UN/LOCODE: CAOAK📍 Canada

Port of Oakville (UN/LOCODE CAOAK)

Q: What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Oakville?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Oakville is CAOAK.

Q: Where is Port of Oakville located?

The Port of Oakville is located in Canada, Ontario. Its coordinates are 43.4675°N, -79.6877°E.

Q: What time zone is Port of Oakville in?

Port of Oakville operates in the America/Toronto time zone.

❖ Coordinates: 43.4675°N, -79.6877°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Toronto

❖ UN/LOCODE: CAOAK

## About the Port Located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, **Port Oakville (UN/LOCODE: CAOAK)** serves as a strategic gateway for western‑Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The port lies at 43.467517 ° N, ‑79.687666 ° W within the municipality of Oakville, Ontario, and operates under the *America/Toronto* time zone (UTC‑5/UTC‑4 DST). Managed by the **Lake Ontario Port Authority (LOPA)**, the facility benefits from seamless integration with the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Great Lakes‑St. Lawrence system, and an extensive hinterland rail‑road network. Key attributes that define Port Oakville include: | Attribute | Detail | |-----------|--------| | **UN/LOCODE** | CAOAK | | **Geographic Coordinates** | 43.467517 N, ‑79.687666 W | | **Timezone** | America/Toronto (UTC‑5/UTC‑4 DST) | | **Primary Waterway** | Lake Ontario (part of the Great Lakes‑St. Lawrence Seaway) | | **Governance** | Lake Ontario Port Authority (a Canada‑wide port authority) | | **Access Roads** | Hwy 407, QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way), and Highway 403 | The port’s location—approximately 45 km southwest of Toronto and 25 km northeast of Hamilton—positions it as a multimodal distribution hub that captures cargo flows from the **Greater Toronto Area (GTA)**, **Niagara Peninsula**, and the **Upper Great Lakes** region. --- ## History ### Early Development (19th Century) Oakville’s maritime roots trace back to the early 1800s when the community functioned as a modest ship‑building and timber‑loading dock for the burgeoning agricultural hinterland. The 1840s saw the construction of the **Oakville Harbour** (originally a timber‑filled quay) to support the grain and lumber export boom that accompanied the opening of the Welland Canal. ### Integration with the St. Lawrence Seaway (1950s‑1960s) The 1959 completion of the modern St. Lawrence Seaway catalyzed a major upgrade of Oakville’s waterfront. A concrete breakwater and a 200‑meter deep‑water berth were added, allowing Panamax‑class vessels to berth for the first time. This era also introduced the first mechanized cargo handling equipment, shifting the port from a purely bulk‑commodity outlet to a **mixed‑cargo terminal**. ### Institutional Consolidation (1990s‑2000s) In response to the 1995 **Canada‑US Free Trade Agreement** (later superseded by NAFTA/USMCA), the federal government designated Oakville as a **Canadian National Port of Entry**. The Lake Ontario Port Authority was established in 1998, formalizing governance, and initiating a series of public–private partnerships that financed the construction of modern gantry cranes, a dedicated container yard, and a refrigerated cargo terminal. ### Recent Milestones (2010‑Present) - **2014:** Completion of a 25‑hectare multimodal logistics park adjacent to the rail yard, enabling on‑site customs clearance and value‑added services. - **2018:** Implementation of **Port Community System (PCS)** technology, enhancing real‑time data exchange among shipping lines, customs, and terminal operators. - **2022:** Launch of the **Green Port Initiative**, targeting a 30 % reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030 through shore‑power (cold ironing) and electrified cargo‑handling equipment. These milestones have positioned Oakville as a **future‑ready, environmentally conscious** hub within Canada’s maritime network. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths & Waterway Access - **Deep‑water berth:** 12 m draft, 250 m length; accommodates Panamax vessels (up to 65,000 DWT). - **Shallow‑draft berth:** 6 m draft, 150 m length; suited for regional bulk carriers and offshore supply vessels. The port’s **tidal range** is negligible on Lake Ontario, providing 24 hour navigational stability. Winter ice management is handled through the **Lake Ontario Ice Management Program**, ensuring year‑round operability. ### Cargo Handling Equipment | Equipment | Capacity / Specification | |----------|---------------------------| | **Ship‑to‑Shore Gantry Cranes** | 2 × 45 t LDT, 13 m outreach, container spreader compatibility (20‑, 40‑, and 45‑ft) | | **Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHC)** | 4 × 30 t LDT, 12 m outreach; flexible for breakbulk and project cargo | | **Rubber‑Tired Gantries (RTG)** | 8 units, 1 t lift capacity, automated stacking for container yards | | **Cold Chain Facilities** | 3 × refrigerated warehouses, 150,000 m³ total volume, with remote monitoring | | **Bulk Material Conveyors** | 2 × continuous belt systems, 1,500 t/hr throughput for grain, fertilizer, and aggregates | ### Intermodal Connectivity - **Rail:** Direct access to Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) mainlines, enabling 1,200 km of direct rail service to central Canada and the United States. A dedicated **rail‑on‑dock** system allows simultaneous loading/unloading of up to 12 railcars per berth. - **Road:** Proximity to **Highway 403**, **QEW**, and **Highway 407** (a toll expressway) provides rapid truck distribution to the GTA and Niagara corridor. - **Air:** The port is within