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Port Overview 

According to the Undersecretariat of Ports and Maritime and River Transport, 85% of the country's non-oil cargo transfer is moved through the Port of Guayaquil through its public and private terminals. 

There are two large groups of facilities: Sea Port, owned/managed by the Port Authority which has granted concessions to private operators, namely Contecon Guayaquil S.A. and Andipuerto, for 20 years; and Isla Trinitaria, which has attracted private operators to invest in port infrastructure. In the latter, three companies operate terminals directly next to each other: Terminal Portuario de Guayaquil (TPG), Terminal Portuario Bananapuerto operated by Aretina (the maximum draft for all terminals on Isla Trinitaria is 9.75 meters) and Puerto Trinitaria S.A. operating with: 1 dock 126 meters in length, dock draft: Up to 11.5 meters (high tide) 9.75 meters (low tide), Boat length: up to 250 meters, No. Berths: 2. The Fertisa Port Terminal offers refrigerated and bulk facilities; and the Ecuadoriana de Granos (Ecuagran) bulk terminal offers a berth directly over the Guayas River and inside the city. There are other private berth operators such as Molinos del Ecuador, Sepresa and Industrial Molinero along the Guayas River. All terminals have a single berth; Vessels may have a maximum length of 180 meters and a maximum draft of 6.5 meters. 

 

Dredging work in the port access channel 

In January 2020, the Guayaquil Port Terminal (TPG) set a record in the port history of Ecuador and the region by receiving the largest ship to arrive at ports in Latin America. The arrival of the APL Esplanade ship marked the inauguration of the works to deepen the maritime access channel and the estuaries that connect the marine buoy with the port terminals. The dredging works were carried out by Canal Guayaquil, a subsidiary of the Belgian company Jan De Nul. , which will maintain the sea route for a 25-year contract. The company dredged the 92-kilometer channel and eliminated the Los Goles rocky area, which constituted an obstacle to navigation. The depth of the channel went from 9.5 meters to 12.5 meters and 13 meters, with tidal benefit 

Canal Guayaquil S.A., responsible for the dredging work to deepen the access channel to the public and private maritime and river port terminals of the Main Port, completed the tasks. Deep draft ships enter the port of Guayaquil, through 12.5 and 13 meters of depth (with tidal benefit). 

 

image-20231020160206-1

Port website: https://www.cgsa.com.ec/ 

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

 

Port Location and Contact 

Country 

Ecuador 

Province or District 

Guayas 

Nearest Town or City 

with Distance from Port 

Guayaquil (10 km) 

Port's Complete Name 

Puerto Marítimo de Guayaquil -  Libertador Simón Bolívar 

Latitude 

-2.280833 

Longitude 

 

-79.91361 

Managing Company or Port Authority 

 

Guayaquil Port Authority 

 

Contecon Guayaquil S.A. exercises the administration and operation of the container and multipurpose terminal of the Maritime Port of Guayaquil 

 

Management Contact Person 

Héctor Hugo Plaza Subía, Gerente de APG  

+593 4 2480120, +593 4 2012000 

Lcdo. Jonatan Sotalin – Autoridad Portuaria de Guayaquil –- hernansotalin@apg.gob.ec 

Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures 

Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín de Olmedo 

 

American Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Iberia, KLM, LAN, Air Europa, Latam, TACA, TAME, UPS 

Port Picture 

image-20231020160206-2

Legend 

Yellow: Sea Port (Contecon Guayaquil S.A. and Andipuerto) 

Red: Bananapuerto Port Terminal 

Purple: Fertisa Port Terminal 

Green: Ecuadorian Grains (Ecuagran) 

 

 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Compañia 

Servicios 

Contacto 

Correo electrónico/ Website 

Andipuerto Guayaquil S.A. 

Multipurpose grain terminal, bulk 

 

info@andinave.com 

Aretina 

Port Logistics Operator FCL, bulk, warehouse, container yard 

 

info@aretina.com 

Contecon Guayaquil S.A.  

Port Terminal Operator 

+593 4 600 6300 

info@cgsa.com.ec 

DPWorld Posorja 

Port Operator,  FCL 

+593 4 380 4850 

dpworldposorja.com.ec 

Ecuaestibas S.A.  

