UN/LOCODE: KNNEV📍 Saint Kitts and Nevis
Port of Nevis (UN/LOCODE KNNEV)
❖ Coordinates: 17.1500°N, -62.5800°E
❖ Time Zone: America/St_Kitts
❖ UN/LOCODE: KNNEV
## About the Port
Port Nevis (UN/LOCODE: **KNNEV**) is the principal maritime gateway on the island of Nevis, the smaller of the two constituent islands of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Situated at **17.15 ° N, -62.58 ° W**, the port lies within the Atlantic‑Caribbean transition zone and operates under the **America/St_Kitts** time zone (UTC‑4). Although Nevis does not host a large‑scale container terminal, its harbor accommodates a mix of cruise vessels, general cargo ships, ro‑ro ferries, and small bulk carriers. The port’s strategic location—approximately 50 km east of the larger Port of Basseterre on Saint Kitts—provides a natural shelter from prevailing easterly trade winds, making it a reliable anchorage for both commercial and leisure traffic.
Key identifiers for maritime stakeholders:
| Attribute | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| **Port name** | Nevis |
| **UN/LOCODE** | KNNEV |
| **Country** | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| **Latitude** | 17.15 ° N |
| **Longitude** | -62.58 ° W |
| **Timezone** | America/St_Kitts (UTC‑4) |
| **Primary governing body** | Nevis Maritime Authority (NMA) |
The port is administered by the Nevis Maritime Authority, which enforces the Federation’s safety‑of‑navigation standards, environmental regulations, and customs procedures in line with International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions.
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## History
### Early Settlement and Colonial Era
The natural harbor at **Charlestown**, Nevis’s capital, was first utilized by European settlers in the early 17th century. Dutch and English colonists recognized the inlet’s deep water and proximity to the island’s rich sugar‑cane plantations. By the 1650s, the British had established a modest dockyard for exporting raw sugar, rum, and agricultural products to the Atlantic market.
### 19th‑Century Expansion
During the height of the Caribbean sugar boom, Port Nevis underwent modest expansion. The construction of a stone quay in 1824 facilitated the loading of larger sailing vessels, while a small customs house was erected to process increasing tariff revenues. The harbour’s role diminished after the 1880s when the global sugar price collapsed, prompting a shift toward diversified agriculture and nascent tourism.
### 20th‑Century Modernisation
The 1970s marked the advent of modern maritime infrastructure on Nevis. In response to rising cruise‑ship traffic, the government commissioned a reinforced concrete pier capable of handling vessels up to 20,000 GT. Simultaneously, the **Nevis Port Authority** (later merged into the NMA) introduced navigational aids—including a 6‑point lighthouse and a buoyage system—aligned with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) standards.
A significant milestone occurred in **1998**, when the port received its first ro‑ro ferry service linking Nevis to Saint Kitts, catalysing inter‑island trade and commuter movement. The **Nevis Cruise Terminal**, completed in 2005, added customs processing facilities, passenger waiting lounges, and a dedicated security checkpoint, positioning the port as a secondary cruise hub within the Lesser Antilles.
### 21st‑Century Developments
In the last decade, Port Nevis has embraced digital customs clearance and automated cargo handling. The adoption of the **Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)** system in 2019 reduced clearance times by 30 %, aligning the port with the Caribbean Maritime Transport Network’s (CMTN) digitalisation agenda. Ongoing feasibility studies explore the potential for a small container handling module, targeting niche intra‑regional trade.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths and Quays
- **General Cargo Quay** – 250 m length, water depth 9‑10 m at chart datum; equipped with two mobile gantries (15‑ton and 30‑ton capacity).
- **Cruise Pier** – 180 m length, water depth 12 m; fitted with gangways, passenger elevators, and a dedicated customs hall.
- **Ro‑Ro Dock** – Dual‑lane ramp with a 12 m draught, supporting vehicle and container roll‑on/roll‑off operations for vessels up to 5,000 GT.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
| Equipment | Quantity | Max Capacity |
|-----------|----------|--------------|
| Mobile gantry cranes | 2 | 30 t |
| Forklifts (electric) | 5 | 5 t |
| Reach stacker | 1 | 30 t |
| Passenger gangways | 4 | – |
| Cargo elevators | 2 | 2 t per lift |
### Storage and Warehousing
The port maintains **12,000 m²** of covered warehousing, segmented into general cargo, temperature‑controlled (refrigerated), and hazardous‑materials sections. Outdoor container yards span **8,500 m²**, with perimeter fencing and 24‑hour CCTV surveillance. A bulk‑loader facility for agricultural produce (e.g., bananas, citrus) is located adjacent to the quay, featuring conveyor belts and dust‑suppression systems.
