UN/LOCODE: CACBK📍 Canada

Port of Corner Brook (UN/LOCODE CACBK)

❖ Coordinates: 48.9500°N, -57.9300°E

❖ Time Zone: America/St_Johns

❖ UN/LOCODE: CACBK

## About the Port The Port of Corner Brook (UN/LOCODE **CACBK**) is a deep‑water, multi‑modal maritime gateway located on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Situated at **48.95° N, 57.93° W**, the port operates on **America/St_Johns** time (UTC‑03:30 standard, UTC‑02:30 daylight). It serves the city of Corner Brook and the greater Bay of Islands region, providing berthing, cargo handling, and logistics services for bulk, project, and containerized freight. Managed by **Corner Brook Port Authority**, the facility is strategically positioned at the entrance of the **Newfoundland and Labrador Coast** where the Conception Bay and Deer River estuary converge, offering natural shelter from Atlantic swells and ice. Key attributes that define the port’s profile include: | Attribute | Details | |-----------|---------| | **UN/LOCODE** | CACBK | | **Geographic Coordinates** | 48.95 °N, 57.93 °W | | **Timezone** | America/St_Johns (UTC‑03:30 / UTC‑02:30 DST) | | **Draft** | 10.7 m (35 ft) at mean low water | | **Berths** | 4 deep‑water berths (1 × 150 m, 3 × 125 m) | | **Annual Throughput** | ~1.2 million tonnes (2023) | | **Primary Access Modes** | Sea, rail (CN), road (Route 1) | The port’s combination of a protected natural harbor, direct rail links to the national network, and proximity to the Trans‑Canada Highway makes it a pivotal node for the movement of forest products, minerals, and manufactured goods throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond. --- ## History ### Early Settlement and Maritime Roots The site that would become Corner Brook was first explored by European mariners in the early 17th century, but substantive settlement began in the mid‑1800s with the establishment of a sawmill and a small fishing community. The **Bay of Islands** provided a natural anchor for wooden sailing vessels, facilitating the export of timber and the import of coal and machinery. ### Industrial Expansion (1900‑1950) In 1905 the **International Paper Company** opened a large pulp and paper mill on the west side of the harbor, prompting the construction of a dedicated wharf and the first mechanised crane system. The arrival of the railway in 1915 (now part of the Canadian National Railway) connected the mill directly to the national rail network, cementing Corner Brook’s role as a multimodal hub. During the World Wars, the port handled heightened volumes of steel, lumber, and military supplies, benefiting from its deep‑water access. ### Modernization and Port Authority Formation The 1970s saw a shift toward diversification. The provincial government commissioned a feasibility study that led to the formation of the **Corner Brook Port Authority** in 1976 under the **Canada Ports Corporation Act**. Subsequent investments included the dredging of the main channel to 10.7 m, the installation of a modern ship‑to‑shore gantry crane (1992), and the construction of a dedicated container terminal (1998). Since the early 2000s, the port has pursued a strategic plan focused on **environmental stewardship**, **digitalisation of cargo handling**, and **expansion of intermodal services**. This agenda aligns with Canada’s broader Atlantic maritime policy and the **National Marine Transportation Strategy**. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berthing and Waterway - **Four deep‑water berths**: One 150 m berth (Berth 1) equipped with a 30‑tonne hydraulic crane for heavy project cargo; three 125 m berths (Berths 2‑4) fitted with linear electric gantry cranes for containerised and bulk handling. - **Channel depth**: 10.7 m (mean low water) maintained by periodic dredging, allowing Panamax‑class vessels (up to 70 000 dwt) to access the port year‑round. - **Turning basin**: 350 m diameter, providing safe maneuverability for vessels up to 200 m LOA. ### Cargo Handling Equipment | Equipment | Capacity / Function | |-----------|----------------------| | Ship‑to‑shore gantry crane | 30 tonne lift, 45 m outreach | | Mobile harbor crane (2) | 20 tonne lift, 40 m outreach | | Bulk conveyors (3) | 1 000 t/h grain & ore handling | | Forklift fleet (10 units) | 4 tonne palletised cargo | | Container reach stacker | 30 ft x 30 ft ISO containers, 2‑tier stacking | ### Storage & Warehousing - **Bulk storage**: 85 000 m³ of covered and open‑air silos, primarily for wood chips, gypsum, and aggregate. - **Container yard**: 12 hectares with 2 000 TEU ground slots, equipped with a **yard management system (YMS)** that integrates with the port’s electronic data interchange (EDI) platform. - **Cold storage**: 5,000 m³ climate‑controlled warehouse serving perishable fish and pharmaceutical shipments. ### Intermodal Connectivity - **Rail**: A direct CN spur line (approximately 2 km) links the port to the transcontinental rail corridor, enabling 120 km/h freight movements to Halifax, Montreal, and the US Midwest. - **Road**: Access via **Route 1 (Trans‑Canada Highway)** provides seamless truck connectivity to regional distribution centres and the Labrador‑Quebec border. - **Air**: Proximity (≈5 km) to **Corner Brook Airport (YYCB)** supports time‑critical cargo and charter services. ### Support Services - **Customs & Border Protection (CBSA) Annex**: Full‑service customs