Tugs, berthing 

+593 042 517 360  

ebrito@ecuaestibas.com 

M&C Surveyors 

Consultancy and surveying services to the marine, commodities and insurance sectors 

+51947245898   

operations@mcsurveyors.com 

Petrocomercial 

Fuel, bunkering, greases, oil products 

043803000  

www.eppetroecuador.ec 

Puerto Trinitaria - Trinipuerto S. A 

Support Activities for Rail Transportation 

+593 4 269 7244 

 

QC Terminales Ecuador  

Port Terminal, Bulk oil, chemical, warehouse 

 

www.qcterminales.com/ 

Setmabas S.A.  

Ship services, technical support and supplies 

+593 4-202-8158 

www.setmabas.com.ec/ 

Terminal Portuario de Guayaquil TPG  

Port Terminal, FCL 

 

www.tpg.com.ec 

 

 

Port Performance 

During 2022, the Guayaquil Port Terminal (TPG) for the fourth consecutive year was the port that registered the largest cargo movement in Ecuador 

Export 

Among the main products exported through the TPG are bananas, shrimp, wood and cocoa (representing 74%), whose main destinations were China, Chile, India, Japan, Argentina, and the United States. 

Import 

The goods that were imported in the greatest quantity were plastic items, vehicle parts, paper, books, food and products for its preparation, construction materials, paints and finishes. 

In January 2020, Terminal Portuario Guayaquil (TPG) set a record in the port history of Ecuador and the region by receiving the largest ship to arrive at ports in Latin America. The arrival of the APL Esplanade ship, which has a length of 368.82 meters and a beam of 51 m, arrived at the Guayaquil Port Terminal thanks to the recent deepening of the docking dock. It marked the inauguration of the works to deepen the maritime access channel and the estuaries that connect the maritime buoy with the port terminals. The dredging works were awarded and carried out by Canal Guayaquil, a subsidiary of the Belgian company Jan De Nun, which will maintain the maritime route under a 25-year contract. The company dredged the 92-kilometer channel and eliminated the Los Goles rocky area, which constituted an obstacle to navigation. The depth of the channel went from 9.5 meters to 12.5 meters and 13 meters, with tidal benefit.  

 

The Port Authority of Guayaquil, APG, through its concessionaires (Contecon1 and Andipuerto) and delegate (DP World Posorja), works 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the reception and dispatch of products. 

  1. Contecon reached the figure of 12 million TEUs moved since operations began at the Guayaquil seaport, Libertador Simón Bolívar (Container Terminal), which was in 2007. 

 

Seasonal Constraints 

 

Occurs 

Time Frame 

Rainy Season 

Yes  

From December to March 

Major Import Campaigns 

No 

 

Other Comments 

The greatest historical limitation of the Port of Guayaquil is the limited water depth in access to its facilities. Canal Guayaquil S.A., responsible for the dredging work to deepen the access channel to the public and private maritime and river port terminals of the Main Port, completed the tasks. Deep draft ships enter the port of Guayaquil, through 12.5 and 13 meters of depth (with tidal benefit). 

 

image-20231020160206-3

 

Source: www.jandenul.com/projects/deepening-guayaquil-harbour-access-channel-ecuador 

 

Handling Figures for 2022 

Vessel Calls 

2700 deep draft ships with a capacity of 12,000 to 14,000 TEUS's 

 

(Reference note: in 2019, 2,210 ships of different draft, of which, 804 ships docked at the terminals. 2021, 2,000 ships. 1,552 deep-draft ships and 658 cabotage operations ships 

Container Traffic (TEUs) 

488 thousand containers (20 and 40 feet) 

 (Reference note: in 2019 823,951 thousand TEUs) 

 

During 2022, the Guayaquil Port Terminal (TPG) for the fourth consecutive year was the port that registered the largest cargo movement in Ecuador 

 

Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2022 

Bulk (MT) 

The (public) Bulk Terminal, concessioned to Andipuerto Guayaquil S. A., moved 2,681,433 mt of bulk cargo. 

Break bulk (MT) 

The (public) Bulk Terminal, concessioned to Andipuerto Guayaquil S. A., moved 2,681,433 mt of bulk cargo. 

