UN/LOCODE: CLTAL📍 Chile

Port of Talcahuano (UN/LOCODE CLTAL)

❖ Coordinates: -36.7300°N, -73.1200°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Santiago

❖ UN/LOCODE: CLTAL

## About the Port The Port of Talcahuano (UN/LOCODE: **CLTAL**) serves as the primary maritime gateway for Chile’s Biobío Region and the Greater Concepción metropolitan area. Strategically positioned on the northern shore of the Bay of Concepción at latitude **-36.73°** and longitude **-73.12°**, it occupies a naturally sheltered deep-water harbor formed by the Tumbes Peninsula and Quiriquina Island. This geography provides exceptional natural protection against the predominant southwesterly swells of the Pacific Ocean, allowing for near-continuous operations—typically exceeding 350 operational days per year—a critical advantage over exposed terminals further north. Operating within the **America/Santiago** timezone (UTC-4/UTC-3 DST), the port complex functions as a "Landlord Port" model under the administration of **Empresa Portuaria Talcahuano-San Vicente (EPTSV)**, a state-owned enterprise. The authority manages the concession contracts for the two distinct terminal clusters: **Talcahuano** (historical, breakbulk/naval) and **San Vicente** (modern, container/bulk). The port holds ISPS Code certification and serves as a critical node in the **Chilean Naval District**, hosting the **Asmar (Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada)** shipyard, the largest naval repair facility on the Pacific coast of South America. ## History Talcahuano’s maritime significance predates formal port infrastructure. The bay was charted by Juan Bautista Pastene in 1544, but the settlement was formally founded in 1764 by Governor Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga as a strategic defensive outpost and supply depot for the Spanish Crown. The name derives from the Mapudungun *Talkawenu* ("Thundering Sky"), referencing the area’s volatile weather patterns. The 19th century cemented its industrial vocation. Following Chilean independence, the port became the primary export point for the Biobío coal fields (Lota and Coronel) and the nascent steel industry. The establishment of the **Huachipato Steel Mill (Compañía de Acero del Pacífico - CAP)** in 1950 transformed the port into a heavy-industry hub, necessitating specialized bulk handling capabilities. A pivotal modernization occurred in the 1990s with the development of the **San Vicente Terminal** (approx. 6 km southwest of the original Talcahuano docks). This greenfield project shifted containerized and high-volume bulk traffic to deeper drafts (14m+), decongesting the historic waterfront. The 2010 Maule earthquake (8.8 Mw) and subsequent tsunami devastated the low-lying Talcahuano waterfront, destroying the historic fish market and damaging naval infrastructure. The reconstruction—costing upwards of USD 400 million—prioritized seismic resilience, elevated electrical substations, and tsunami evacuation protocols, establishing a benchmark for port resilience engineering in the Ring of Fire. ## Infrastructure & Facilities The port complex spans approximately **400 hectares** of water area and 120 hectares of land backing, divided into two specialized operational poles: ### Talcahuano Terminal (Concessioned to TTP - Talcahuano Terminal Portuario) Focused on breakbulk, project cargo, Ro-Ro, and naval support. * **Berths:** 6 operational berths (Sitios 1–6) totaling ~1,100 linear meters. * **Draft:** 10.0 – 11.5 meters (MHWS). * **Storage:** 18 hectares of open storage; 12,000 m² covered warehousing. * **Specialized:** Dedicated Ro-Ro ramp (Sitio 5); direct rail access (EFE/Biovías) to the **Biobío corridor**; heavy-lift pads rated for 15+ tons/m². * **Naval Integration:** Direct adjacency to **ASMAR** dry docks (largest: 300m x 45m, 60,000 DWT capacity) and floating docks. ### San Vicente Terminal (Concessioned to SVTI - San Vicente Terminal Internacional) The primary container and high-throughput bulk facility. * **Berths:** 3 post-Panamax berths (Sitios 7, 8, 9) totaling 840 linear meters; continuous quay wall. * **Draft:** 14.5 meters (MHWS), capable of receiving **New Panamax** vessels (up to ~13,000 TEU). * **Cranes:** 3 STS (Ship-to-Shore) post-Panamax cranes (outreach 55m, SWL 65t twin-lift); 9 RTG (Rubber-Tyred Gantry) cranes. * **Yard Capacity:** 35 hectares; ~45,000 TEU ground slots; 1,200 reefer plugs. * **Bulk Facilities:** Dedicated grain terminal (SILO capacity 60,000 tons, intake 600 tph); woodchip berth with pneumatic shiploaders (2,500 tph). * **Logistics:** On-dock rail siding (broad gauge 1,676mm) connecting to the **Ferrocarril del Sur** mainline; direct access to Route 160 (Interport Highway). ## Economic