded and empty containers shipped back so there is a steady movement of containers through Lapetasi International Wharf.  

At the Main International Wharf, cruise ships normally dock for a day and depart by 1700 hours while gas and oil tankers can stay up to 1.5 days depending on the rate of fuel discharge. 

During an emergency response, humanitarian cargo is prioritised for offloading and clearance and the Department of Ports and Marine works closely with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Customs to clear humanitarian cargo efficiently. During an emergency response, the Main International Wharf can be used by foreign military assets and personnel. 

 

Seasonal Constraints
	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	Yes	From November to April
Major Import Campaigns	No	N/A
Other Comments	N/A

 

Handling Figures for 2022 for Lapetasi International Wharf
Vessel Calls	69
Container Traffic (TEUs)	Information not available

 

Handling Figures for 2022 for Main International Wharf
Cruise ships	20
Gas and oil tankers	17

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following: 

• Wharfage, light, pilot, etc fees are paid to Department of Ports and Marine. Refer to 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List for contact details. 

• Discharge rates and terminal handling charges are paid to Ifira Wharf and Stevedoring. Refer to 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List for contact details. 

Berthing Specifications 

Main International Wharf	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	1	220 m	10 m along side	Main wharf shears off to around 20 m with a 10 m wide apron
Container Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Silo Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	1	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

Lapetasi International Wharf	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Container Berth	1	200 m	13 m along side
Silo Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	1	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	N/A	N/A	N/A

 
No infrastructure was built at the Lapetasi International Wharf to discharge fuel from tanker vessels. Gas and oil tankers continue to berth at the Main International Wharf to discharge fuel and gas. Note that it is possible to refuel ships at both international wharves. 

 

Port Handling Equipment 

Is the port equipment managed by the government or privately? The port equipment is managed by IPDS which is a privately owned company. IPDS manages all the port handling equipment, and they have an office at Lapetasi International Wharf. Port handling equipment available at the wharf include 45-tonne full reach stackers and 10-tonne empty reach stackers. 

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
Dockside Crane	No	N/A
Container Gantries	No	N/A
Mobile Cranes	No	N/A
Reachstackers	Yes	4	2 x 45 tonne full reachstackers – 5 high over 3 rows. For 20- and 40-foot containers.  2 x 10 tonne empty reachstackers for empties that can stack 6 high.
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer)	No	N/A
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines	No	N/A
Transtainer	No	N/A
Forklifts	Yes	8 x forklifts various SWL  3 tonne maximum

Container Facilities 

Lapetasi International Wharf can handle approximately 4,500 containers on the wharf at any one time. IPDS is the only company in Port Vila with any stevedoring capacity and has a long-term agreement with the Government of Vanuatu to manage the stevedoring and cargo handling. 

 

 

Lapetasi International Wharf Facilities
Facilities	20 ft	40 ft
Container Facilities Available	Yes	Yes
Container Freight Station (CFS)	N/A	N/A
Refrigerated Container Stations	Yes	Yes
Other Capacity Details	N/A	N/A
Daily Take Off Capacity   (Containers per Day)	320 in total for both 20 ft and 40 ft
Number of Reefer Stations   (Connection Points)	34	Information not available
Emergency Take-off Capacity	N/A	N/A
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift   (Containers per Shift)	Information not available	Information not available

Lapetasi International Wharf can handle approximately 4,500 containers on the wharf at any one time with a 10-day dwell time. 

Customs Guidance 

Customs and Biosecurity have small offices located at the Main International Wharf for container releases. All customs and biosecurity release paperwork and payment of storage and handling fees must be provided to IPDS before bookings can be made for container movement from the wharf.  

Sea freight clearance at the Port of Port Vila is done electronically through ASYCUDA. 

 

Documents required by Customs for clearance of relief items: 

• Tax exemption letter from the NDMO 

• Commercial invoices 

• Freight statements 

• Other charges statements 

• Packing lists 

• Bill of Ladings 

• Cargo manifest 

• Sanitary or phytosanitary certificate (where required) 

 

Important to note that when sending relief items, only relief items are to be included in the package, packing list, bill of lading, tax exemption letter from NDMO, etc. No personal items are to be included as personal items are not tax exempt. 

 

During peacetime, goods must be cleared from customs control within two months from the date of arrival of the goods. After two months, the goods may be seized by Customs and forfeited to the Government of Vanuatu. 

 

Contact details: 

Customs Lapetasi Wharf 

P: +678 22862 / 33590 

E: customsborder@vanuatu.gov.vu  

 

Reference: https://customsinlandrevenue.gov.vu/  

 

For more information on customs in Vanuatu, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

 

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

The Lapetasi International Wharf is a multipurpose cargo wharf for international shipping vessels. There is a large container storage facility within the premises and space for bonded, LCL and break-bulk cargo. Ro-Ro facilities are available, when needed. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

The port is not equipped to handle bulk grain. There are no companies available for bagging and no silo storage facilities. 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

The Lapetasi International Wharf includes a break bulk cargo warehouse and 3.5 hectares allocated for different sized cargo. A 600 m2 bonded warehouse is also available for LCL and bonded cargo. 

 

The Main International Wharf has space for containers, but this is reserved for containers seized by Customs. 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	1
Refrigerated Cargo	34 reefer stations
General Cargo	Lapetasi Int. Wharf – 1  Main Int. Wharf - 1

Stevedoring 

IPDS is the only company in Port Vila with any stevedoring capacity and has a long-term agreement with the Government of Vanuatu to manage the stevedoring and cargo handling.  

Hinterland Information 

IPDS has two straddle trucks of 20 mt capacity for movement of 20- and 40-foot containers. 

 

Apart from IPDS, only licensed customs brokers and transporters can access the Lapetasi International Wharf for container deliveries / returns. 

Port Security 

The Department of Ports and Marine is responsible for security at the Main International Wharf. IPDS is responsible for security at the Lapetasi International Wharf. 

Main International Wharf Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Police Boats	Yes, on request
Fire Engines	No, not stationed at the wharf

 

Lapetasi International Wharf Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Police Boats	Yes, on request
Fire Engines	No, not stationed at the wharf