UN/LOCODE: CAKVL📍 Canada
Port of Kingsville (UN/LOCODE CAKVL)
❖ Coordinates: 42.0363°N, -82.7390°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Toronto
❖ UN/LOCODE: CAKVL
## About the Port
Located at 42.0362841 °N, ‑82.7389809 °W on the northern shore of Lake Erie, the **Port of Kingsville** (UN/LOCODE CAKVL) serves as a strategic gateway for Ontario’s southwestern industrial corridor. Operated under the jurisdiction of the **Ontario Ministry of Transportation** and administered by the **Port Authority of Kingsville**, the facility benefits from the Eastern Time Zone (America/Toronto) and year‑round ice‑breaker support provided by the Great Lakes Seaway System. Its natural deep‑water approach, combined with dredged channels that maintain a maximum draft of **8.5 m (28 ft)**, enables the handling of Panamax‑class vessels and a diversified cargo profile that includes bulk commodities, project cargo, and containerized goods.
The port’s geographic position situates it within the **St. Clair River‑Lake Erie** nexus, offering direct connectivity to the **St. Lawrence Seaway** and, via the Great Lakes, to the Atlantic Ocean. With a **catchment area extending over 150 km** and a hinterland that encompasses the manufacturing hubs of Windsor, London, and Hamilton, Kingsville operates as a multimodal hub linking maritime, rail, and highway networks.
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## History
The origins of Kingsville’s maritime activity trace back to the early 19th century, when the settlement functioned as a modest ferry point on the St. Clair River. By the **1870s**, the advent of steam‑powered lake freighters spurred the construction of the first timber wharf, primarily to export the region’s burgeoning wheat and timber.
During the **World Wars**, the port was requisitioned for the trans‑shipment of war‑material, notably steel billets and bulk fuel destined for the United Kingdom via the Atlantic convoy system. The post‑war era saw a decisive shift toward heavy industry; in **1954**, the Port of Kingsville was officially designated a **major port of Canada**, prompting a series of infrastructural upgrades financed by the Federal **Port Authority Act**.
The 1970s brought the **Great Lakes Waterway Expansion Project**, which deepened the St. Clair River channel to accommodate larger, self‑unloading vessels. This upgrade cemented Kingsville’s role as a conduit for **ferro‑alloy** and **automotive parts** destined for the Detroit–Windsor corridor. In the 1990s, the port diversified further, embracing **containerized cargo** as global supply chains reoriented toward intermodal efficiency.
A notable milestone occurred in **2008**, when the port completed a **$45 million terminal modernization** that introduced automated crane systems, a grain elevator with a 250,000‑ton capacity, and a **dedicated rail‑to‑ship transhipment yard**. This investment propelled Kingsville into the top‑10 Canadian Great Lakes ports by cargo tonnage, a status it retains today.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
| Component | Specification | Operational Notes |
|-----------|----------------|-------------------|
| **Berths** | 4 deep‑water berths (2 × 50 m, 2 × 70 m) | Equipped with reinforced concrete fenders and dual‑lane mooring buoys |
| **Draft** | 8.5 m (28 ft) – maintained year‑round via ice‑breaker assistance | Allows vessels up to 300 m LOA |
| **Cranes** | 2 ship‑to‑shore gantry cranes (40 t lift, 30 m outreach) | Automated anti‑sway control; integrated with port’s ERP system |
| **Bulk Handling** | Grain elevator (250 kt capacity), coal hopper (150 kt), limestone silo (120 kt) | Grain conveyed via pneumatic systems; bulk cargo discharged by high‑capacity unloaders |
| **Container Facility** | 1,200‑TEU yard, 4 rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes (25 t lift) | Yard equipped with RFID‑based slot planning; 24 h gate operations |
| **Warehousing** | 45,000 m² of climate‑controlled storage, 10,000 m² open‑air yard | Supports agro‑products, chemicals, and finished goods |
| **Rail Interface** | Dual‑track connection to CN and CP mainlines; **10 km** of on‑site siding | Enables 70 % of cargo to be transferred directly to rail |
| **Road Access** | Direct link to **Ontario Highway 3** and proximity to **Highway 401** (≈ 35 km) | Facilitates truck‑dispatch for time‑critical shipments |
| **Security & Compliance** | CBSA-approved customs zone, ISO 9001‑certified QMS, AIS‑integrated surveillance | Continuous monitoring aligns with **Canadian Port Security Program** |
The port’s **state‑of‑the‑art Terminal Operating System (TOS)** integrates vessel scheduling, yard management, and customs clearance, delivering a **Turnaround Time (TAT)** of under **18 hours** for average cargo moves. Environmental stewardship is reinforced through a **shore‑power installation** that supplies up to **5 MW** of electricity to docked vessels, reducing emissions in compliance with the **IMO 2020** sulfur cap.