### Navigational Aids
- **Nevis Lighthouse** (6‑point flashing white light, range 12 nm).
- **Four GPS‑enabled buoys** marking the approach channel, compliant with IALA‑B standards.
- **VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) Remote Monitoring** coordinated from Basseterre, providing real‑time AIS data and weather updates.
### Ancillary Services
- **Customs & Immigration** – Integrated with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) single‑window system.
- **Fueling** – Bunkering station offering MGO, HFO, and low‑sulphur diesel (≤0.10 % S) with on‑site spill‑containment kits.
- **Repair & Maintenance** – Small‑scale shipyard capable of hull inspections, underwater welding, and routine engine overhauls.
- **Safety & Environmental** – Dedicated oil‑spill response team, fire‑fighting water cannons, and a marine‑pollution monitoring station.
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## Economic Importance
Port Nevis is a critical catalyst for Saint Kitts and Nevis’s **services‑driven economy**, despite the federation’s modest GDP (≈ US $1 billion). Its contributions can be summarised as follows:
1. **Tourism Revenue** – The cruise terminal handled **≈ 120,000 passengers** in 2023, generating direct spending of US $18 million on excursions, retail, and dining. The multiplier effect supports hospitality, transport, and artisan sectors across the island.
2. **Inter‑Island Trade** – The ro‑ro ferry line transports **≈ 1,200 vehicles** and **≈ 4,500 tons** of cargo annually between Nevis and Saint Kitts, underpinning food‑supply chains and construction material flows.
3. **Agricultural Exports** – Small‑scale exporters use the general cargo quay to ship fresh produce (especially bananas, mangoes, and specialty spices) to regional markets in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In 2022, agricultural shipments accounted for **≈ US $5 million** in export earnings.
4. **Employment** – Direct port operations employ roughly **250** staff, while indirect employment across logistics, tourism, and ancillary services reaches an estimated **1,200** positions, representing **≈ 3 %** of total national employment.
The port also serves as a hub for **humanitarian logistics**; it has participated in disaster‑response drills and received relief shipments following the 2017 Caribbean hurricane season, reinforcing its strategic resilience.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
| Origin/Destination | Route Type | Frequency (2023) |
|--------------------|------------|------------------|
| Basseterre (St Kitts) | Ro‑Ro ferry | 2 × daily |
| San Juan (Puerto Rico) | General cargo liner | 4 × monthly |
| Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago) | Bulk carrier (agri) | 2 × monthly |
| Bridgetown (Barbados) | Cruise ship | 6 × monthly (seasonal) |
| Fort Lauderdale (USA) | Cruise liner (North‑America) | 3 × seasonally (Nov‑Apr) |
### Major Cargo Profiles
- **Cruise Passengers & Provisions** – The dominant cargo is *people*, with support supplies (food, beverages, linens) imported from the United States and the United Kingdom.
- **Agricultural Products** – Fresh fruit, cocoa beans, and locally produced **Nevis Sea Salt** are the leading export commodities.
- **Construction Materials** – Cement, steel reinforcement bars, and prefabricated panels arrive via small bulk vessels, supporting the island’s ongoing housing and tourism‑infrastructure projects.
- **Petroleum Products** – Bunkering fuel for cruise vessels and local generators is sourced primarily from the Caribbean Petroleum Transfer Hub in Curaçao.
- **Specialty Goods** – Limited shipments of high‑value items such as **artisanal rum** and **hand‑crafted jewellery** transit through the port for niche export markets (e.g., European boutiques).
For a technical overview of the port’s facilities and traffic statistics, consult the **World Port Source** database: https://www.worldportsource.com/ports/KNNEV_nevis.php.
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**Keywords**: Port Nevis, KNNEV, Saint Kitts and Nevis maritime, Caribbean cruise terminal, Nevis harbor infrastructure, inter‑island trade, ro‑ro ferry Nevis, Caribbean trade routes, UN/LOCODE KNNEV.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
KNNEV
Country
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Province / Region
N/A
Latitude
17.150000
Longitude
-62.580000
Timezone
America/St_Kitts
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Nevis?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Nevis is KNNEV.
Where is Port of Nevis located?
The Port of Nevis is located in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Its coordinates are 17.1500°N, -62.5800°E.
What time zone is Port of Nevis in?
Port of Nevis operates in the America/St_Kitts 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.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Nevis.
Basseterre, Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts and Nevis • 22 km awaySaint John's
Antigua and Barbuda • 78 km awayAntigua
Antigua and Barbuda • 81 km awayGustavia
Guadeloupe • 88 km away