Tuvalu
2.1 Tuvalu Port of Funafuti





Port Overview

Tuvalu has one port situated on Fongafale Island on the E side of Funafuti atoll. It is the port of entry.  

Funafuti Wharf is on the West side of the North arm of the island, 1nm N of the main town of Vaiaku.  

It handles general cargo almost exclusively containerised, and oil.  Catering to approximately 20 vessels annually. The types of vessels regularly calling at FUNAFUTI are Cargo (14%), Passenger (14%), Passenger/Cargo Ship (14%).   

Max draft: 8, Max LOA: 183, Max DWT: 20375 

Funafuti is the only port but there is a deep-water berth in the lagoon at  Nukufetau 

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

 

Port Location and Contact 

Country 

Tuvalu 

Province or District 

Funafuti Island 

Nearest Town or City 

with Distance from Port 

  Vaiaku. 

  1km 

Port's Complete Name 

 Funafuti Port 

Latitude 

 8.502778  (8° 30' 10" S) 

Longitude

179.195833 (179° 11' 45" E) 

Managing Company or Port Authority 

 

Funafuti Port Authority 

 
Tel: 688 20054 

Email: marine@tuvalu.tv 

Management Contact Person 

Nito Lipine: nlteiaputi@gmail.com 

Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures 

Funafuti International Airport (2 km) 

Fiji Airlines 


 

Port Picture

1 Port warehouse 

2 Funafuti Wharf 

3 Nippon Wharf 

4 Container area 1 

5 Container area 2 

Police Boat at wharf

Container storage outside port 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

The port, stevedoring services, facilities and equipment are owned and operated by the Funafuti Port Authority, a government department, part of the Ministry of Communication and Transport. 

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

Port Performance

The port is small but not congested, average waiting time between arrival and berthing is not more than 24 hours. It caters to around 20 vessels per year. Maximum draft is 10m.  

There are no dockside cranes, so all vessels must have onboard gantry cranes for loading and unloading. There are forklifts dockside for moving and unstuffing containers.  

The port’s major limitation is lack of space for container storage additionally the storage area is neither paved nor level resulting in many containers being stacked on both sides of the road outside the port security fence.  


Seasonal Constraints 

 

Occurs 

Time Frame 

Rainy Season 

Yes   

During the period November to April heavy rains may result in damage during loading/unloading and transporting perishable goods. 

Major Import Campaigns 

  No 

  

Handling Figures for 2020 

Vessel Calls 

25 

Container Traffic (TEUs) 

5,150 TEU 

 


Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Dockage Dues 

(1) Berthing fee of any overseas vessel berthing alongside the wharf and under the control of the Harbour Master must pay a fee, at the rate of Gross Tonnage x $0.20 + $300.00. 

(2) Berthing fee for0 foreign yacht is $5.00 per metre length per day. 

4 Port Dues 

(1) Any vessel in port whether plying for hire or within the purlieus of such wharf shall pay port dues at the rate of 100 Gross Tonnage x the number of hours alongside x $1.20. 

(2) Any delays caused by the local port authorities due to equipment failure shall incur a diminution in the port dues prescribed in (1). 

(3) Any overseas vessels that anchors within the port limits shall be charged the   length per metre x $2.00 x number of days. 

(4) Port dues should be levied to overseas yacht in port whether plying for hire or otherwise at the rate of $50.00 per call (not exceeding 30 days) plus $5.00 per day (after 30 days). 

5 Dockage and Port Dues for Local Vessels 

(1) Any vessel owned or registered in Tuvalu shall pay dockage dues at the rate of Gross Tonnage x $0.10 + $100.00. 

(2) Any vessel owned or registered in Tuvalu shall pay port dues at the rate of 100 Gross Tonnage x number of hours x $0.80. 

(3) Any vessel owned and registered in Tuvalu that anchors within the port limit shall be charged by the length of the vessel x $1.50 x number of days. 

6 Wharfage Dues 

(1) Dues known as wharfage dues should be levied on all goods landed or discharged on any vessel including the Nivaga II and the Manufolau within the port when goods are handled by port personnel. 

7 Charges on Vessels being in the Harbour 

(1) Vessel license fee shall be levied on any vessel whether plying for hire, at anchorage or berth at the sum of $100.00 per visit. 

(2)  Environment levy fee should be charged to any vessel in port whether playing for hire or at anchorage at the rate of GRT x $0.05 per visit. 

(3) Security fee at the rate of $50.00 per day shall be applicable to all vessels. 

(4) Light dues shall be levied on all overseas vessels at the rate of $50.00 per visit. 

(5) Port users and shipping agencies shall pay the fee of $200.00 per annum for business conducted within the harbour vicinity. 

(6) Visitors to the port shall pay the fee of $2.00 per day for entering the area. 

(7) Vehicles other than Government vehicles shall pay the fee of $5.00 per day for entering the harbour. 

(8) Stevedoring charges shall be made against Master or Owner at rates set out in Schedule 1. 

(9) Equipment hire charges shall be made against Master or Owner, Importers and the public in general at rates set out in Schedule 3. 

8 Area 

(1) No storage charges shall be levied on inward cargoes (excluding perishable cargoes/goods). 

