UN/LOCODE: CAHAL📍 Canada

Port of Halifax (UN/LOCODE CAHAL)

❖ Coordinates: 44.6489°N, -63.5753°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Halifax

❖ UN/LOCODE: CAHAL

## About the Port The Port of Halifax (UN/LOCODE: **CAHAL**) is Canada’s premier deep‑water, ice‑free Atlantic gateway, situated on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia (44.6488625° N, ‑63.5753196° W). Operating within the America/Halifax time zone (UTC‑4/‑5), the port handles more than 1.5 million twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually and serves as a critical hub for containerized, break‑bulk, bulk, and project cargo moving between North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America. Its strategic location provides the shortest sea‑lane distance from Europe to North America’s eastern seaboard, shaving up to 24 hours off transit times compared with alternative U.S. ports. The port is managed by the Halifax Port Authority (HPA), a crown corporation mandated under the Canada Marine Act to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations. Halifax’s harbour is naturally sheltered by the Halifax Peninsula and Georges Island, offering a protected anchorage with depths exceeding 18 m at low tide, enabling the accommodation of Post‑Panamax and emerging Neo‑Panamax vessels. The port’s integrated logistics ecosystem includes direct rail connections to Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) highways, extensive trucking corridors via Highway 102 and the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, and on‑site customs, immigration, and inspection services administered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). ## History Indigenous Mi’kmaq peoples utilized Halifax Harbour for millennia before European settlement. The modern port’s origins trace to 1749, when the British established Halifax as a naval and military stronghold to counter French influence in Acadia. The construction of the Halifax Dockyard in 1758 laid the foundation for shipbuilding and repair activities that would dominate the harbour for the next two centuries. Throughout the 19th century, Halifax evolved into a key embarkation point for troops and supplies during the Crimean War, the American Civil War, and both World Wars. The Halifax Explosion of 1917—a catastrophic munitions blast that devastated the waterfront—spurred massive reconstruction efforts, leading to the modernization of wharves and the introduction of electric cargo handling equipment. The post‑war era saw the advent of containerization; Halifax’s first container berth opened at the South End in 1969, marking the port’s transition from general cargo to unitized loads. In the 1990s, the HPA pursued a strategic expansion plan, culminating in the development of the **Halifax South End Container Terminal** (now operated by PSA International) and the **Halifax Fairview Cove Container Terminal** (operated by DP World). These investments, coupled with the deepening of the harbour to 18 m and the construction of the **Halifax Port Expansion Project** (completed 2021), have positioned Halifax as a leading North‑American gateway for post‑Panamax vessels. ## Infrastructure & Facilities Halifax’s port infrastructure comprises several specialized terminals, each tailored to distinct cargo types: * **Container Terminals** – The South End Terminal (PSA) features three berths totaling 1,200 m of quay length, equipped with six super‑post‑Panamax quay cranes (up to 65 t lift) and 24 rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes. The Fairview Cove Terminal (DP World) offers two berths (800 m quay) with four post‑Panamax cranes and extensive paved storage yards. Combined annual container capacity exceeds 2 million TEUs. * **Break‑bulk & Project Cargo** – The **Halifax Pier 21** and **Pier 22** facilities provide heavy‑lift capabilities (up to 200 t) via mobile harbour cranes and specialized slab handling equipment, serving wind‑turbine components, oil‑and‑gas modules, and oversized machinery. * **Bulk Handling** – The **Halifax Bulk Terminal** handles coal, petroleum coke, and aggregates, utilizing conveyor systems and ship‑loaders rated for 10 Mtpa throughput. * **Liquid Bulk** – The **Imperial Oil Refinery Jetty** and **Irving Oil Terminal** facilitate the import and export of refined petroleum products, with pipeline connections to regional refineries and storage tanks. * **Intermodal Connectivity** – On‑site rail yards operated by CN and CPKC provide direct access to the Continental Corridor, linking Halifax to major inland markets such as Montreal, Toronto, and the U.S. Midwest. The port’s **Gate‑Way Initiative** integrates terminal operating systems (TOS) with customs and immigration platforms, enabling real‑time data exchange and reducing truck turn‑times to under 30 minutes for container moves. * **Environmental & Safety Systems** – Halifax has implemented a shore‑power program for container vessels, reducing auxiliary engine emissions by up to 90 % during berthing. The port also maintains a Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) centre, radar coverage, and an AIS‑based navigation safety network compliant with IMO standards. ## Economic Importance The Port of Halifax contributes approximately **CAD 4.2 billion** annually to the Nova Scotia economy, supporting over **15,000 direct and indirect jobs** in maritime