 

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

CGSA continuously and permanently provides the following basic services: 

• Use of the dock by ships (TMN) 

• Full container transfer (TTC), ship to door 

• General Cargo Transfer (TTG), Ship to door 

• Banana Cargo Transfer (TTB), Door to ship 

• Container storage (TAC) 

• General Cargo Storage in Yards (AG1) 

• Storage of Non-Container General Cargo in Warehouses (AG2) 

• Storage of Non-Container General Cargo in Special Warehouses (AG3) 

• Transfer of Empty Containers (TTV) 

• Container Replacement (REE) 

• Vehicle weighing (TPE) 

• Container Consolidation/Deconsolidation (CFS) 

• Connection and Feeding to Reefers (TRF) 

• Capacity or Container Inspection Operations (AFC) 

• 19 

• Capacity Operations or Inspection of General Non-Containers 

• Load (AFG) 

• Container Shipping (TPC) 

• General Cargo Shipping (TPG) 

• Receiving / Dispatch Containers (RDC) 

• Reception / Dispatch of General Cargo (RDG) 

• Fee for use of tugboat facilities (TMR) 

For more information on port rates and charges, consult the following links: 

Port Services Manual Tarifas y Servicios Portuarios  Version: 1.3 Date: 03/30/2023 

 

Contecon Guayaquil (CGSA) “Port to Door” service 

This is an automated cross-docking service that allows consignees to receive their cargo directly at their doorstep. Port to Door eliminates the need for shippers to go to the terminal to retrieve their shipment. The service offers an express option for same-day cargo delivery. The cost of the new service will vary depending on the volume of cargo and the distance between the port and the delivery location. Port to Door can be booked in advance before cargo arrives in Ecuador or while cargo is stored in port warehouses. Cargo can be transported as soon as it is unloaded from the ship. The Port to Door service will initially be available for clients based in Guayaquil via the perimeter and Durán, and will be expanded to cover more areas in the coming months. Shippers must log in to the CGSA website to access the service and can track their cargo in real time using the CGSAPP mobile application. 

 

THC Shipping lines (only as an example) 

Hapag Lloyd Terminal Handling Charges 2023 HALO THC Services fee 2023 

CMA CMG THC Rate CMA CGM Local Charges 2023 

 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth 

Quantity 

Length 

(m) 

Maximum 

Draft (m) 

Comments 

Conventional Berth 

 

600 

10.5 

Natural River Type Port. There is no good bottom for anchoring 

Container Berth 

 

1000 

10.5 

 

Silo Berth 

Si 

 

 

www.andinave.com 

Berthing Tugs 

(4 units) 32.59 m, 27.81m, 22.5m, 32.10m 

 

 

Guayas II, Vinces, Macará, Chone. 

Water Barges 

N/A 

 

 

The Port of Guayaquil provides water service 

https://www.searates.com/port/guayaquil_ec 

 

Dock allocation priorities 

Docks 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 2 

1. Ships with a Dock reservation contract/agreement. 

2. Ships with full container carriers. 

3. Multipurpose Ships that transfer containers and general cargo. 

4. Ships that transfer perishable products. 

Piers 3, 4, 5 and 6 

1. Vessels with dock reservation contract/agreement. 

2. Vessels that transport perishable products. 

3. Multipurpose vessels that transport containers and general cargo. 

The following vessels will have preference for dock assignment: 

1. Vessels on official visit. 

2. Passenger/cruise ships. 

Contecon Guayaquil CGSA  pags, 21, 22 

Concesionaria CONTECON Guayaquil S.A. 

 

Pier 

Largo (m) 

Lenght(m) 

185 

10 m 

1A 

185 

10 m 

1B 

185 

10 m 

1C 

145 

10 m 

 

Port Terminal Guayaquil (TPG) 

Access 

Canal Santa Ana 

Deep 

9.75 m 

Berth 

2, passenger,  (Largo 360m) 2  

Warehousing 

103,000 m2 

Type of Cargo 

Only containers FCL 

Services 

Cntr, stuffing,  Release, Conection Reefer       

Certifications 

ISPS Code, ISO 9001, BASC 

 

image-20231020160206-4

 

 

Andipuerto Guayaquil S.A. Grain & Multipurpose Terminal 

Access 

Canal Natural Marítimo 

Deep 

9.75 m 

Berth 

1  (largo 150 m) 

Warehousing 

Silos, Tanks, Whse 

Tipo de Carga 

Grain, cement, ashes, petcoke, steel,  oils, others  

Services 

Weight, Forklift, Warehousing  

Certifications 

BASC, ISPS Code, ISO 9001 

 

image-20231020160206-5

 

Port Trinitaria, Trinipuerto S.A. 

Access 

Canal Santa Ana  

Deep 

9.75 m 

Berth 

1  (largo 125 m) 

Warehouse 

14 grain warehouses  up to 140,000 MT 

Type of Cargo 

Bulk, Cement, Ashes, Petcoke, Soya, Flour 

Servicios 

Sistema de Seguridad por circuito cerrado de tv, Sensores Magnéticos instalados. 