Importance Talcahuano-San Vicente is the **second-largest port complex in Chile by total tonnage** (exceeding 18 million metric tons annually) and the **third-largest by container throughput** (~1.1 million TEU/year), trailing only San Antonio and Valparaíso. It acts as the primary logistics engine for Chile’s "Forestry, Pulp, and Steel Triangle." * **Forestry Cluster:** Handles ~65% of Chile’s forest product exports (pulp, sawn timber, panels, woodchips) originating from the *Plantaciones* of Arauco, CMPC, and Masisa in the Biobío, Ñuble, and La Araucanía regions. * **Steel & Mining:** Exports ~1.2M tons of steel products (CAP Huachipato) and imports iron ore/coal. Serves as the preferred gateway for lithium carbonate exports from the Salar de Atacama via the Antofagasta rail corridor (FCAB) intermodal link. * **Fisheries:** The historic Talcahuano harbor remains the nation's leading **industrial fishing port**, landing ~40% of national catch (jack mackerel, sardine, anchovy) for fishmeal/oil and human consumption processing plants clustered in the Coronel-Tome corridor. * **Employment & GDP:** Directly employs ~3,500 port workers (STP, SVTI, ASMAR) and generates an estimated 25,000 indirect jobs. The complex contributes approximately **3.2% of the Biobío Regional GDP**, functioning as the region's primary foreign currency earner. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo The port operates as a **regional transshipment and origin/destination hub** with distinct seasonal cargo profiles. ### Major Export Commodities (Outbound) 1. **Chemical Wood Pulp (HS 4703):** ~3.5M tons/year. Primary destinations: **China (Qingdao, Ningbo), USA (Long Beach, Savannah), Europe (Rotterdam, Gdansk)**. Shipped via dedicated liner services (CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk, Cosco). 2. **Sawn Timber & Panels (HS 4407/4412):** ~2.8M m³/year. Key markets: **USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, China, South Korea**. 3. **Woodchips (HS 4401):** ~2.0M BDT/year. Dedicated geared bulkers to **Japan (Oita, Ishinomaki)** and **China** for paper manufacturing. 4. **Steel Products (HS 72/73):** Coils, wire rod, plates. Markets: **Peru, Colombia, Mexico, USA (Gulf Coast)**. 5. **Fishmeal & Fish Oil (HS 2301/1504):** ~400k tons/year. Markets: **China (aquaculture feed), EU (Denmark, Germany)**. ### Major Import Commodities (Inbound) 1. **General Cargo / Containerized Consumer Goods:** ~550k TEU imports. Origin: **Far East (Shanghai, Busan, Singapore), US East Coast (Savannah, New York via Panama Canal), Brazil (Santos, Paranaguá)**. 2. **Fertilizers & Agrochemicals:** Bulk and bagged (Urea, MAP, DAP, Potash). Origin: **Russia, Morocco, USA, Canada, Chile (Mejillones)**. Critical seasonal surge (Aug–Nov) for southern agriculture. 3. **Fuels & Lubricants:** Crude oil for **ENAP Biobío Refinery** (110 kbpd capacity) via monobuoy/SPM at Quintero/Concepción Bay; refined products via coastal tankers. 4. **Project Cargo / Machinery:** Wind turbine components (Vestas, Nordex), mining equipment (SAG mills, trucks) for Andean copper operations (Los Bronces, El Teniente) transiting via rail corridor. ### Liner Connectivity San Vicente is served by **8 weekly mainline services**: * **ECSA/WCSA Loops:** Maersk (SANTOS), MSC (SANTI), CMA CGM (LIBRA), Hapag-Lloyd (ALPAC). * **Transpacific:** ONE/Yang Ming/Cosco (ACP), Evergreen (WSA). * **Feeder/Regional:** Norasia, Seaboard Marine (US Gulf/EC). * **Direct Call:** **Port of Oakland** and **Port of Houston** via dedicated reefer/forest product services. The port’s strategic depth, rail intermodality, and industrial clustering ensure its role as the **logistical backbone of Chile’s Southern Cone**, with ongoing master plan investments targeting 2.0M TEU capacity and 25M tons throughput by 2030 through the **San Vicente Phase III expansion** (new berth 10/11, 16m draft). For official concession data and tariff structures, consult the **Empresa Portuaria Talcahuano-San Vicente** official registry.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CLTAL

Country

Chile

Province / Region

Biobío

Latitude

-36.730000

Longitude

-73.120000

Timezone

America/Santiago

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

Loading Map...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Talcahuano?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Talcahuano is CLTAL.

Where is Port of Talcahuano located?

The Port of Talcahuano is located in Chile, Biobío. Its coordinates are -36.7300°N, -73.1200°E.

What time zone is Port of Talcahuano in?

Port of Talcahuano operates in the America/Santiago time zone.

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 Talcahuano.

View World Port Directory →