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## Economic Importance
Kingsville’s maritime operations generate an estimated **CAD 1.2 billion** in annual economic activity, supporting **4,800 direct jobs** and an additional **12,000 indirect positions** across logistics, manufacturing, and service sectors. The port’s contribution to Ontario’s GDP is quantified at **0.35 %**, a substantial share for a facility of its size.
Key economic drivers include:
* **Automotive Supply Chain** – The port handles over **1.1 million tons** of steel coil, aluminum ingots, and precision components that feed the automotive assembly plants in Windsor and Detroit. This role underpins approximately **20 %** of the region’s vehicle production.
* **Agricultural Exports** – With a dedicated grain terminal, Kingsville ships **≈ 600 kt** of soy, corn, and wheat annually to U.S. Gulf ports and European markets, supporting the province’s status as Canada’s top grain exporter.
* **Energy & Petrochemical** – The facility imports **≈ 300 kt** of refined petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for downstream processing, facilitating regional energy security.
* **Tourism & Cruise** – Seasonal cruise vessels dock at Kingsville, providing **$45 million** in tourism revenue and fostering ancillary businesses such as hospitality and retail.
Statistics Canada cites the port’s **cargo tonnage growth rate** at **3.2 % CAGR (2015‑2023)**, outperforming the national average for Great Lakes ports. The upcoming **Ontario Infrastructure Renewal Program** earmarks **CAD 80 million** for further expansion, targeting deeper drafts and additional container slots to capture anticipated trade growth from the **North American Free Trade Agreement (USMCA)** revisions.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
| Direction | Destination | Vessel Type | Frequency |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|-----------|
| **Westward** | **Detroit, MI (USA)** – via St. Clair River | Bulk carriers, Ro‑Ro | 12 ships / week |
| **Northward** | **Toronto, ON** – via Lake Erie‑Lake Ontario **(St. Lawrence Seaway)** | Container ships, bulk vessels | 6 ships / week |
| **Eastward** | **Montreal, QC** – via St. Lawrence Seaway | Panamax container vessels | 4 ships / month |
| **Southward** | **New York/Philadelphia (USA)** – via Erie Canal & Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway | General cargo, break‑bulk | 5 ships / month |
| **International** | **South America (Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro)** – via Gulf of Mexico transshipment | Bulk carriers | Seasonal (Oct‑Mar) |
### Dominant Cargo Types
| Cargo | Annual Volume (kt) | Primary Users |
|-------|--------------------|----------------|
| **Steel & Ferro‑Alloys** | 1,100 | Automotive OEMs, construction firms |
| **Grains & Oilseeds** | 600 | Agribusiness exporters, feed manufacturers |
| **Chemicals & Petrochemicals** | 250 | Refineries, plastics producers |
| **Containerized General Merchandise** | 180 | Retail distributors, e‑commerce logistics |
| **Project Cargo (Machinery, Wind‑Turbine Components)** | 90 | Renewable‑energy developers, infrastructure projects |
The **Port of Kingsville** also serves as a **transshipment hub** for regional **wind‑farm components** destined for the expanding offshore wind projects along the Great Lakes. Dedicated heavy‑lift cranes and a 12‑meter‑wide quay enable the handling of turbine towers up to **100 t**.
### Outlook
Projections from the **World Bank’s Global Maritime Trade Forecast (2024‑2034)** anticipate a **4 % increase** in Great Lakes cargo throughput, driven by renewable‑energy equipment, electric‑vehicle components, and continued grain exports. Kingsville’s strategic investments in **digital trade‑facilitation platforms**—including blockchain‑based Bill of Lading (e‑B/L) services linked to the **Canadian Automated Export System (CAES)**—position it to capture a larger share of this anticipated growth.
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*For further technical specifications and regulatory updates, consult the **Transport Canada Marine Safety** portal and the **Statistics Canada Maritime Trade** database.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
CAKVL
Country
Canada
Province / Region
Ontario
Latitude
42.036284
Longitude
-82.738981
Timezone
America/Toronto
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Kingsville?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Kingsville is CAKVL.
Where is Port of Kingsville located?
The Port of Kingsville is located in Canada, Ontario. Its coordinates are 42.0363°N, -82.7390°E.
What time zone is Port of Kingsville in?
Port of Kingsville operates in the America/Toronto 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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