Certificación 

ISPS Code 

image-20231020160206-6

 

QC Terminales Ecuador Chemical And Oil-Chemical  

Acceso 

Canal Jambeli 

Deep 

6.80 m 

Berth 

1  

Warehousing 

Area 24,238 m2 - 56 Tanks 

Type of Cargo 

Chemical, Oil 

Services 

Operations Monitoring on Real Time Software, Tank Cooling 

Certification 

ISPS Code, ISO 9001 

image-20231020160206-7

 

 

Fertisa  Multipurpose Terminal 

Access 

Canal El Muerto 

Deep 

9.75 m 

Berth 

1  (lenght 297 m) 

Warehousing 

100,000 m2  Containers, General Cargo 

Typo of Cargo 

Bananas, Fruits, Fertilizers bulk   

Services 

Load Unload, Weight, Ship Repairs Metalworking 

Certification 

ISPS Code, ISO 9001, BASC 

 

image-20231020160206-8

 

Multipurpose Terminal Bananapuerto  

Accesss 

Canal Santa Ana  

Deep 

9.75 m 

Berth 

1 (lenght 320 m) 

Warehousing 

4,700 m2  banana palletized & general cargo, 1,700 m2  breakbulk cargo 

Type of Cargo 

Banana, Wood, Cold Chain 

Services 

Stevedoring Handling, Warehouse and Equipment  rental 

Certifications 

ISPS Code, ISO 9001, BASC 

 

image-20231020160206-9

 

Port Handling Equipment 

 

Equipment 

Available 

 

Total Quantity and Capacity Available 

Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage 

Dockside Crane 

Yes  

23 Elevators from 50 to 100 tons, for yard operations 

Contecon, in charge of the operation of the terminal, continued with the extension work on the cranes (QC5-QC6). This makes it possible to serve ships with greater draft and greater load. 

Container Gantries 

Yes  

6 x Postpanamax ZPMC Ship to Port gantries 

Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) 2 x 51 tons, 

Mobile Cranes 

Yes  

Equipped with automatic weighing system. 

Reachstacker 

Yes  

10 

Equipped with automatic weighing system. 

RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) 

Yes / No 

Tracto 25 X 50 Ton 

 

Semi trailer 27 x 40 ton 

The Port Terminal of Guayaquil (TPG), the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and the heavy transport company Transcarsell announced the operation of up to 100 100% electric trucks in the port. With the first 20 units, this fleet will operate at the Guayaquil Port Terminal (TPG), on the Trinitarian island. 

Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines 

Yes 

2 x 8 MT / hour 

www.andinave.com  

Transtainer 

N/A 

 

 

Forklifts 

Yes  

14 

From 3 to 25 ton 

 

Container Facilities 

Terminal Contecon  

 

TYpe of Cargo 

Yard 

Area (m²) 

Container 

Nº 1 y 2 

111365,06 

Container 

Nº 3 

24099,02 

Container 

Nº 8 

70790,49 

Bananas 

Nº 9 

57948,73 

Container 

Nº 300 

11073,29 

Bananas 

Nº 500 

6287,39 

Container 

Nº 600 

10257,06 

Container 

Nº 700 

20410.80 

Cargo Consolidation & Deconsolidation 

CFS 

28244,78 

Vehicles parking 

Bananero trucks  

30195,99 

 

Type of Cargo 

Warehouse 

Área (m²) 

General 

Nº 7 

7.255,17 

General 

Nº 8 

7.207,20 

Cold Room (out of order) 

Nº 2 

4.097,14 

Multipurpose 

Nº 3 

4.546,64 

Multipurpose 

Nº 4 

4.546,64 

Multipurpose 

Nº 5 

4.546,64 

Multipurpose 

Nº 6 

4.546,64 

Police 

Anti-narcóticos 

1.352,00 

Abandoned Cargo 

Nº 23 

1.352,00 

Maintenance and Equipment 

Nº 21 y 22 

2.417,41 

General 

Nº 31 y 32 

3.853,20 

Banana 

Nº 41 y 42 

3.911,46 

Banana 

Nº 51 y 52 

3.903,40 

Banana 

Nº 61-66 

9.105,69 

Cargo Consolidation & Deconsolidation 

Entre bodega Nº 7 y 8 

4.218,91 

X Ray screening 

Entre bodega Nº 23 y 24 

962,00 

HAz-Mats 

Nº 1, 2, 3 

4.265,44 

 

Facilities 

20 and 40 ft 

Available Container Yard 

See chart 

Container Station (CFS) 

See chart 

Reefer Container Station 

1,510 positions 

Other areas 

N/A 

Daily container handling capacity  (Cntnrs per hour)  

N/A 

Reefer Container Station, connection points 

1,510 plug-in points 

Emergency Container Capacity 

N/A 

Container Handling x Shift Gang 

N/A 

 

Customs 

For import procedures, the following documentation/information will be required at the service windows of the Billing Department to obtain a gate pass: 

The cargo number authorized by SENAE. 