services, logistics, manufacturing, and tourism. As Canada’s fourth‑largest container port by volume, Halifax accounts for roughly **12 %** of the nation’s total container throughput, making it a vital conduit for Atlantic‑Canada’s import‑export balance. Key economic indicators include: * **Value‑added cargo** – The port handles high‑value commodities such as automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, which benefit from reduced transit times and reliable service levels. * **Trade diversification** – Beyond containers, Halifax exports seafood (notably lobster and sea‑scallop), forest products, and aggregates, while importing machinery, chemicals, and consumer goods. * **Investment catalyst** – The presence of deep‑water berths has attracted major logistics parks, including the **Halifax Industrial Park** and the **Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Precinct**, fostering clustering effects that amplify regional GDP. * **Government revenue** – Through port fees, pilotage, and harbor dues, the Halifax Port Authority generates surplus revenues reinvested into infrastructure upgrades and community outreach programs. The port’s role as a **gateway to Europe** is reinforced by regular liner services from major carriers such as Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag‑Lloyd, which schedule weekly sailings to Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg. Additionally, Halifax serves as a **trans‑shipment hub** for Caribbean and South‑American trades, enabling cargo consolidation and de‑consolidation without the need for inland trucking through congested U.S. corridors. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo Halifax’s trade network spans three primary corridors: 1. **Trans‑Atlantic Europe–North America** – The dominant route, accounting for roughly **55 %** of container traffic. Westbound vessels carry consumer goods, automotive components, and machinery from Northern European ports (Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bremerhaven) to Halifax, where cargo is off‑loaded for distribution via rail and truck to Central Canada and the Northeastern United States. Eastbound shipments consist largely of forest products, seafood, and specialty chemicals destined for European markets. 2. **North‑South Caribbean & Latin America** – Approximately **25 %** of Halifax’s containerized trade flows to and from Caribbean hubs such as Kingston (Jamaica), Freeport (Bahamas), and Cartagena (Colombia). Key exports include frozen seafood, agricultural products, and construction aggregates; imports feature beverages, textiles, and electronics. 3. **Domestic & Feeder Services** – Feeder vessels connect Halifax with smaller Atlantic ports (e.g., Saint John, Montreal, and Portland, ME), facilitating cargo redistribution and supporting the **Atlantic Short Sea Shipping** initiative aimed at reducing road congestion and emissions. In terms of cargo composition (2023 data): * **Containerized freight** – 68 % of total tonnage, led by machinery (18 %), consumer goods (15 %), automotive parts (12 %), and chemicals (10 %). * **Break‑bulk & project cargo** – 15 %, dominated by wind‑turbine components, steel plates, and heavy equipment. * **Bulk (dry & liquid)** – 12 %, comprising coal, petroleum coke, and refined fuels. * **Other (roll‑on/roll‑off, vehicles, passengers)** – 5 %, including automobile imports and cruise‑ship passenger traffic. The port’s **average vessel size** has risen steadily, with over 30 % of calls now involving vessels exceeding 10,000 TEU capacity, reflecting the success of the harbour deepening project and the terminal operators’ investment in super‑post‑Panamax cranes. Halifax’s competitive advantage lies in its combination of **natural deep water, minimal tidal restrictions, reliable winter operations (ice‑free due to the Gulf Stream), and superior intermodal linkages**. These attributes enable the port to maintain an average vessel turn‑around time of **24 hours**, among the fastest in North America, and to offer shippers a **cost‑effective, low‑emission alternative** to longer‑haul routes via U.S. East Coast ports. --- *For further details, consult the official port statistics published by the Halifax Port Authority* (Port of Halifax Annual Report 2023↗) *and the Canadian Marine Transportation System overview provided by Transport Canada* (Transport Canada – Marine↗). --- *Note: All figures are based on the most recent publicly available data (2023‑2024) and are subject to change as trade patterns evolve.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CAHAL

Country

Canada

Province / Region

Nova Scotia

Latitude

44.648862

Longitude

-63.575320

Timezone

America/Halifax

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Halifax?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Halifax is CAHAL.

Where is Port of Halifax located?

The Port of Halifax is located in Canada, Nova Scotia. Its coordinates are 44.6489°N, -63.5753°E.

What time zone is Port of Halifax in?

Port of Halifax operates in the America/Halifax time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height1.36 m

Wave Direction199°

Swell Height1.26 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

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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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