UN/LOCODE: AIBLP📍 Anguilla
Port of Blowing Point (UN/LOCODE AIBLP)
❖ Coordinates: 18.1773°N, -63.0935°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Anguilla
❖ UN/LOCODE: AIBLP
## About the Port
Blowing Point (UN/LOCODE: **AIBLP**) is the principal maritime gateway for the British Overseas Territory of **Anguilla**, situated on the island’s north‑west coast at **18.177343 N, ‑63.093518 W**. The port falls within the **America/Anguilla** time zone (UTC ‑4) and operates under the jurisdiction of the Anguilla Customs & Excise Division. Though modest in size compared with regional hubs such as Kingston or San Juan, Blowing Point’s strategic position near the eastern Caribbean’s main shipping lanes gives it outsized relevance for inter‑island trade, cruise‑tourism ingress, and the handling of bulk agricultural and construction commodities. Its geographic coordinates place it at the mouth of the **Blowing Point Harbour**, a sheltered natural inlet protected by modest headlands that mitigate wave action and provide calm berthing conditions year‑round.
## History
The origins of Blowing Point trace back to the early 19th century when **British colonial authorities** established a rudimentary pier to serve the sugar‑cane plantations that dominated Anguilla’s economy. By the 1930s the wooden jetty had been replaced with a concrete pier, reflecting the shift from agrarian exports to a more diversified cargo profile that included limestone, rum, and later, the burgeoning **tourism sector**.
During the 1970s–80s, the Anguillan government embarked on a series of infrastructure upgrades financed through UK aid and Caribbean Development Bank loans. These works lengthened the main berth to 150 m, introduced a **20‑metre draught** limit, and added basic cargo‑handling equipment, effectively transitioning the facility from a “cottage‑port” to a **regulated commercial harbour**.
The 1990s saw the introduction of **customs pre‑clearance facilities** and a small passenger terminal to accommodate cruise liners and inter‑island ferries. In 2015, a **public‑private partnership** spearheaded the construction of a modular container handling area, enabling the port to process limited TEU cargo while retaining its traditional bulk‑handling capabilities.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berthing
- **Main quay:** 150 m (492 ft) of reinforced concrete berth, water‑lined, with a **maximum allowable draft of 20 m** (66 ft).
- **Auxiliary slip:** 45 m of floating berth for smaller vessels (up to 12 m LOA).
### Cargo‑Handling Equipment
| Equipment | Capacity | Typical Use |
|-----------|----------|--------------|
| Mobile crane (30 t) | 30 t lift | General cargo, heavy machinery |
| Forklift fleet (3 t‑5 t) | 3 – 5 t | Palletised goods, refrigerated containers |
| Belt conveyor (grain) | 250 t/h | Bulk agricultural products (e.g., sorghum, beans) |
| Roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) ramp | 2 × 12 m | Vehicles, light trucks, cruise‑ship supplies |
### Storage & Warehousing
- **Open‑air yard:** 12,000 m² capable of stacking up to 15,000 t of bulk cargo.
- **Covered warehouses:** 2,500 m² climate‑controlled space for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and high‑value goods.
- **Cold storage:** 1,200 m³ refrigerated capacity, maintained at –18 °C for fish and tropical fruits.
### Ancillary Services
- **Customs & Immigration** office operating **24 h** with electronic manifest submission (ISF) and **Advanced Cargo Information** (ACI) compliance.
- **Petroleum bunkering** station delivering **Marine Diesel Oil (MDO)** and **Gasoil** up to 150 t per day.
- **Ship‑repair workshop** equipped with a 10‑ton hydraulic hoist and basic welding facilities.
- **Passenger terminal** (1,200 m²) with a **15‑meter gangway**, dedicated customs inspection rooms, and an adjacent **tourist information centre**.
All facilities are connected to the island’s **high‑voltage grid** and possess **dual diesel generators** to ensure uninterrupted power for critical operations. The port’s **VHF Channel 16** communications, AIS transponder, and a **Meteorological Service** station provide real‑time weather and sea‑state data to ship masters and terminal operators.
