UN/LOCODE: JMPKS📍 Jamaica

Port of Port Kaiser (UN/LOCODE JMPKS)

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

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Port Kaiser is JMPKS.

Q: Where is Port of Port Kaiser located?

The Port of Port Kaiser is located in Jamaica, Saint Catherine Parish. Its coordinates are 17.8940°N, -77.1320°E.

Q: What time zone is Port of Port Kaiser in?

Port of Port Kaiser operates in the America/Jamaica time zone.

❖ Coordinates: 17.8940°N, -77.1320°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Jamaica

❖ UN/LOCODE: JMPKS

## About the Port Port Kaiser (UN/LOCODE: JMPKS) is a specialized bulk cargo terminal situated on the southern littoral of Jamaica within Saint Catherine Parish, geographically anchored at 17.8939846° N latitude and -77.1319777° W longitude. The facility operates within the America/Jamaica time zone (UTC−5, no daylight saving) and functions as an industrial enclave port dedicated to the transhipment of mineral commodities rather than a generalized container or RO-RO hub. The harbor lies approximately 40 nautical miles west of the Kingston Harbour entrance and 12 nautical miles southwest of Old Harbour, offering a sheltered indentation that mitigates the prevailing southeast trade-wind swell. According to the United Nations LOCODE registry (UNECE↗), JMPKS is classified as a permissible port of entry for foreign trade, though customs clearance is executed through the Spanish Town revenue district. The port is subject to the Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s ISPS Code compliance and falls under the Kingston VTS jurisdiction; pilotage is mandatory for all ocean-going bulk carriers. ## History ### Early Development Port Kaiser was conceived during the rapid globalization of aluminium production in the early 1950s. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, having acquired extensive bauxite concessions in the limestone plateaus of St. Catherine and adjacent Clarendon, required a dedicated sea outlet to bypass the congestion of Kingston. Site preparation commenced in 1956, involving the construction of a rail spur from the inland mining axis to the coast. The first commercial export of dry crushed bauxite was executed in 1959, with the port bearing the name of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. Initially, the terminal comprised a single timber-piled wharf later replaced by reinforced concrete. ### Modern Era Throughout the 1970s, Port Kaiser operated near nameplate capacity as Jamaica became a top-three global bauxite exporter. The 1974 imposition of the bauxite production levy and subsequent partial nationalization redistributed equity but left physical infrastructure intact. In the 1990s, market shifts toward value-added alumina prompted the installation of covered conveyor systems. Presently, the port is managed under a hybrid model: the Jamaica Port Authority provides regulatory oversight (Jamaica Port Authority↗), while terminal operations are leased to private mining entities and the Jamaica Bauxite Institute. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Berths and Quay The main wharf measures 220 m in length with a depth of 11.5 m at mean low water, allowing simultaneous berthing of two Handysize or one Supramax bulk carrier (max 60,000 DWT). Cell-type rubber fenders and quick-release mooring hooks are installed. A supplementary 60 m barge jetty handles coastal limestone and gypsum feeders. ### Storage and Handling The terminal boasts a dynamic stacked yard of 250,000 tonnes live capacity for bauxite, supplemented by minor silos for alumina. A gantry shiploader with telescopic chute achieves 2,500 tph, integrated with a water-spray dust-suppression network. Front-end loaders and a 1.2 km conveyor gallery link the stockyard to the quay, ensuring minimal vessel turnaround time. ### Navigational Access The approach channel is dredged to 12 m, 150 m wide, protected by a rubble-mound breakwater. Navigational aids include a 15 m focal plane lighthouse and channel sector lights. Pilot boarding is conducted at Waiting Area B (17°53′N, 77°08′W). Tidal range is micro-tidal (<0.4 m), simplifying cargo operations and ballast planning. ## Economic Importance ### Contribution to National Economy Mining and quarrying contribute roughly 7–10% of Jamaican GDP; Port Kaiser facilitates 1.5–3.0 million tonnes of annual mineral exports, generating critical foreign exchange. By diverting bulk flows from Kingston, it relieves congestion at the island’s primary container port and reduces overland haulage costs for St. Catherine producers. ### Employment and Industry Linkages Direct employment includes stevedores, equipment operators, marine pilots, and QA lab technicians. Indirectly, the port sustains inland rail maintenance, power supply, and the socio-economic fabric of St. Catherine mining towns. Its continued viability underpins regional infrastructure investment and the competitiveness of Jamaican bauxite on the world market. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Lanes Vessels depart via the Caribbean Sea, transiting the Windward Passage or Panama Canal depending on destination. Principal lanes connect to U.S. Gulf refineries (Mobile, New Orleans), North European smelters (Rotterdam, Hamburg), and Asian ports (Yantai, Kitimat) via Suez or Cape routes. Occasional Caribbean feeder services serve CARICOM partners. ### Cargo Profile Exports are dominated by metallurgical-grade bauxite, calcined bauxite, and alumina. Minor volumes of gypsum, limestone aggregate, and construction sand serve regional neighbors. Imports are negligible—occasional machinery and bunker fuel via barge. No containerized freight is handled, preserving the port’s singular dry-bulk efficiency.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

JMPKS

Country

Jamaica

Province / Region

Saint Catherine Parish

Latitude

17.893985

Longitude

-77.131978

Timezone

America/Jamaica

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Port Kaiser?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Port Kaiser is JMPKS.

Where is Port of Port Kaiser located?

The Port of Port Kaiser is located in Jamaica, Saint Catherine Parish. Its coordinates are 17.8940°N, -77.1320°E.

What time zone is Port of Port Kaiser in?

Port of Port Kaiser operates in the America/Jamaica time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height1.2 m

Wave Direction118°

Swell Height0.98 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

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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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