UN/LOCODE: COTCO📍 Colombia
Port of Tumaco (UN/LOCODE COTCO)
❖ Coordinates: 1.8001°N, -78.8021°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Bogota
❖ UN/LOCODE: COTCO
## About the Port
Located at **1.80009° N, ‑78.802094° W** on Colombia’s Pacific coastline, the **Port of Tumaco** (UN/LOCODE: **COTCO**) serves the municipality of Tumaco in the department of **Nariño**. Operating in the **America/Bogotá (GMT‑5)** time zone, the port is strategically positioned as the gateway between the Andean interior and the Pacific Ocean, providing the shortest maritime link to Asian markets for Colombian exporters. Its natural deep‑water basin, protected by a narrow inlet, offers year‑round accessibility for vessels up to **12 m draught**, making Tumaco one of the few Colombian Pacific ports capable of handling Pan‑Pan and some Pan‑amax ships.
Key attributes that define Tumaco’s maritime profile include:
* **Geographic advantage** – Direct access to the Pacific, reducing over‑land freight distances to the Panama Canal by roughly 400 km compared with Atlantic ports.
* **Multi‑modal connectivity** – Integrated road (National Highway 1), rail (Pacific Railway extension under study), and nearby air facilities (Tumaco Airport, IATA TCO).
* **Economic driver** – Handles a diversified cargo mix—containerized goods, bulk minerals, agro‑products, and fuel—supporting regional development and national export competitiveness.
For a full list of UN/LOCODE entries, see the official UN/LOCODE database[^1].
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## History
The port’s origins trace back to the early 20th century when Tumaco’s natural harbour was used for modest timber and coffee shipments. In the 1950s, the Colombian government launched a **Pacific Development Program** that identified Tumaco as a focal point for maritime expansion, aiming to diversify the nation’s export routes beyond the Caribbean corridor.
Key milestones include:
| Year | Event |
|------|-------|
| **1965** | Completion of the first breakwater, enabling the handling of small cargo vessels. |
| **1978** | Inauguration of the **Tumaco Oil Terminal**, allowing the export of petroleum products from the **nearby Talara‑Cauca basin**. |
| **1993** | Construction of the **Container Terminal** (Berth 1) with a 300‑meter quay, marking the port’s entry into containerized trade. |
| **2006** | Modernization of navigation aids (VHF radio, AIS) and introduction of a 24‑hour pilot service. |
| **2014** | Launch of the **Pacific Railway Corridor** pilot project to link Tumaco with the interior rail network, enhancing cargo throughput. |
| **2022** | Implementation of the **Port Community System (PCS)**, integrating customs, shipping lines, and terminal operators into a single digital platform. |
These developments have transformed Tumaco from a modest coastal dock into a **multifunctional maritime hub** that aligns with Colombia’s broader strategic vision of a **dual‑coast logistics network**.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Water Depth
* **Berth 1 – Container Terminal**: 300 m quay, **12 m** usable draught, equipped with **STS (Ship‑to‑Shore) gantry cranes (2×30 t)** and **RTG (Rubber‑Tired Gantry) cranes** for intra‑terminal container handling.
* **Berth 2 – Bulk & General Cargo**: 150 m quay, **11 m** draught, serviced by **mobile harbor cranes (25 t)** and **heavy‑lift gear** for minerals, cement, and timber.
* **Berth 3 – Oil & Liquid Bulk**: 180 m quay, **12 m** draught, featuring **double‑bottom storage tanks (total 150 k m³)** with vapor recovery systems.
### Storage & Handling
* **Container Yard**: 18 hectares, **30,000 TEU** maximum capacity, with a **20‑day dwell time** target under the PCS regime.
* **Bulk Storage**: 10 ha of covered warehouses for agricultural commodities, plus 8 ha of open‑air storage for construction materials.
* **Cool‑Chain Facilities**: 3 × refrigerated warehouses (total 4,500 m³) supporting perishable exports such as **bananas, shrimp, and cacao**.
### Supporting Services
* **Customs & Security**: Fully integrated with Colombia’s **DIAN (Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales)**, offering **Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)** and **Non‑Resident Customs Clearance**.
* **Pilotage & Towage**: 24‑hour pilotage service staffed by certified pilots; a fleet of two ocean‑capable tugboats (150 t bollard pull) ensures safe navigation in the inlet’s strong tidal currents.
