UN/LOCODE: SVLLD📍 El Salvador
Port of La Libertad (UN/LOCODE SVLLD)
❖ Coordinates: 13.4800°N, -89.3200°E
❖ Time Zone: America/El_Salvador
❖ UN/LOCODE: SVLLD
## About the Port
The Port of La Libertad (UN/LOCODE: SVLLD) is a strategic Pacific Ocean gateway situated on the central coast of El Salvador, within the department of La Libertad at coordinates 13.48° N, 89.32° W. Operating in the America/El_Salvador timezone (UTC−6, no daylight saving), the port lies approximately 30 km southwest of San Salvador, making it the closest maritime facility with cargo-handling infrastructure to the national capital and primary consumption centers. Administered by the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA↗), La Libertad functions as a mixed-use terminal specializing in liquid bulk (petroleum products), offshore fishing support, and limited general cargo operations.
The harbor is partially sheltered by a natural promontory and reinforced by artificial breakwaters, providing a relatively calm basin that mitigates the heavy Pacific swell. As recorded in the UN/LOCODE directory↗, SVLLD serves as a recognized node in Central American logistics, linking El Salvador’s interior highlands to international maritime networks.
### Operational Profile
SVLLD’s operational envelope includes a tidal range of less than 2.5 m and a benign tropical climate that permits year-round operations. The port’s geographic position on the Bay of La Libertad allows coastal feeders and medium-sized tankers to berth without the deviation penalties associated with more distant Pacific ports such as Acajutla or La Unión. Vessel traffic is managed through a port control center that coordinates arrivals with the Oil Terminal and Fisheries Cooperative schedules.
## History
### Colonial Antecedents and Independence-Era Development
La Libertad’s bay has been used for small-scale maritime activity since pre-colonial times, but formal port development accelerated after El Salvador’s independence in 1821. The settlement, originally designated as a customs point in the mid-19th century, facilitated the early export of coffee and indigo from the Apaneca-Ilamatepec highlands to external markets.
### Railway and Coffee Boom
The construction of the San Salvador–La Libertad railway in the 1880s cemented the port’s role as the principal Pacific outlet for Salvadoran coffee. Until the mid-20th century, wooden piers handled bagged green coffee, hides, and agricultural commodities. The rise of Acajutla’s deeper facilities gradually shifted bulk coffee exports northward, but La Libertad retained strategic relevance due to proximity to the capital.
### Modern Institutional Era
In 1962, CEPA centralized port administration, modernizing La Libertad with reinforced concrete wharves and a dedicated hydrocarbon terminal. The port survived seismic events and shifting trade patterns, evolving into a fuel-import hub and fishing base by the late 20th century. Recent decades have focused on security compliance and modest draught enhancement.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Breakwaters and Harbor Basin
The port features a main western breakwater (approx. 420 m) and a secondary eastern breakwater (approx. 260 m), enclosing a turning basin of roughly 200 m diameter. Reported chart datum depth at the entrance is 10.5 m, with alongside depths of 8.0–9.0 m at the liquid bulk dolphins and fishing quay. The protected area minimizes surge and enables safe mooring for vessels up to 25,000 DWT in the liquid bulk zone.
### Berths and Terminals
La Libertad comprises three operational fronts:
1. **Liquid Bulk Terminal** – Two mooring dolphins with articulated gangways and pipelines directly connected to onshore tank farms (aggregate capacity ~120,000 m³).
2. **Fishing Wharf** – 180 m of quay with crane rails, ice plants, and cold storage (approx. 2,000 m²) serving a fleet of 80+ vessels.
3. **Multi-purpose Quay** – 120 m marginal wharf for minor general cargo, patrol vessels, and occasional cruise tenders.
### Cargo Handling Equipment and Aids
Mobile harbor cranes (40 t), shore-based fuel pumps (600 m³/h), and refrigerated container points are available. Navigational safety is ensured by the Punta La Libertad lighthouse (Fl (2) W 10s), an AIS Base Station, and a 24/7 VHF Ch. 16/12 port control. The terminal operates under ISPS Code compliance with restricted zones and bonded warehouses.
## Economic Importance
### Energy Security and Capital Supply Chain
La Libertad is the primary entry point for refined petroleum products destined for the San Salvador metropolitan area, supplying approximately 60–70% of the country’s fuel demand via pipeline and road tanker distribution. This role makes the port a critical node for national energy security and price stability in the interior market.
### Fisheries and Employment
The port supports one of El Salvador’s most active artisanal and semi-industrial fishing clusters, generating direct employment for over 1,500 workers in catch, processing, and vessel maintenance. High-value species such as Pacific mahi-mahi, tuna, and shrimp are exported chilled or frozen, contributing to the national trade balance.
### Regional Logistics and Tourism
Proximity to the Litoral highway enables rapid drayage to manufacturing zones in Apopa and export processing zones. Additionally, the port’s scenic setting underpins coastal tourism, with marina and sportfishing operations contributing to local GDP and auxiliary service sectors.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Shipping Lanes
Vessels departing SVLLD transit the Pacific littoral southward to the Gulf of Fonseca or directly northwestward to the Panama Canal (approx. 1,450 nm). From Panama, feeders connect to the U.S. West Coast, Trans-Pacific routes to Asia (Yokohama, Shanghai, Singapore), and the Caribbean/European corridors via the canal. Coastal cabotage also links La Libertad with Guatemalan and Nicaraguan ports.
### Major Cargo Profiles
- **Liquid Bulk (Dominant):** Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and LPG imported from U.S. Gulf refineries and Mexican sources.
- **Fish and Seafood:** Export of frozen shrimp, tuna loins, and fresh fish to United States and Central American markets.
- **General Cargo:** Construction aggregates, machinery parts, and humanitarian supplies in modest volumes.
- **Bunker Operations:** Limited ship bunkering for coastal craft and fishing support vessels.
Annual throughput typically exceeds 1.4 million metric tons of liquids and 12,000–18,000 metric tons of fishery products, underscoring the port’s specialized but vital function. With ongoing discussions to deepen the basin and expand tankage, La Libertad is poised to retain its position as El Salvador’s foremost energy and fisheries port on the Pacific seaboard.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
SVLLD
Country
El Salvador
Province / Region
La Libertad
Latitude
13.480000
Longitude
-89.320000
Timezone
America/El_Salvador
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of La Libertad?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of La Libertad is SVLLD.
Where is Port of La Libertad located?
The Port of La Libertad is located in El Salvador, La Libertad. Its coordinates are 13.4800°N, -89.3200°E.
What time zone is Port of La Libertad in?
Port of La Libertad operates in the America/El_Salvador 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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