Port Overview 

One international container and general cargo terminal at Nuku’alofa and some domestic wharves serving inter-island ferries. The main port at Nuku’alofa was corporatized in 1999, as a statutory authority. Facilities for international shipping are in generally good condition. 

Nuku’alofa harbour is the only deep-water harbour of the islands; it is the central hub for boats to the outer islands. There are usually two boats to ʻEua each day, and two to Haʻapai and Vavaʻu each week. In addition to these regular services by shipping companies, private boat owners provide less regular services to smaller islands such as Nomuka and ʻEueiki. 

Nuku’alofa port is a fairly deep harbour basin of approximately 3 by 10 kilometers surrounded by fringing reefs. There are two main channels into the alongside berth, one from the north available to all vessels and the other from the east for vessels of less than 110 m LOA. The Marine and Ports Department provide and maintain good solar powered navigation aids. There are two alongside berths and a mooring dolphin for discharge of oil and LPG cargoes. Nuku’alofa, as the major port of Tonga, supports container, ro-ro, general cargo and tanker traffic.  

Approximately 200 vessels per annum use the port ranging in size from 4,000 to 50,000 GRT for passenger ships and from 1,500 to 14,000 GRT for merchant ships. 

Stevedoring and transport services operate efficiently. 

Port website: http://www.portsauthoritytonga.com/about-port-authority 

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

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Tonga
Province or District	Tongatapu
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Nuku’alofa  2 kilometres
Port's Complete Name	Port of Nuku’alofa
Latitude	-21.135
Longitude	-175.1889
Managing Company or Port Authority	Tonga Port Authority
Management Contact Person
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Airport Name:  Fuaʻamotu International Airport   Airlines: Fiji Airways, Air NZ, Qantas, Virgin Australia

Port Picture 

1. Queen Salote Domestic Berth #4    2. Queen Salote Domestic Berth #3     

3. Queen Salote International Berth #2   4. Queen Salote International Berth #1    

5 Touliki Navy Base, breakwater wall. 6. Tug Berth 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Ports Authority Tonga (PAT) manages the port operation. There are 3 companies PFK, Nuku’alofa Stevedoring and KVL providing stevedoring services. Key clearing and shipping companies are Dateline Transam, Royco Shipping and Kagent Ltd. 

Transportation ex-port is by owner operator truckers of which there are over 20. 

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

Port Performance 

The port is run efficiently with quick turnaround times There is generally no waiting time, pilot is on call every day except Sunday (until midnight).  

Limitations are draft in the Main Channel (10–15m draft) and width for the Narrow Channel, it has a draft of 27m but width dictates maximum ship length of 320m. 

There is priority for humanitarian shipping using domestic berths and during emergencies it can use the international berth as priority. 

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: https://www.portsauthoritytonga.com/publications-download/file/31-4-por… 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	1	320	15
Container Berth	2	93 (Q1)  110 (Q2)	12  11
Silo Berth	No	n/a	n/a
Berthing Tugs	2	45	8
Water Barges	No	n/a	n/a

 
General Cargo Handling Berths 

Cargo Type	Berth Identification
Imports - Bagged Cargo	Queen Salote 1 & 2
Exports - Bagged Cargo
Imports and Exports - RoRo
Other Imports

Port Handling Equipment 

Port of Tonga Ltd operates port equipment. 

Stevedoring companies are responsible for moving cargo from the ship to dockside only. 

Reachstackers can stack containers full to 2 high, empty to 6 high. 

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
Dockside Crane	No
Container Gantries	No
Mobile Cranes	No
Reachstacker	Yes	Quantity: 3  Capacity: 45T	Good condition. 1 is new
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer)	No
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines	No
Transtainer	No
Forklifts	Yes	18 x ranging 3T – 26T	Good condition

Container Facilities 

There are no dockside cranes. All handling is done with reach stacker and one large (26T) forklift. 

Facilities	20 ft	40 ft
Container Facilities Available	Storage for up to 700 containers	Storage for up to 700 containers
Container Freight Station (CFS)	No	No
Refrigerated Container Stations	Plugs for 63 containers	Plugs for 63 containers
Other Capacity Details	Limited to stack 3 high in windy conditions  100m x 200m area for stacking	Limited to stack 3 high in windy conditions  100m x 200m area for stacking
Daily Take Off Capacity   (Containers per Day)	12 – 14 per hour	12 – 14 per hour
Number of Reefer Stations   (Connection Points)	Plugs for 63 containers	Plugs for 63 containers
Emergency Take-off Capacity	12 – 14 per hour	12 – 14 per hour
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift   (Containers per Shift)

Customs Guidance 

Customs are generally very efficient, normal processing time is around one hour. They are not obstructive. 

Customs are available 24 hours (except Sundays) located adjacent to the port.  

