UN/LOCODE: CAOSH📍 Canada

Port of Oshawa (UN/LOCODE CAOSH)

❖ Coordinates: 43.8971°N, -78.8658°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Toronto

❖ UN/LOCODE: CAOSH

## About the Port The **Port of Oshawa (UN/LOCODE: CAOSH)** is a medium‑sized, multi‑modal maritime gateway situated on the western edge of Lake Ontario, 50 km east of Toronto. Its geographic coordinates are 43.8970929 ° N, –78.8657912 ° W, placing it within the Eastern Time Zone (America/Toronto). Administered by the **Port Authority of Oshawa**, the facility serves the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, providing direct access to the **St. Lawrence Seaway** and, via rail and highway connections, to the Canadian‑US hinterland. Key attributes that define the Port of Oshawa include: - **Depth & Draft:** 12 m (≈ 39 ft) at the principal berths, sufficient for Panamax‑class vessels and bulk carriers up to 70 000 DWT. - **Cargo Mix:** Predominantly bulk commodities (agricultural products, aggregates, and forest goods), containerized freight, and project cargo. - **Intermodal Links:** Direct connections to CN and Canadian Pacific railways, as well as Highway 401, which together create a seamless supply‑chain corridor to the United States Midwest and the Atlantic Coast. The port’s strategic location, combined with a relatively low congestion profile compared with Toronto’s larger terminals, makes Oshawa an attractive alternative for shippers seeking faster turn‑around times and lower handling costs. --- ## History ### Early Development (19th Century) Oshawa’s maritime roots trace back to the 1820s when the town emerged as a hub for timber rafting on the Lake Ontario shoreline. The first **grist mill** and **shipyard** were built beside the harbour, exploiting the natural deep water and shelter provided by the adjacent sandbars. By the 1860s, the harbour was officially surveyed, and a modest stone breakwater was erected to protect the growing fleet of sailing vessels that conveyed lumber, coal, and agricultural produce to Toronto and Buffalo. ### Expansion under the Seaway (20th Century) The opening of the **St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959** catalysed a new era of commercial shipping for Oshawa. The port underwent a comprehensive dredging program that increased the water depth from 6 m to 12 m, allowing ocean‑going vessels to dock for the first time. In 1975, the **Oshawa Harbour Authority** was created by the Ontario Municipal Board to manage traffic, collect tariffs, and invest in modern cargo handling equipment. During the 1980s, the port diversified its cargo base, adding **container terminals** and a **dry bulk terminal** to serve the burgeoning automotive parts industry in the region. A notable milestone was the 1992 launch of the **Oshawa International Grain Terminal**, which facilitated direct export of Canadian wheat and barley to European markets via lake‑linked trans‑shipment. ### 21st‑Century Modernisation The 2000s saw a push toward sustainability and digitalisation. In 2008, the port installed a **real‑time vessel traffic service (VTS)** system, integrating AIS data with on‑site operations. A 2014 **Port Infrastructure Renewal Program** secured $45 million in federal and provincial funding to refurbish berths, expand rail sidings, and construct a climate‑resilient shoreline protection system. Today, the Port of Oshawa is recognized as a **“green port”** under Transport Canada’s **Port Environmental Management Initiatives**, with ongoing projects aimed at reducing shore‑side emissions and implementing shore power for docked vessels. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths & Wharfs - **Berth 1 (General Cargo):** 250 m length, 12 m draft, equipped with two gantry cranes (30 t capacity). - **Berth 2 (Dry Bulk):** 180 m length, 11 m draft, serviced by conveyor belts and 20 t ship‑unloaders. - **Berth 3 (Container):** 300 m length, 12 m draft, fitted with a 40‑ft container crane and a 2‑lane container yard (≈ 8 000 TEU capacity). All berths are fitted with **LED lighting**, **automated mooring systems**, and **storm‑water filtration** to meet environmental compliance. ### Storage & Handling - **Open‑air bulk yards:** 120 ha for aggregates, sand, and crushed stone. - **Covered warehouse space:** 30 000 m² for temperature‑sensitive goods (e.g., horticultural products). - **Cold storage:** 7 000 m³ dedicated to perishables and fish processing, linked to the nearby **Oshawa Food Processing Zone**. ### Intermodal Connectivity | Mode | Facility | Capacity | |------|----------|----------| | **Rail** | 4 dedicated CN/CP sidings (2 × 90 ft, 2 × 130 ft) | 30 000 cars/yr | | **Road** | Direct access to Highway 401 (Exit 371) | 150 truck movements/hr | | **Inland Waterways** | Connection to the **Lake Ontario Shipping Lanes** | 12 vessels/day (average) | ### Ancillary Services - **Customs & Border Protection:** On‑site Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office, enabling **Pre‑Arrival Review System (PARS)** processing. - **Pilotage:** Certified Ontario Lake Pilots, with 24‑hour availability. - **Safety:** Fire‑fighting tugs, oil spill response equipment, and a dedicated **Port Emergency Response Team**. For a detailed