For procedures with SENAE authorizations through administrative acts, you must present a copy of the document (Providencia) 

Exit Authorization Letter (CAS) (Electronic or Physical) 

Copy of the Bill of Lading (BL), for the cases of General Cargo and Loose Cargo 

Information of the transport company, or name of the driver and license plate of the vehicle that will collect the load 

This documentation will be required by the access control booths before access. The gate pass may also be issued to the customs agent/assistant or other personnel authorized by the importer to carry out customs formalities. The requirements of the “Port Security Manual for the Issuance of Credentials and Provisional Permits” must be met. 

 

For cargo dispatch, warehouses have a scheduled delivery service with assigned shifts, taking into account the following aspects: 

Depending on availability, the customer chooses the most convenient shift to pick up their load. Shifts include the earliest and latest pick-up times. 

In the event that a client misses their turn (that is, does not arrive at the assigned time), it is possible to request another one the same day at the access control booths. 

For cases of Direct Debit (DD) or Advance Clearance (DA), verify that the customs procedure has been authorized and the operation is scheduled in the Customer Service Department. 

Customs hours at the port of Guayaquil are from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. 

 

General Cargo Handling Terminals 

Terminal Information 

The international container terminal consists of three docks of 185 meters each and a storage area of ​​300,000 m2. The multipurpose terminal includes six 190 berths with 70,000 m2 of storage space, including 4,500 m2 to accommodate dangerous cargo and 3,200 m2 for refrigerated goods. 

The Bulk Terminal has a 189 m long dock, three silos and four warehouses to store 3,600 tons. There is also a grain warehouse with a capacity of 30,000 tons and three 9,000 m3 tanks to store heavy liquids such as oil. 

 

Multipurpose terminal 

 

Contecon Muelles Multipropòsito 

 

Berth 

Lenght(m) 

Deep (m) 

Nº 2 

185 

10 

Nº 3 

185 

10 

Nº 4 

185 

10 

Nº 5 

185 

10 

Nº 6 

185 

10 

 

 

Storage Type 

Berth 

Bagged Cargo 

Yes 

Refrigerated Cargo 

Yes 

General Cargo 

Yes 

Main Storage Terminal 

At the Contecon Terminal there are well-organized warehouses for both ground operations and classification in tall structures. Products have Contecon barcodes, any item can be identified and located immediately. The surface area of ​​the operational warehouses is 45,800 m2. 

image-20231020160206-10

Grain Handling Bulk Cargo 

Andipuerto Granel ANDIPUERTO is the concessionaire of the multipurpose bulk terminal and the largest dry bulk port facility in Ecuador. The terminal has an area of ​​13 hectares; it has a dock where ships up to 220 meters in length are received. 

 

Andipuerto Bulk Terminal Tariff  Andipuerto Tarifario 

Berth 

Lenght 

Deep 

Nº 1D 

155 m 

10 m 

 

Location  

Equipment 

Quantity  

Capacity 

Berth 

Hydraulic Forklift 

3 x 6m³; 3 x 10 m³, and 1 x 12m³ 

Payloaders 

 

Hoppers 

1 x 40m³ and 4 x 20m³ 

Tansport 

Terminal tractors Ottawa 

32 Ton. 

Hoppers 

35 Ton 

Platforms 

40’ 

Almacenes  

Grain Elevator 

8 Tm/h 

Forklifts 

14 

From 3 to 25 Tons. 

