UN/LOCODE: ZAPLZ📍 South Africa
Port of Port Elizabeth (UN/LOCODE ZAPLZ)
❖ Coordinates: -33.7139°N, 25.5207°E
❖ Time Zone: Africa/Johannesburg
❖ UN/LOCODE: ZAPLZ
## About the Port
### Location and Geographic Setting
Port Elizabeth (UN/LOCODE **ZAPLZ**) lies on the southern coast of the **Eastern Cape** province, South Africa, at latitude **‑33.7139°** and longitude **25.5207°**. Nestled within the natural inlet of Algoa Bay, the port benefits from a relatively sheltered anchorage and a moderate climate (Africa/Johannesburg timezone, UTC +2). Its strategic position places it midway between the larger harbours of **Durban** and **Cape Town**, making it a pivotal gateway for south‑eastern African trade corridors and a natural trans‑shipment hub for vessels navigating the **Cape of Good Hope**.
### Operational Governance
The harbour is administered by the **Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)**, the state‑owned entity responsible for South Africa’s major container and bulk terminals. TNPA’s port management framework emphasizes integrated logistics, safety compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and alignment with the **South African Ports Act 2008**. Daily operations are coordinated with the **South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)** for pilotage, vessel traffic services (VTS), and environmental monitoring.
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## History
### Early Development (19th–Early 20th Century)
Founded in **1820** as a British colonial outpost, Port Elizabeth quickly evolved from a modest wharf into a commercial harbour serving the Cape Colony’s wool and ostrich feather trade. The first recorded dredging works (1892) deepened the main channel to **12 m**, enabling the arrival of steamships and laying the groundwork for a formal dock system. By the turn of the 20th century, the port handled coal exports from the burgeoning Witwatersrand mining region, linking inland rail corridors with global markets.
### Post‑Apartheid Transformation (1990s–Present)
The 1994 democratic transition prompted a comprehensive hinterland integration program, aligning the port with the **Maputo Development Corridor** and the **Nigerian Coastal Corridor**. In 2002, the terminal was modernised under the **South Africa Port Modernisation Programme**, introducing container cranes with a 22‑tonne lift capacity and automated stacked yard (ASY) systems. Since 2015, the port has pursued a “green” agenda—implementing shore‑power facilities and participating in the **International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020** sulphur cap compliance program.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Main Terminals
| Terminal | Primary Cargo | Berths | Draft (m) | Equipment |
|----------|---------------|--------|-----------|-----------|
| **Container Terminal** | Containerised general cargo | 3 (CT‑1 to CT‑3) | 12.5 | 2× Super‑post‑pandion cranes (45 m outreach), 4× rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes |
| **Bulk & Break‑bulk Terminal** | Coal, iron ore, forest products | 4 (BT‑1 to BT‑4) | 13.0 | 2× ship‑loaders (30 t/h), conveyor belts, grain elevators |
| **Oil & Gas Terminal** | Crude oil, LPG, petro‑chemicals | 2 (OT‑1 & OT‑2) | 12.0 | 2× mooring buoys, vapor recovery units |
| **General Cargo & Project Cargo** | Vehicles, heavy machinery | 1 (GT‑1) | 11.8 | Heavy‑lift crane (120 t), roll‑on/roll‑off (RoRo) ramps |
### Dredging & Navigational Aids
The **Algoa Bay** channel is maintained at a **design draft of 13.5 m** through periodic dredging (average 0.8 Mt per annum). The port employs an integrated VTS system, comprising radar, AIS, and tide‑gauging stations, to ensure safe passage for vessels up to **300 000 DWT**.
### Supporting Services
- **Pilotage:** Dedicated Algoa Bay pilots, certified under SAMSA regulations, guide ships through the narrow entrance.
- **Tug Fleet:** Six ocean‑going tugs (max bollard pull 60 t) provide line‑handling and emergency response.
- **Warehousing & Cold‑Storage:** 250 000 m² of bonded and refrigerated storage, critical for perishable fruit exports (citrus, grapes).
