Honduras - 2.1.1 port of Puerto Cortés
Port Overview
Puerto Cortés is handling containers, dry bulk and liquid bulk as well as small amounts of general cargo.
The existing container terminal suffers from an unsuitable layout (long, narrow shape), bureaucratic procedures and – as one of the results of ports procedures a high volume of internal movements generated by the need to open containers for inspection. This checking process has to be coordinated by the agency between operator allocating the container at the inspection site, customs and quarantine (veterinary/agriculture) inspectors. The two governmental agencies have to be present at the same time.
The dry bulk terminal is operated in a professional way by Terminal Especializada de Honduras. Constraints are the low berthing priority of bulk vessels, limited berth space due to reduced availability of new berth and use of berth for ENP-activities as import of liquid bulk (Molasses).
Import of grain by truck (currently no sacking facilities are used).
Port website: http://www.enp.hn/web/puerto-cortes.html
Very basic port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com, http://ports.com, http://www.worldportsource.com/ , we recommend www.marinetraffic.com to get an idea of what kind of vessels is using the port.
PORT LOCATION & CONTACT |
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Country: |
Honduras |
Province or District: |
Cortés |
Town or City: (Nearest location with distance from port) |
Puerto Cortés |
Port's Complete Name: |
Puerto Cortés |
Latitude: |
N 15° 50’ 37” |
Longitude: |
W 087° 56’ 47” |
Managing Company or Port Authority: (If more than one operator, break down by area of operation) |
Port Authority: Empresa Nacional Portuaria Solid Bulk: Terminal Especializada de Honduras Container: Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana |
Management Contact Person: |
Terminal Especializada de Honduras: Rafael Ruiz Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana: Valmir Araujo |
Nearest Airport and Airlines: (Airlines with frequent international arrivals/departures) |
San Pedro Sula at a distance of 66 km |
Port Picture
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
Terminal Especializada de Honduras (TEH), a private operator, is handling solid bulk at and around berth 3b. Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), also a private operator, is handling containers at berth 5.
Port Performance
Terminal Especializada de Honduras (TEH) has installed 5 silos with a capacity of 8,000 t each close to berth 3b for the short-term storage of organic solid bulk (maize, soya, throughput approx. 120,000 t/a). The silos are connected to the berth by 2 conveyor belts. Cargo is discharged with grabs and chutes owned by TEH and mobile cranes or vessel’s gear (whatever is faster) onto the conveyor belts and/or directly onto trucks.
Non-organic bulk (fertilizer, industrial salt and carbon, throughput approx. 80,000 t/a) is loaded onto trucks and can be stored in a warehouse with 20,000 t capacity and a temporary warehouse with 4,000 t capacity.
The Construction of berth 3a is almost completed and already used for bulk operations using ship’s gear and trucks. Berth 4 is also used for bulk operations when available.
Bulk vessels have a medium turnaround time of 4 days including waiting time for berth space and the obligatory tugboats. The higher priority of fuel causes delays as liquid bulk is handled also on berth 3. The higher priority of fuel and containers affects the availability of tugs and berthing space.
The offices of Empresa Nacional Portuaria are generally open between 07:00 and 16:00 hrs, on Fridays between 07:30 and 14:30 hrs.
SEASONAL CONSTRAINTS |
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Yes / No |
From <month> to <month> |
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Rainy Season |
May – Oct., impact on discharge operation caused by the accompanying strong winds |
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Major Import Campaigns |
- |
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Other INSERT OTHER CONSTRAINT(S) IF REQUIRED |
June to Nov., hurricane season, main hurricane season starting September |
HANDLING FIGURES 2015 |
|
Vessel Calls: |
1,633 |
Container Traffic: (TEUs) |
623,776 |
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk |
2015 |
Bulk (MT) |
3,000,700 |
Break bulk (MT) |
1,085,200 |
Berthing Specifications
Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
Conventional Berth |
1 |
250m |
12.00 m |
not fit for the use of mobile cranes |
Container Berth |
1 |
550m |
10.50 m |
|
Silo Berth |
1 |
200m |
11.50m |
|
Berthing Tugs |
4 |
2 tugs required for berthing – 1 tug for vessels with bow truster |
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Water Barges |
fresh water available through pipeline |
General Cargo Handling Berths
Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
Imports - Bagged Cargo |
berth 4 |
Exports - Bagged Cargo |
berth 4 |
Imports and Exports - RoRo |
berth 5 |
Other Imports |
liquid bulk |
Port Handling Equipment
Is the port equipment managed by the government or privately? Port handling equipment is owned and operated privately. Conditions vary.