Bulk grain scoop 

3.5 Ton. 

Warehouse forklift  

 

Front payloader 

Caterpillar Model 938G II 

Mini Forklift 

Cat y Bobcat Model 287B ,  242B 

Tractors 

Cat Model D5G/LGP 

Bagging system 

 

 

Type of Cargo 

Warehouse 

Area (m²) 

Multipurpose 

Delta 

4.278,00 

Delta 2 

3.864,00 

Delta 3 

1.122,00 

Delta 4 

918,00 

Echo 

5.040,00 

Echo 2 

5.040,00 

Fox 

9.072,00 

Golf 

9.504,00 

Hotel 

9.072,00 

Juliet 

8.000,00 

Duomo y Anexo 

8.300,00 

 

 

 Type of Cargo 

Tank 

 Quantity  

 Capacity 

Liquid Bulk 

Steel 

3,00 

3200 Ton 

 

 

1,00 

240 Ton 

Type of Cargo 

Silos 

Quantity 

Capacidad 

Grain Dry 

Acero 

3,00 

6000 Ton 

2,00 

450 Ton 

Type of Warehousing 

Number of Facilities 

Area (m2) 

Bagged Cargo 

4 wrhses  8 bagging machines 

2,160 

Cold Cargo 

N/A 

 

General CArgo 

40 

103,000 

 

 

 

Stevedoring 

The Port of Guayaquil offers the stevedoring and unloading service. The port has adequate equipment and material, duly certified, which guarantees safety and efficiency in cargo handling. Various types of cargo are handled such as containers, agricultural products, general cargo, vehicles, machinery and project cargo. The stevedoring operation is carried out by private companies, classified and regulated by the National Government. The list and ranking of operators is carried out according to the type of activities and services they provide to the terminals (cargo handling, pilotage, towing, dredging, port storage and other activities). 

 

Hinterland Information 

By landway 

In banana export alone there is a weekly movement of around 1,500 trucks that transport the fruit from Guayas and the Los Ríos Association. The actual cost of the land cost from the Port of Guayaquil to the factories located within the city for 20 and 40 foot dry containers is around USD 180 and USD 250 respectively with a distance of about 15 km. The distances to the main provinces of origin and destination of cargo from the Port of Guayaquil are: Guayas 136km: Guayaquil, Durán, Milagro, La Libertad (136 km.) 11 Manabí 280km: Manta (193km), Jipijapa (254 km. ), Bahía de Caráquez (280km) El Oro 280km: Puerto Bolívar (193km) Pichincha 415 km: Sto. Domingo (287km), Quito (415km) Loja 415km: Loja (415km) 

By sea 

Ecuador has implemented the maritime security requirements contained in Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of ​​1974 and the International Code for the Protection of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS) through the Merchant Marine Law of 2004 and the Maritime Protection Regulations of 2004. These regulations apply to all seaports in Ecuador and to passenger ships, cargo ships of 500 GRT or more and mobile offshore drilling units on voyages. international. 

Port Security 

The port of Guayaquil has been the subject of a modernization and improvement program in recent years after a significant financial investment. However, these developments have not resulted in a safer environment for foreign ships, moored along the port's docks or transiting its narrow river passages, which are said to be easy targets for local criminal gangs. While Ecuador has not traditionally been known as a global piracy hotspot, the number and malice of recent attacks on vessels has led the IMB to issue a warning to vessels transiting the river passage in Guayaquil, Ecuador. 

The warning comes after a series of incidents in which armed robbers approached and boarded vessels, including those under pilotage. The majority of incidents are reported to have taken place at night between the sea buoy and the entrance and/or exit of the channel. Tactics employed by criminals include shooting at ships to distract crew and allow drugs to be smuggled on board, especially in containers.2 

Ecuador has implemented the maritime security requirements contained in Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of ​​1974 and the International Code for the Protection of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS) through the Merchant Marine Law of 2004 and the Maritime Protection Regulations of 2004. These regulations apply to all seaports in Ecuador, as well as passenger ships, cargo ships of 500 GRT or more and mobile offshore drilling units on international trips. 

Comprehensive security: The Port of Guayaquil is qualified with the International Code for the Protection of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS), Zero Theft and the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC) Certification, in the process of ISO 9,000 and 28,000 certifications. 

Security Level

1 applies in territorial waters and maritime ports of Ecuador. Any change in the level of security or its area of ​​application will be communicated through notices to mariners, nautical advisories, circulars, VHF communication or any other appropriate means. 

  1. Centro de denuncia de piratería de la IMB (IMB PRC) imbkl@icc-ccs.org / piracy@icc-ccs.org. Roberto Barriga Maldonado de Larrea Canessa Barriga Abogados con sede en Guayaquil, Ecuador 

 

Security 

ISPS Compliant 

Yes  

Current ISPS Level  
(Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional) 

Police Boats 

Yes  

Fire Engines 

Yes  

 

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