(2) Inward Cargoes must be cleared within 5 working days (28 days for transhipment) after which cargoes shall be charged for storage as per rates prescribed in Schedule 2. 

9 Dangerous Goods 

All kind of dangerous goods shall be cleared within 24 hours after arrival at the wharf after which dangerous goods shall be charged at $100.00 per tanktainer, cooking gas cylinder and 200 litres petrol drum containers. 


SCHEDULE 1 

(Regulation 7 (8)) 

Item 

Rate ($) 

Discharging or loading of FCL S 

$150.00 of max weight (25 tonnes) 

Containers more than 25 tonnes 

 $200.00 

Discharging or loading one empty container 

$80.00 per container 

Restowing (Shifting) on board ship: 

Container 

 (b) Loose Cargo 

 

$100.00 per container 

$15.00 per cubic metre 

Lashing/Unlashing 

$70.00 per container 

Discharging full tanktainer 

$200.00 per unit 

Loading empty tanktainer 

$100.0 0 per unit 

Timber flat pack 

$150.00 per pack 

Iron steel product 

$20.00/cubic metre 

SCHEDULE 2 

(Regulation 8 (2)) 

 

Item 

Rate ($) 

Timber 

$8.00 per cubic metre/day 

Steel products/iron rods 

$10.00 per cubic metre/day 

Cement. Gravel, Sand 

$12.00 per cubic metre/day 

Reefer Container 

$50.00 per /day 

Full Container 

$50.00 per metre/day 

Loose Cargoes 

$10.00 per cubic metre/day 

 

SCHEDULE 3 

(Regulation 7 (9)) 

Item 

Charges ($) 

Lift ($) 

Truck & Trailer 

150.00 per trip 

 

Forklift 25 tonnes 

100.00 per hour 

70.00 

Forklift 4 tonnes 

30.00 per hour 

20.00 

Forklift 3 tonnes 

30.00 per hour 

20.00 

Container Ram 

20.00 per hour 

 

 

 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth 

Quantity 

Length 

(m) 

Maximum 

Draft (m) 

Comments 

Conventional Berth 

1 

180m 

10m 

Comprises 2 docks 70m+ 50m +30m gap (see port picture) 

Container Berth 

N/A 

 

 

 

Silo Berth 

N/A 

 

 

 

Berthing Tugs 

N/A 

 

 

 

Water Barges 

N/A 

 

 

 

 
  

General Cargo Handling Berths 

All berths are general cargo/container handling 

Cargo Type 

Berth Identification 

Imports - Bagged Cargo 

See above 

Exports - Bagged Cargo 

N/A 

Imports and Exports - RoRo 

N/A 

Other Imports 

N/A 

Port Handling Equipment 

The port equipment is managed and owned by the Funafuti Port Authority, a government entity.    

  

Equipment 

Available 

 

Total Quantity and Capacity Available 

Dockside Crane 

No 

 

Container Gantries 

No 

 

Mobile Cranes 

No 

 

Reachstacker 

No 

 

RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) 

No 

 

Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines 

No 

 

Transtainer 

No 

 

Forklifts 

Yes 

1 x 30MT, 1 x 25MT,  

2 x 5MT, 2 x 3MT 


25MT forklift, Funafuti Port 


Container Facilities 

 

There are no specialist container facilities. Port is general cargo. 

Facilities 

20 ft 

40 ft 

Container Facilities Available 

No 

No 

Container Freight Station (CFS) 

No 

No 

Refrigerated Container Stations 

No 

No 

Other Capacity Details 

No 

No 

Daily Take Off Capacity  
(Containers per Day)  

10 

NA 

Number of Reefer Stations  
(Connection Points) 

8 

NA 

Emergency Take-off Capacity  

Dependant on ship’s capability using onboard gantry cranes 

Off take Capacity of Gang Shift  
(Containers per Shift)  

Dependant on ship’s capability using onboard gantry cranes 

Customs Guidance 

Customs are based in nearby township offices and work 0830 to 1700 Monday to Friday but present for all vessel arrivals. Clearance can be expected same day if notice is given prior to arrival. 

For more information on customs in Tuvalu please see the following link:1.3 Customs Information  

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

The terminal has been designed for multipurpose, general passenger, container and tankers 

No ro-ro facilities available 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

No facilities for grain and bulk handling 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

Covered storage is secure CGI shed with concrete floors. 

Storage Type 

Number of Storage Facilities 

Area (m2) 

Bagged Cargo 

Cargo shed 

800 

Refrigerated Cargo 

1 reefer container 20ft 

120 

General Cargo 

Cargo shed (as above) 

 

Cargo Shed, Funafuti Port 

Stevedoring 

Stevedoring is not a private company; labourers are employed as casual under the government. Manual labour is used for unstuffing containers. 

Hinterland Information 

Goods are moved from port by private pickup trucks  

Port Security 

The area surrounding the docks is fenced although not totally secure and may be accessed from adjoining building. Security personnel are present 24/7 

Planned to improvements include paving and extension of the container storage area into the lagoon side. 

Security 

ISPS Compliant 

Yes  

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

Level 1 

Police Boats 

  Yes 

Fire Engines 

  No 

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