For humanitarian goods, if notified well in advance, most of clearance paperwork can be completed prior to cargo / ship’s arrival 

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

Terminal Information

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

Queen Salote Berths 1 & 2 are multi-purpose and can handle RoRo berthing vessels up to 110 m with 11m drafts. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

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

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

There is one covered warehouse of approximately 3,500m2. There is space for short-term food storage. It is generally full from mid to late December but otherwise available. 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	1	150
Refrigerated Cargo
General Cargo	None	0

Stevedoring 

The private stevedoring companies are responsible for getting the goods off the ship on the quay and vice versa. Tonga Port Authority are responsible for getting containers, and general cargo to the storage area or onto transporters. 

There are 3 three private companies who provide stevedoring services. They can provide up to 23 men per shift as required. There have been no issues with availability or performance and they work in well with the TPA.  

The Port Master will coordinate stevedoring services as required. They will operate at all times as necessary except Sundays. 

Hinterland Information 

Private trucking operators move items from the port. They are owner operated and the Port Master coordinates this service. There are over 20 trucks capable of shifting containerised cargo (side lifters) in addition to a wide variety of other freight vehicles. There is sufficient capacity for current and possible surge requirements.  

Port Security 

Tonga Port Authority employs and manages port security. Security personnel are on site 24/7. Critical areas are fenced. 

There are no current security issues. 

Security
ISPS Compliant	Yes
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	Normal 1
Police Boats	1
Fire Engines	Nuku’alofa Fire Service

 

Port Overview 

Neiafu is the second-largest town in Tonga with a population of about 6,000. The port of Refuge is a deep-water harbour on the southern coast of Vava'u, the main island of the Vava'u archipelago in northern Tonga. Neiafu is the administrative centre of the Vava'u group and has government offices, banks, schools, a police station and a hospital. It is also an important centre for tourism with many yachts anchoring in the Port of Refuge. Queen Halaevalu Wharf is administered and operated by the Marine and Ports Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure. 

Queen Halaevalu Wharf is in the Vava'u Group, the second largest group of islands in Tonga, situated in the SW Pacific Ocean. 

General overview 

Queen Halaevalu Wharf is the main activity centre of the port, handling passengers and domestic and international cargo for the outer island group. There is also a safe anchorage for large cruise liners that cannot reach the wharf.  

Queen Halaevalu Wharf can handle international containers and cargo vessels only and domestic vessels. Tankers and LPG vessels are handled at Toula Terminal which is east of Queen Halaevalu Wharf. 

The principal exports are copra and bananas. 

Load line zone: South Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Nov 30, Summer Dec 1 to Mar 31. Max size: LOA 120m, beam 20m and draught 7.0m. 

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

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Tonga
Province or District	Vava’u
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Neiafu. Adjacent to the port
Port's Complete Name	Port of Neiafu
Latitude	-18.6500
Longitude	-173.9833
Managing Company or Port Authority	Marine and Ports Division, Ministry of Infrastructure
Management Contact Person	Fualapaha Fuavao, OIC Marine and Ports Vava’u
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Airport Name:  Lupepauʻu Airport  International Flights: Fiji Airways direct from Nadi, Fiji or via Lulutai Airline from Fuamotu International Airport

Port Picture 

 
(Source: Google Earth- Airbus 11/05/2021) 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Marine and Ports Division (MPD) under the Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for overseeing and managing of Queen Halaevalu Wharf at Neiafu, Vava’u. It has been declared under Port Management Act, as the Government Wharf amongst others.  

Queen Halaevalu Wharf is the second international port for Tonga and can cater for limited sizes and tonnage of vessels, including all domestic vessels calling Vava’u. 

There is only one stevedoring company in Vava’u which is the Vava’u Shipping Services. 

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

Port Performance 

Queen Halaevalu Wharf’s maximum draft for the channel is 6.6m and recommended times for vessels to berth with draft over 6m is 1 hour before or after high tide (5.5m Low Water). Pilotage service is compulsory and the Pilot must board outside of the harbour limit, which is an imaginary line crossing from Lotuma Island to Teleki (part of Tu’anuku Village). 

The Pilot boarding area is recommended to be at Faihava passage between Tu’ungasika and Luafatu Island if weather permits. 

Average time from pilot boarding to berthing is 1 hour. 

Seasonal Constraints 

	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	No	N/A
Major Import Campaigns	No	N/A
Other Comments	Small port with no handling facilities

 

Handling Figures for 2022
Vessel Calls	12 for international vessels and  20 for domestic vessels (maximum per year)
Container Traffic (TEUs)	220 TEUS

 

Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2022
Bulk (MT)	No
Break bulk (MT)	No

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: https://www.portsauthoritytonga.com/publications-download/file/31-4-ports-authority-tariff-fees-dec20131 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	-	-	-	Pier depth 8.1 m – 10.1 m
Container Berth	1	65 m	6.6	This is the only international berth in the port of Neiafu Pier depth 7.1 m – 9.1 m
Silo Berth	No	-	-	-
Berthing Tugs	No	-	-	-
Water Barges	No	-	-	-

 
Additional information source https://shipnext.com/port/neiafu-vavau-tonei-ton  

General Cargo Handling Berths 

Cargo Type	Berth Identification
Imports - Bagged Cargo	No
Exports - Bagged Cargo	No
Imports and Exports - RoRo	No
Other Imports	No

Port Handling Equipment 

There are two forklifts at the wharf which is owned by the Stevedoring Company. One forklift is 3.5 tons and the other is 7 tons.  