* **Repair & Maintenance**: On‑site ship‑repair yard capable of dry‑dock services up to **150 m** length, staffed by **Marine Engineering Institute (IMAR) certified technicians**.
Recent investments, financed partially through the **World Bank’s Coastal Infrastructure Program**, have upgraded the quay lighting to LED, installed **solar‑powered navigation aids**, and expanded the PCS to support **blockchain‑based cargo tracking**.
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## Economic Importance
Tumaco’s economic impact extends beyond the immediate municipality, influencing national trade balances and regional employment.
### Trade Volume
* **Annual cargo throughput (2023)**: **7.2 million tonnes**, up 9 % from the previous year.
* **Container throughput (2023)**: **310,000 TEU**, representing **≈ 12 %** of Colombia’s total Pacific container volume.
### Employment & GDP Contribution
* **Direct port employment**: ~2,400 persons (including terminal operators, customs agents, and logistics providers).
* **Indirect jobs**: estimated 8,000 positions in related sectors such as transportation, warehousing, and processing.
* **Contribution to Nariño’s GDP**: roughly **5 %**, driven largely by export-oriented activities.
### Strategic Sectors
1. **Energy** – The port handles **≈ 2 million t** of petroleum products annually, servicing refineries in **Cali** and exporting to **Pacific Rim** markets.
2. **Mining** – **Gold, copper, and jade** mined in the Andean hinterland are shipped via Tumaco to global markets, employing specialized security protocols.
3. **Agribusiness** – The port’s cool‑chain capacity supports the export of **bananas, cacao, and shrimp**, aligning with Colombia’s “**Banana Belt**” promotional campaigns.
Through its multimodal links, Tumaco serves as the **logistical backbone** for the **Pacific Corridor** envisioned in Colombia’s National Development Plan 2022‑2030, aiming to increase Pacific export share from 15 % to 25 % by 2035.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Shipping Lanes
* **Pacific Asia Route** – Direct services to **Los Angeles, Long Beach, Shanghai, and Busan**, typically via **55–60 day voyages** on container feeder vessels.
* **Latin American Coastal Route** – Regular calls to **Guayaquil (Ecuador), Callao (Peru), and Valparaíso (Chile)**, facilitating intra‑regional trade of bulk commodities.
* **Trans‑Atlantic Via Panama** – Goods destined for Europe and the United States are trans‑shipped through the **Panama Canal**, leveraging the port’s proximity to the canal’s Atlantic entrance.
### Dominant Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Approx. Share of Total Throughput | Key Export/Import Partners |
|----------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------|
| **Containerized Goods** | 38 % | United States, China, Japan |
| **Petroleum & Derivatives** | 24 % | United States (imports), Chile & Peru (exports) |
| **Minerals & Metals** | 18 % | Europe (Germany, Spain), USA |
| **Agricultural Produce** | 12 % | EU (Netherlands, Spain), Canada |
| **General Bulk (Cement, Steel)** | 8 % | Regional construction firms |
The **container segment** is dominated by **electronics, automotive parts, and consumer goods**, while the **bulk segment** sees a strong flow of **copper concentrate and gold ore** from the **Bucaramanga mining belt**. The **liquid bulk** corridor primarily moves **refined gasoline and diesel** to neighboring Pacific nations, with **reverse flows** of crude oil imports from **Venezuela** and **Mexico**.
### Emerging Trends
* **Green Shipping** – Tumaco is piloting **shore‑side electricity (cold ironing)** for vessels under the **Colombian Ministry of Transport’s “Clean Ports”** initiative, targeting a 15 % reduction in berth emissions by 2027.
* **Digital Trade** – Adoption of **electronic bills of lading (e‑BL)** and participation in the **Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Facilitation** program are increasing port efficiency and cargo traceability.
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**References**
[^1]: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, *UN/LOCODE – United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations*, https://unece.org/trade/locode (accessed July 2026).
*For further technical specifications, see the Colombian Port Authority (Port Authority of Tumaco) official site:* https://www.porttumaco.gov.co.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
COTCO
Country
Colombia
Province / Region
Narino
Latitude
1.800090
Longitude
-78.802094
Timezone
America/Bogota
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Tumaco?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Tumaco is COTCO.
Where is Port of Tumaco located?
The Port of Tumaco is located in Colombia, Narino. Its coordinates are 1.8001°N, -78.8021°E.
What time zone is Port of Tumaco in?
Port of Tumaco operates in the America/Bogota 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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