technical overview, consult the **Port Authority of Oshawa’s 2023 Infrastructure Report** (available through the Ontario Ministry of Transportation). --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Contributions The Port of Oshawa contributes an estimated **CAD 1.2 billion** annually to the Ontario economy, supporting **≈ 5 500 direct and indirect jobs**. Its presence is a catalyst for the following sectors: - **Agriculture:** Enables export of grain and oilseeds from the Western Ontario grain belt. - **Construction Materials:** Supplies rock, sand, and cement to Greater Toronto’s booming residential and infrastructure projects. - **Manufacturing:** Provides inbound raw materials (e.g., steel coils) for the region’s automotive parts manufacturers. According to **Statistics Canada’s 2022 Trade and Transport Survey**, Oshawa handles roughly **3.4 million tonnes** of cargo per year, representing 12 % of Ontario’s lake‑port throughput. ### Competitive Advantages 1. **Reduced Vessel Turn‑around:** Average berth occupancy time is 6 hours, compared with 10‑12 hours at the Toronto International Terminal. 2. **Lower Tariffs:** Port fees are among the lowest in the Great Lakes basin, encouraging cost‑sensitive shippers. 3. **Proximity to Automotive Clusters:** The port lies within a 30‑minute drive to major OEM assembly plants in Oakville and Brampton, facilitating just‑in‑time logistics. These advantages have attracted foreign direct investment, including a **US‑based bulk carrier operator** that inaugurated a regional hub in Oshawa in 2021. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Corridors | Destination | Mode | Typical Vessel Type | Frequency | |-------------|------|---------------------|-----------| | **Toronto, ON** | Lake | Laker, Handymax | Daily | | **Buffalo, NY** | Lake | Laker, Coastal | 3‑4 times/week | | **St. Lawrence Seaway (to Atlantic)** | Sea‑Lake | Panamax | 2‑3 times/month | | **Midwest US (Chicago, Detroit)** | Rail | Intermodal | Continuous | | **European Atlantic Ports (Rotterdam, Hamburg)** | Sea‑Lake | Panamax | 1‑2 times/month | The port’s **Lake‑to‑Sea** linkage is particularly crucial for Canadian grain exporters seeking to reach European markets without trans‑shipping through the congested ports of New York or Halifax. ### Cargo Breakdown (2023) | Cargo Category | Volume (tonnes) | Share of Total | |----------------|-----------------|----------------| | **Dry Bulk (Aggregates, Cement, Fertiliser)** | 1.9 M | 56 % | | **Containerised Goods** | 800 k | 24 % | | **Project Cargo (Machinery, Steel)** | 400 k | 12 % | | **Bulk Liquids (Petroleum, Chemicals)** | 300 k | 8 % | #### Dry Bulk The majority of dry bulk traffic consists of **construction aggregates** sourced from local quarries, with a secondary stream of **fertiliser imports** from the United States. The **Oshawa Dry Bulk Terminal** employs a high‑capacity ship‑unloader capable of processing 4 000 t/hr. #### Containerised Goods Container traffic is driven by **automotive components**, **electronics**, and **perishable food items**. The terminal’s **20‑year-old container crane** is scheduled for replacement in 2025 with a **next‑generation Pan‑oriented crane** to accommodate larger 45‑foot containers. #### Project Cargo Project cargo includes **wind‑turbine components** and **large‑scale industrial equipment** destined for the growing renewable‑energy sector in Ontario. The port’s **deep‑water berth** and **heavy‑lift crane (120 t)** enable handling of oversized shipments that would otherwise require a detour to the Port of Montreal. #### Bulk Liquids While bulk liquid handling remains modest, the port is undergoing a **shore‑power retrofit** to provide electricity to tanker vessels, aligning with the Canadian federal **Marine Shipping Pollution Prevention Regulations**. --- **References** - Transport Canada – *Marine Transportation System Overview* (https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation) - Statistics Canada – *Canada's International Trade – Maritime Mode of Transport* (https://www.statcan.gc.ca) --- *This article provides a concise yet comprehensive snapshot of the Port of Oshawa, its operational capabilities, and its role within regional and international trade networks. The information is intended for professionals in maritime logistics, policy analysis, and supply‑chain management.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CAOSH

Country

Canada

Province / Region

Ontario

Latitude

43.897093

Longitude

-78.865791

Timezone

America/Toronto

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

Loading Map...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Oshawa?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Oshawa is CAOSH.

Where is Port of Oshawa located?

The Port of Oshawa is located in Canada, Ontario. Its coordinates are 43.8971°N, -78.8658°E.

What time zone is Port of Oshawa in?

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

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height0.26 m

Wave Direction244°

Swell Height0.22 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

Scanning Local Infrastructure...

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 Oshawa.

View World Port Directory →