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
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	3-5 mt

Container Facilities 

There are no cranes onsite. The side lifters of the container truck are used for the movement of containers inside and outside the wharf. 

Facilities	20 ft	40 ft
Container Facilities Available	Yes	Yes
Container Freight Station (CFS)	No	No
Refrigerated Container Stations	Yes	Yes
Other Capacity Details	N/A	N/A
Daily Take Off Capacity   (Containers per Day)	N/A	N/A
Number of Reefer Stations   (Connection Points)	One	One
Emergency Take-off Capacity	N/A	N/A
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift   (Containers per Shift)	N/A	N/A

Customs Guidance 

Customs are on hand for all arrivals when notified prior by MPD. They are generally efficient and effective in executing their duties. 

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

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

There is no multipurpose terminal facility. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

There are no grain and bulk handling facilities. 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

There are no storage facilities Customs may be able to provide minimal short-term storage in their shed. (100 m2)) 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	N/A	N/A
Refrigerated Cargo	N/A	N/A
General Cargo	N/A	N/A

Stevedoring 

There is only one stevedoring company at the wharf which is the Vava’u Shipping Services. The company has two forklifts to assist during operations. Vessels with cranes and forklifts onboard can assist from board to dockside. 

Hinterland Information 

There are two side-lifters - one is 20ft and belongs to the Guttenbeil Transport and the second which belongs to Lavulavu Quarry is 40ft. They are both available to assist during operations at the wharf. 

Port Security 

Port is fenced with 24/7 gatehouse security. No history of security issues. 

Security
ISPS Compliant	Yes
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Pilot Boat	1
Fire Stations	300m from   the wharf

 

Port Overview 

Pangai is the administrative capital village of the Ha’apai Group in Tonga. The village is on the western shore of Lifuka and has about 2,000 inhabitants. 

The Port of Pangai belongs to the Marine and Ports Division and it is very small. 

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

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Tonga
Province or District	Lifuka
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Pangai  Adjacent
Port's Complete Name	Port of Pangai
Latitude	-19.80472
Longitude	-174.3517
Managing Company or Port Authority	Marine and Ports Division, Ministry of Infrastructure
Management Contact Person	Viliami Tukumoe’atu
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Airport Name:   Pilolevu Airport (only for domestic flights)

 

 

Port Picture 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Marine and Ports Division under the Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for overseeing and managing Taufa’ahau Wharf at Pangai, Ha’apai. It has been declared under the Port Management Act, as the Government Wharf amongst others.  

Taufa’ahau Wharf is a domestic wharf which caters only for domestic vessels operating in Tongan waters. There are limited sizes of vessels which can berth alongside the wharf as well as entering the wharf channel. 

Cruise vessels that visit the Ha’apai Group are required to anchor at a position designated by the Pilot or Harbour Master which is outside of the harbour basin. Majority of cruise vessels are anchored at Uoleva Islands. The passengers disembark onto small vessels if they wish to visit ashore. Pilotage within Ha’apai harbour limit area is compulsory for all international vessels visited Ha’apai Group. 

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

Port Performance 

The Port is only used by interisland ferries and smaller interisland shipping vessels. The wharf’s draft is the limiting factor with a maximum draft of 1.5m. There are no handling facilities. 

Seasonal Constraints 

	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	No	N/A
Major Import Campaigns	No	N/A
Other Comments	Small port with no handling facilities

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: https://www.portsauthoritytonga.com/publications-download/file/31-4-ports-authority-tariff-fees-dec20131  

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	1	165	1.5	Pier depth 1.8 m – 3 m
Container Berth	No	N/A	N/A
Silo Berth	No	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	No	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	No	N/A	N/A

 General Cargo Handling Berths 

Cargo Type	Berth Identification
Imports - Bagged Cargo	1
Exports - Bagged Cargo	1
Imports and Exports - RoRo	None
Other Imports	None

Port Handling Equipment 

There is no handling equipment. 

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
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	No	No	_

Container Facilities 

No Container facilities or other facilities 

Facilities	20 ft	40 ft
Container Facilities Available	None	None
Container Freight Station (CFS)	_	_
Refrigerated Container Stations	-	-
Other Capacity Details	-	-
Daily Take Off Capacity   (Containers per Day)	-	-
Number of Reefer Stations   (Connection Points)	-	-
Emergency Take-off Capacity	-	-
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift   (Containers per Shift)	-	-

Customs Guidance 

No customs service available 

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

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

There are no multipurpose terminal facilities. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

There is no grain or bulk handling facility.  

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

There is no storage available. 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	Nil	Nil
Refrigerated Cargo	Nil	Nil
General Cargo	Nil	Nil

Stevedoring 

No stevedoring services available. Individual locals may be employed on a daily basis to assist with unloading as required. 

Hinterland Information 

Tractor-trailer or local’s vehicles must do transportation from port. 

Port Security 

No fence, no security. 

Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	N/A
Police Boats	No
Fire Engines	No