## Economic Importance
Blowing Point functions as the **economic lifeline** for Anguilla’s import‑export balance. In 2023 the port handled an estimated **1.3 million tons** of cargo, accounting for **≈ 85 %** of the territory’s total maritime throughput. Key economic contributions include:
- **Import of construction materials** (cement, steel, timber) that underpin the island’s **real‑estate development** and **infrastructure resilience** projects.
- **Export of locally processed rum, liqueurs, and specialty food products**, which generate significant **foreign exchange earnings** and support small‑scale manufacturers.
- **Tourism‑related traffic**, wherein cruise ships dock for brief layovers, delivering **≈ 150,000 passengers per year** and stimulating the hospitality sector.
- **Fisheries logistics**, with daily off‑load of **≈ 250 t** of fresh fish destined for regional markets and U.S. export under **USDA-APHIS** certification.
Through its **customs‑facilitated fast‑track** procedures, the port reduces dwell time for containerized imports, thereby lowering landed‑costs for local retailers. The presence of a **container handling module** has also increased Anguilla’s attractiveness to **regional distributors** seeking a low‑overhead transshipment hub.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Blowing Point sits on the **eastern Caribbean corridor**, linking the **Greater Antilles** to the **Leeward Islands** and the **Northern Atlantic**. Regular scheduled services include:
- **Weekly feeder services** to **St. Maarten (Philipsburg)** and **St. Kitts (Basseterre)**, operated by regional carriers such as **Caribbean Shipping Lines** and **M/V Caribbean Eagle**.
- **Bi‑weekly container voyages** to **Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago**, providing access to the larger **Caribbean Basin** and onward connections to the **Panama Canal**.
- **Occasional tramp vessel calls** from **U.S. Gulf ports** (Houston, New Orleans) carrying bulk petrochemicals and agricultural commodities.
### Primary Cargo Profiles
| Cargo Type | Volume (2023) | Primary Origin/Destination |
|-----------|---------------|----------------------------|
| **Containerized goods** (TEU) | 120,000 t | Imports from the U.S., EU; local export of rum and specialty foods |
| **Bulk agricultural** (grain, beans) | 350,000 t | Imports from the U.S. Midwest; domestic distribution |
| **Construction materials** (cement, steel) | 280,000 t | Imports from Trinidad & Guyana; local projects |
| **Petroleum products** (diesel, MGO) | 210,000 t | Imports from the Caribbean Basin; island consumption |
| **Fish & seafood** | 250,000 t | Exports to the U.S., EU under HACCP certification |
| **Passenger traffic** | 150,000 pax | Cruise ship calls from Europe & North America |
The port’s **draft limitation of 20 m** allows it to accommodate medium‑size feeder vessels (up to 10,000 DWT) and cruise liners of up to **3,000 passenger capacity**. Its **proximity to the US Virgin Islands (≈ 15 nm)** facilitates short‑haul logistics for perishable goods, while the **inter‑island ferry network** provides vital connectivity for residents and tourists.
For further technical reference, consult the **UN/LOCODE directory** for AIBLP (https://unece.org/trade/cefact/unlocode-code-list) and the **World Port Index** entry on Blowing Point (https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ports/21853).
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*Blowing Point remains a cornerstone of Anguilla’s maritime infrastructure, balancing the demands of a modern tourism‑driven economy with the traditional necessities of bulk import and export. Its ongoing upgrades, strategic location, and flexible service portfolio ensure that the port will continue to play a pivotal role in the Caribbean’s logistics landscape for decades to come.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
AIBLP
Country
Anguilla
Province / Region
N/A
Latitude
18.177343
Longitude
-63.093518
Timezone
America/Anguilla
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Blowing Point?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Blowing Point is AIBLP.
Where is Port of Blowing Point located?
The Port of Blowing Point is located in Anguilla. Its coordinates are 18.1773°N, -63.0935°E.
What time zone is Port of Blowing Point in?
Port of Blowing Point operates in the America/Anguilla time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Blowing Point.
Road Bay
Anguilla • 6 km awaySint Eustatius (Antilles)
Netherlands • 16 km awayPhilipsburg
Netherlands Antilles • 17 km awayGustavia
Guadeloupe • 41 km away