Equipment |
Available (Yes / No) |
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
Dockside Crane |
no |
||
Container Gantries |
yes |
1 |
40 tons |
Mobile Cranes |
yes |
5 |
1 Gottwaldt (40 tons under the spreader, 70 tons under the hook) Additional mobile cranes used for dry bulk operations |
Reachstacker |
yes |
4 |
|
RoRo Tugmaster (w/ Trailer) |
yes |
varying |
|
Grain Elevator w/ Bagging Machines |
yes, no bagging machines |
1 |
|
Transtainer |
no |
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Forklifts |
yes |
2 forklifts (6 and 8 tons capacity) |
Container Facilities
The existing container terminal suffers from an unsuitable layout (long, narrow shape prolonging the internal transport distances) and a high volume of internal movements generated by the need to open containers for inspection. This checking process has to be coordinated by the agency between operator allocating the container at the inspection site, customs and quarantine (veterinary / agriculture) inspectors. The two governmental agencies have to be present at the same time. Co-ordination of the inspections is reported to be suboptimal. Import delays for containers vary widely depending on contents, quality of documentation and general circumstances – up to 30 days are reported, routine operations take 10 to 15 days.
Fumigated containers can not be moved on for the next 72 hours.
The planned port extension will provide a more suitable topography.
Facilities |
20/40 ft |
Container Facilities Available |
75,000 m² |
Container Freight Station (CFS) |
outside port |
Refrigerated Container Stations |
4,000m² |
Other Capacity Details |
- |
Daily Take Off Capacity (Containers per day) |
approx 250 cont./day |
Number of Reefer Stations (connection points) |
1800 plugs |
Emergency Take-off Capacity (Give an indication) |
- |
Off take capacity of gang shift (in Containers per shift) |
- |
Customs Guidance
The usual red/yellow/green channel is established. Unprocessed agricultural products will also be inspected by the quarantine office – even if classified as green channel by customs.
There are substantial delays in the import process at Puerto Cortes which call for a separate assessment of regulations, activities, formalities and co-operation of the parties involved. E.g.: co-ordination of container inspection between customs, quarantine and OPC (allocating the containers at the inspection site) is reported to be suboptimal.
In an emergency scenario the government will facilitate Import of relief cargo by presidential decree. Customs processes might be completely omitted, if the goods are consigned to the national contingency organisation COPECO.
Terminal Information
Multipurpose Terminal
Berth 4 is used for general cargo operations and situated next to the port’s largest warehouse. Cargo is generally moved with vessel’s gear.
Grain and Bulk Handling
Terminal Especializada de Honduras (TEH) has installed 5 silos with a capacity of 8,000 t each close to berth 3b for the short-term storage of organic solid bulk (maize, soya, throughput approx. 120,000 t/a). The silos are connected to the berth by 2 conveyor belts. Cargo is discharged with grabs and chutes owned by TEH and mobile cranes or vessel’s gear (whatever is faster) onto the conveyor belts and/or directly onto trucks.
Non-organic bulk (fertilizer, industrial salt and carbon, throughput approx. 80,000 t/a) is loaded onto trucks and can be stored in a warehouse with 20,000 t capacity and a temporary warehouse with 4,000 t capacity.
The Construction of berth 3a is almost completed and already used for bulk operations using ship’s gear and trucks. Berth 4 is also used for bulk operations when available.
At the time of the assessment no bagging equipment was available.
Main Storage Terminal
Storage Type |
Number of Storage Facilities |
Area (square meters) |
Bagged Cargo |
see General cargo |
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Refrigerated Cargo |
none |
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General Cargo |
bodega 4 |
5,000 |
Stevedoring
Stevedoring is supplied by the port operators.
Hinterland Information
All cargo is trucked out of the port. Road to San Pedro Sula (60 km) and Tegucigalpa (320 km) in good condition.
Port Security
Level of port security can be described as normal.
Security |
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ISPS Compliant (Yes / No) |
yes |
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Current ISPS Level |
1 |
Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional |
Police Boats |
1 |
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Fire Engines |