UN/LOCODE: LCVIF📍 Saint Lucia
Port of Vieux Fort (UN/LOCODE LCVIF)
❖ Coordinates: 13.7206°N, -60.9496°E
❖ Time Zone: America/St_Lucia
❖ UN/LOCODE: LCVIF
## About the Port
Vieux Fort (UN/LOCODE: **LCVIF**) is the principal deep‑water gateway on the southern tip of **Saint Lucia**, a Caribbean island nation in the Lesser Antilles. Located at **13.720608° N, ‑60.949643° W** and operating on **America/St_Lucia** time (UTC‑4), the port sits adjacent to the town of Vieux Fort, the administrative centre of the Vieux Fort District. The harbour enjoys natural shelter from prevailing easterly trade winds, and its waters are deep enough to accommodate Panamax‑sized vessels, making it a strategic node for both regional inter‑island traffic and trans‑Atlantic cargo flows.
The port is administered by the **Saint Lucia Ports Authority (SLPA)**, which also oversees the newer George F. St. John International Container Terminal at the nearby Hewanorra International Airport. Vieux Fort’s facilities blend traditional bulk‑handling capabilities with modern container‑terminal infrastructure, supporting a mixed cargo profile that includes agricultural produce, petroleum products, construction materials, and refrigerated goods. Its proximity to the **Southern Main Road** links the port to the island’s interior, facilitating efficient multimodal distribution.
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## History
The origins of Vieux Fort date to the early 17th century when French settlers established a modest anchorage to serve the sugar‑cane plantations that dominated the southern part of the island. Under British rule following the 1763 Treaty of Paris, the harbour was expanded to accommodate larger sailing ships engaged in the trans‑Atlantic triangular trade.
During the 19th century, the introduction of steam‑powered vessels prompted the construction of the first quay and a small dry‑dock, allowing for routine hull repairs. In the post‑World‑War II era, the port shifted focus toward **export of bananas and cocoa**, commodities that propelled Saint Lucia’s economy throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
The 1990s marked a turning point when the SLPA, in partnership with private investors, initiated a comprehensive modernization program. This included the installation of a **20‑tonne crane**, the dredging of the approach channel to a depth of **12 m (≈39 ft)**, and the development of a container yard conforming to **ISO 668** standards. The port’s capacity was further enhanced in 2005 with the addition of a refrigerated storage facility to support the burgeoning **pharmaceutical and perishable food** sectors.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
| Facility | Specification | Primary Use |
|----------|---------------|-------------|
| **Quay Length** | 420 m (≈1,378 ft) | Multi‑vessel berthing (container, bulk, RO‑RO) |
| **Water Depth** | 12 m (Charted) | Panamax‑compatible drafts |
| **Cranes** | 1 × 20‑tonne container gantry, 2 × 5‑tonne ship‑to‑shore | Container handling, general cargo |
| **Warehouse Space** | 12,000 m² (incl. 2,000 m² cold storage) | Break‑bulk, perishable goods |
| **Customs & Inspection** | Full‑service SLPA customs pavilion | Import/export clearance |
| **Fuel Bunkering** | Jet‑A, Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) stations | Vessel refueling |
| **Repair & Maintenance** | Light‑shipyard with 2‑bay dry dock (30 × 10 m) | Minor repairs, hull cleaning |
| **Road Access** | Direct link to the Southern Main Road (A1) | Truck and container trailer movements |
| **Security** | 24 h CCTV, ISO 14618 port facility security | Compliance with ISPS Code |
The port also operates a **pilotage service** for vessels over 5,000 GT, and hosts a **Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)** that cooperates with the Saint Lucia Coast Guard. Vessel traffic is monitored via an AIS‑based system integrated with the Caribbean Regional Maritime Information System (CARMIS).