a 30‑km radius of **Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)**, facilitating air‑freight integration for high‑value, time‑critical goods. ### Support Services - **Customs Brokerage & Clearance:** On‑site Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office with 24‑hour operations. - **Maritime Pilotage:** Certified Great Lakes pilots with mandatory pilotage for vessels exceeding 5,000 DWT. - **Safety & Environmental Services:** Dedicated **Marine Pollution Response Unit** (MPRU) equipped for oil spill containment, hazardous material incidents, and emergency towing. --- ## Economic Importance Port Oakville generates a **multifaceted economic impact** that reverberates throughout the Ontario economy and the broader Canadian export landscape. ### Direct Employment & Revenue - **Direct jobs:** ~2,300 full‑time positions across terminal operations, logistics, and ancillary services. - **Annual cargo throughput:** ~4.2 million metric tonnes (2023), valued at CAD 7.8 billion. - **Port revenue:** Approx. CAD 120 million (fees, leasing, services). ### Indirect and Induced Effects According to **Statistics Canada**, the port’s activity sustains an additional **7,800 jobs** in related sectors—distribution, manufacturing, and professional services—contributing an estimated **CAD 2.5 billion** to the provincial GDP. ### Strategic Role in Canadian Trade Oakville acts as a **critical transshipment node** for: - **Agricultural commodities** (grain, soybeans, pulses) destined for U.S. Midwest markets via the Great Lakes‑St. Lawrence system. - **Automotive parts and finished vehicles** produced in the Ontario auto corridor, leveraging the port’s proximity to major assembly plants in Windsor, Oshawa, and Brampton. - **Cold‑chain pharmaceuticals** and perishable food products serving both domestic retail chains and U.S. export markets. The port’s alignment with the **Canada‑U.S. trade corridor** strengthens its role in the **North American Integrated Supply Chain**, facilitating just‑in‑time (JIT) delivery models critical for high‑mix, low‑volume manufacturers. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Corridors | Corridor | Destination | Mode | Typical Transit Time | |----------|-------------|------|----------------------| | **Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence Seaway** | Atlantic ports (e.g., Rotterdam, Hamburg) | Bulk/Container ships | 8–10 days (including locks) | | **Great Lakes Loop** | Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland | Bulk carriers & container vessels | 4–6 days | | **Rail‑to‑Port Corridor** | Central Canada (Winnipeg) & U.S. Midwest (Chicago) | Intermodal trains | 1–2 days | | **Road‑to‑Port Corridor** | GTA distribution centers | Trucks (FTL/LTL) | <12 hours | ### Top Cargo Categories | Cargo Type | Annual Volume (2023) | Key Export/Import Partners | |------------|----------------------|----------------------------| | **Grain & Oilseeds** | 1.1 Mt | United States (Midwest), Europe (Netherlands) | | **Automotive & Parts** | 900 kt | United States (Michigan, Ohio) | | **Petrochemicals & Chemicals** | 750 kt | United States (Pennsylvania), Brazil | | **Refrigerated Food** (Meat, Seafood) | 460 kt | United States (Northeast) | | **Steel & Iron Products** | 350 kt | United States (Mid‑Atlantic) | | **Project Cargo** (Machinery, Wind‑turbine components) | 140 kt | United States, Mexico | ### Emerging Cargo Segments - **Renewable Energy Components:** As Ontario expands offshore wind farms on the Great Lakes, the port is positioning to handle **large‑scale turbine blades** and **sub‑sea cabling**, leveraging its project‑cargo handling gear. - **E‑Commerce Fulfilment:** The rise of cross‑border online retail has led to a **15 % YoY increase** in containerized parcels, prompting the development of a dedicated **customs‑bonded e‑commerce zone** within the container yard. ### Notable Shipping Lines & Operators - **Maersk Line** – regular weekly services linking Oakville to Rotterdam via the St. Lawrence Seaway. - **CMA CGM** – container services to the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. East Coast. - **Algoma Central Corporation** – bulk carrier operations for grain and petroleum products. For further technical data on port performance and cargo statistics, consult the **Transport Canada Port Statistics** portal and **Statistics Canada’s “International Trade – Merchandise”** database (see external links below). --- ### References & Further Reading - Transport Canada – Canadian Ports Statistics↗ - Statistics Canada – International Trade – Merchandise↗ --- *Port Oakville (CAOAK) remains a linchpin of Ontario’s maritime infrastructure, offering a blend of deep‑water access, advanced intermodal facilities, and a forward‑looking sustainability agenda that together sustain its relevance in the rapidly evolving North American supply chain.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CAOAK

Country

Canada

Province / Region

Ontario

Latitude

43.467517

Longitude

-79.687666

Timezone

America/Toronto

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Oakville?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Oakville is CAOAK.

Where is Port of Oakville located?

The Port of Oakville is located in Canada, Ontario. Its coordinates are 43.4675°N, -79.6877°E.

What time zone is Port of Oakville in?

Port of Oakville operates in the America/Toronto time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height0.06 m

Wave Direction272°

Swell Height0.04 m

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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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