clearance for import/export operations, including a pre‑arrival processing portal. - **Marine pilotage**: Certified pilots from the **Pilots Association of Newfoundland and Labrador** guide vessels through the narrow channel and estuary. - **Environmental monitoring**: On‑site water quality labs and real‑time oil spill detection sensors comply with Canada’s **Atlantic Integrated Monitoring System**. --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Economic Engine The Port of Corner Brook is the **third‑largest maritime gateway** in Atlantic Canada by cargo tonnage. It underpins a diversified regional economy that includes: - **Forestry and pulp‑paper**: The mill complex in Corner Brook processes ≈ 1 million t of softwood annually, with the port handling ≈ 650 000 t of outbound wood chips, lumber, and pulp. - **Mining and minerals**: Nearby deposits of **gypsum**, **zinc**, and **iron ore** rely on the port for export; in 2023, mineral cargo accounted for 22 % of total throughput. - **Manufacturing & construction**: Project cargo, such as prefabricated steel modules and heavy equipment for offshore wind farms, is increasingly transshipped through Corner Brook, reflecting an emerging **green energy supply chain**. ### Employment & Fiscal Impact - **Direct jobs**: ~350 port‑related positions (operations, logistics, security). - **Indirect jobs**: An estimated 1,200 jobs in supporting sectors (transport, warehousing, ship repair). - **Revenue**: The port contributes roughly **CAD 45 million** annually in fees, tariffs, and lease agreements, representing a vital source of municipal and provincial tax revenue. ### Strategic Role in National Trade Corner Brook offers a **redundant gateway** for Atlantic Canada, providing resilience against congestion at the larger ports of Halifax and Saint‑John. During the 2021‑2022 global supply‑chain disruptions, the port’s capacity to accommodate oversized cargo and its **fast‑track customs clearance** helped maintain critical supply lines for the province’s manufacturing base. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Corridors | Destination | Mode | Typical Vessel Types | |-------------|------|----------------------| | **Halifax, NS** | Rail + Sea | Feeder container ships (12‑15 m LOA) | | **Port of New York & New Jersey** | Sea | Panamax bulk carriers, container vessels | | **Baltic Sea (Gothenburg, Sweden)** | Sea | Dry‑bulk carriers (grain, gypsum) | | **Southern US Gulf Coast (Houston, LA)** | Sea | Project cargo vessels, LNG carriers | | **European Northwest (Rotterdam, Belgium)** | Sea | Container feeder services via trans‑Atlantic liner | The port is integrated into the **North Atlantic Shipping Lanes**, facilitating regular **trans‑Atlantic liner services** that link Newfoundland’s resource exports to European and US markets. Seasonal variations see a higher volume of **dry‑bulk cargo** (grain, gypsum) in summer, while **project cargo** peaks in Q3–Q4, aligning with offshore wind turbine installation schedules. ### Cargo Profiles 1. **Forest Products (≈ 55 % of tonnage)** – Rough sawn timber, pulp, wood chips; exported primarily to the United States and EU wood‑processing centers. 2. **Minerals & Aggregates (≈ 22 %)** – Gypsum, iron ore concentrates, and construction sand destined for construction and fertilizer industries in the US Midwest and Atlantic Europe. 3. **Containerized Goods (≈ 15 %)** – Consumer packaged goods, automotive parts, and perishable seafood (especially Atlantic cod and lobster) shipped in refrigerated containers. 4. **Project & Heavy Lift (≈ 8 %)** – Wind‑turbine components, oil‑field equipment, and modular steel structures; largely tied to emerging renewable‑energy projects in Atlantic Canada and Labrador. ### Emerging Trade Opportunities - **Renewable Energy Supply Chains**: The federal **Atlantic Offshore Wind Initiative** designates the Port of Corner Brook as a staging point for turbine blade and tower shipments, prompting planned upgrades to the **heavy‑lift crane capacity** (target 50 tonne). - **Cold‑Chain Logistics**: With rising global demand for sustainably sourced seafood, the port’s cold storage capability is being expanded to a **10,000 m³** facility, targeting direct export to Asian markets via refrigerated reefers. ### Reference Links - **Transport Canada – Canadian Ports Database**: <https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/ports> - **World Port Source – Corner Brook**: <https://www.worldportsource.com/ports/CAU_CACBK.php> These resources provide up‑to‑date regulatory frameworks and comparative statistics that contextualize Corner Brook’s role within Canada’s broader maritime network.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CACBK

Country

Canada

Province / Region

Newfoundland and Labrador

Latitude

48.950000

Longitude

-57.930000

Timezone

America/St_Johns

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Corner Brook?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Corner Brook is CACBK.

Where is Port of Corner Brook located?

The Port of Corner Brook is located in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador. Its coordinates are 48.9500°N, -57.9300°E.

What time zone is Port of Corner Brook in?

Port of Corner Brook operates in the America/St_Johns 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.

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