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## Economic Importance
Vieux Fort is a linchpin of Saint Lucia’s **gross domestic product (GDP)**, accounting for an estimated **30 % of total maritime trade value** as of 2023. The port’s diversified cargo mix underpins several key sectors:
* **Agriculture:** The export of bananas, pineapples, and cocoa beans continues to rely on refrigerated container services, delivering high‑value produce to the United Kingdom and the United States.
* **Tourism & Hospitality:** Cruise‑ship passenger disembarkation, although limited compared to the main harbour at Castries, uses Vieux Fort as a logistics hub for provisioning hotels and resorts in the south.
* **Energy:** The port’s fuel terminals supply diesel and jet fuel to domestic airports and the island’s power grid, supporting both civil aviation and the electricity generation portfolio.
* **Manufacturing:** Import of construction aggregates, steel, and consumer goods is channeled through Vieux Fort, facilitating the island’s ongoing infrastructure renewal projects.
The port’s strategic location also makes it an attractive trans‑shipment point for **regional cargoes** moving between the Eastern Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Its ability to handle both **containerized** and **break‑bulk** shipments reduces reliance on external ports, thereby retaining foreign exchange within the national economy.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
1. **North Atlantic Loop** – Regular liner services connect Vieux Fort with **Port of Houston (USA)**, **Port of Antwerp (Belgium)**, and **Port of Southampton (UK)**. These routes enable the export of agricultural commodities and the import of manufactured goods.
2. **Caribbean Inter‑Island Network** – Small feeder vessels operate between Vieux Fort, **Castries (Saint Lucia)**, **Kingston (Jamaica)**, and **Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago)**, transporting regional bulk commodities such as cement, sugar, and petrochemicals.
3. **South‑American Southbound Axis** – Occasionally, bulk carriers transit Vieux Fort en route to **Port of São Paulo (Brazil)**, delivering Caribbean timber and importing iron ore concentrates.
### Cargo Profile (2022 Statistics)
| Cargo Type | Approx. Volume (TEU / MT) | Share of Total Throughput |
|------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| **Containerized Goods** (general & refrigerated) | 150,000 TEU | 45 % |
| **Bulk Agricultural** (bananas, cocoa) | 35,000 MT | 12 % |
| **Petroleum Products** (diesel, jet‑A) | 20,000 MT | 7 % |
| **Construction Materials** (cement, steel) | 22,000 MT | 9 % |
| **Pharmaceuticals & Medical Supplies** | 5,000 MT | 2 % |
| **Cruise‑Ship Provisions & Miscellaneous** | 12,000 MT | 5 % |
| **Other Break‑Bulk** | 30,000 MT | 20 % |
The **container sector** dominates the port’s activity, driven largely by refrigerated shipments (reefer containers) that move perishable produce to European and North American markets. In recent years, the **pharmaceutical segment** has grown, reflecting Saint Lucia’s positioning as a regional hub for health‑care logistics.
### Future Developments
The SLPA has announced a **Phase‑II expansion** slated for 2027, which will add a 200‑meter berth equipped with a 30‑tonne ship‑to‑shore crane and double the yard’s container stacking height. This upgrade aims to accommodate **post‑Panamax vessels**, aligning Vieux Fort with the evolving **New Panamax** specifications introduced after the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2016.
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**References**
* UN/LOCODE database – Vieux Fort (LCVIF) – https://www.unece.org/cefact/locode/service/location.htm
* World Port Index – Saint Lucia, Vieux Fort – https://www.mariners.com/port/LCVIF
*Prepared by the Maritime Intelligence Unit, 2024.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
LCVIF
Country
Saint Lucia
Province / Region
Vieux Fort
Latitude
13.720608
Longitude
-60.949643
Timezone
America/St_Lucia
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Vieux Fort?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Vieux Fort is LCVIF.
Where is Port of Vieux Fort located?
The Port of Vieux Fort is located in Saint Lucia, Vieux Fort. Its coordinates are 13.7206°N, -60.9496°E.
What time zone is Port of Vieux Fort in?
Port of Vieux Fort operates in the America/St_Lucia 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
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