- **Customs & Inspection:** The **South African Revenue Service (SARS)** operates a 24‑hour customs clearance desk, leveraging the **National Single Window (NSW)** platform to reduce dwell times.
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## Economic Importance
### Regional Growth Engine
Port Elizabeth contributes roughly **6 %** of South Africa’s total maritime cargo volume, translating to an annual throughput of **10 Mt** (2023). The port underpins the Eastern Cape’s **GDP of US$4.5 bn**, with direct employment for **≈ 4 500** port‑related workers and indirect jobs in logistics, manufacturing, and agribusiness.
### Value‑Added Services
The harbour’s **Vehicle Assembly Plant (VAP)**, operated by **Toyota South Africa**, utilizes the RoRo terminal to import chassis kits and export completed vehicles to the **Southern African Development Community (SADC)** markets. Additionally, the **Export Agricultural Processing Zone (EAPZ)** leverages cold‑storage capacity to add up to **US$250 m** in value‑added processing of citrus and stone fruit annually.
### Investment & Future Projects
TNPA’s **Port Elizabeth Expansion Programme (2021‑2026)** forecasts a **30 % increase** in container handling capacity through the construction of a fourth berth (CT‑4) and the installation of a **Super‑post‑pandion crane** with a 25‑tonne lift. In parallel, a **green logistics corridor** will link the port to the **National Rail** network, facilitating a modal shift from road to rail for bulk commodities.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Export Commodities
| Commodity | Annual Volume (2023) | Primary Destination |
|-----------|----------------------|---------------------|
| **Automobiles & Components** | 120 000 units | SADC (Namibia, Botswana) & EU |
| **Citrus & Stone Fruit** | 1 Mt | EU (Netherlands, Germany) |
| **Coal & Iron Ore** | 2 Mt | East Asia (China, South Korea) |
| **Vehicle Assembly Parts** | 850 000 t | Domestic distribution (Johannesburg, Cape Town) |
### Import Commodities
| Commodity | Annual Volume (2023) | Primary Origin |
|-----------|----------------------|----------------|
| **Crude Oil & LPG** | 0.9 Mt | Middle East (Saudi Arabia) |
| **Containerised Machinery** | 1.2 Mt | Europe (UK, Netherlands) |
| **Fertilisers** | 0.6 Mt | North America (USA) |
| **Building Materials** | 0.4 Mt | Brazil & India |
### Key Shipping Lines & Routes
The port is a scheduled call for **Maersk Line**, **MSC**, **CMA CGM**, and **Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)**, with service frequencies ranging from **weekly to bi‑weekly** on the **Europe‑Asia–Southern Africa** corridor. Direct liner connections exist to **Durban**, **Cape Town**, **Walvis Bay (Namibia)**, **Rotterdam**, **Singapore**, and **Shanghai**, facilitating trans‑Atlantic and Indo‑Pacific trade.
### Connectivity to Inland Corridors
Through the **Mthatha–Port Elizabeth Railway**, the port provides a **1 600 km** rail link to the **Johannesburg–Pretoria** industrial belt, supporting a **300 km/h** intermodal freight service that moves containers at an average cost of **US$0.08 per ton‑km**—significantly lower than road transport.
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**References**
- Port Elizabeth – Wikipedia↗ – Overview of geographic and historical context.
- Transnet National Ports Authority – Port Elizabeth↗ – Official source for terminal specifications and expansion plans.
*This article offers a concise yet thorough profile of Port Elizabeth (ZAPLZ), positioning it as a critical maritime hub in South Africa’s logistics network and a catalyst for regional economic development.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
ZAPLZ
Country
South Africa
Province / Region
Eastern Cape
Latitude
-33.713925
Longitude
25.520736
Timezone
Africa/Johannesburg
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Port Elizabeth?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Port Elizabeth is ZAPLZ.
Where is Port of Port Elizabeth located?
The Port of Port Elizabeth is located in South Africa, Eastern Cape. Its coordinates are -33.7139°N, 25.5207°E.
What time zone is Port of Port Elizabeth in?
Port of Port Elizabeth operates in the Africa/Johannesburg 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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