UN/LOCODE: ESACE📍 Spain
Port of Lanzarote (UN/LOCODE ESACE)
❖ Coordinates: 28.9700°N, -13.5300°E
❖ Time Zone: Atlantic/Canary
❖ UN/LOCODE: ESACE
## About the Port
The Port of Lanzarote (UN/LOCODE: ESACE) is a multifaceted maritime gateway situated on the eastern coast of Lanzarote, the northernmost territory of the Canary Islands' eastern province of Las Palmas, Spain. Geographically positioned at 28.97 Latitude and -13.53 Longitude, the port primarily serves the capital city of Arrecife and acts as a critical node in the Macaronesian maritime network. Administered by the Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas, the Port of Lanzarote operates within the Atlantic/Canary timezone (UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 during daylight saving), aligning with standard Western European maritime coordination.
Functionally, ESACE is not a single homogeneous facility but a diversified port system encompassing commercial cargo operations at Los Mármoles, a dedicated cruise and passenger ferry terminal, a significant fishing harbor, and a recreational nautical marina. As a designated port of general interest to the Spanish state, it facilitates containerized freight, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic, dry and liquid bulk handling, and high-volume passenger transit between the archipelago and the Iberian Peninsula.
## History
The maritime heritage of Lanzarote is deeply rooted in its strategic location along the transatlantic route discovered following European expansion in the 15th century. Initially, maritime activity was decentralized, relying on natural anchorages within the Bahía de Arrecife. The island's sheltered bay provided a defensible roadstead against pirates and privateers, catalyzing the gradual shift of economic centrality from Teguise to Arrecife.
In 1852, the designation of the Canary Islands as a free trade zone (Puerto Franco) by the Spanish Crown stimulated exogenous commercial activity, although port infrastructure remained rudimentary well into the early 20th century. The modern trajectory of the Port of Lanzarote commenced post-1950, coinciding with the advent of mass tourism and the subsequent industrialization of the Canarian economy. The construction of the Muelle de Los Mármoles in the latter half of the 20th century transformed Arrecife into a formalized deep-water commercial port. Following the enactment of Spain’s Puertos del Estado legislation in 1992, the port was integrated into the centralized national port authority framework, receiving substantial capital investments to expand its cargo and cruise capacities in line with EU maritime safety and logistical standards.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
The Port of Lanzarote is characterized by specialized sub-zones engineered to segregate commercial, industrial, and leisure maritime activities, ensuring operational efficiency and safety.
### Berths and Terminals
The commercial nucleus, Muelle de Los Mármoles, features several quays with alongside depths ranging from 9 to 14 meters, accommodating Panamax-class vessels and large Ro-Ro ferries. The terminal includes dedicated berths for container stacking, bulk cement unloaders, and a modern passenger terminal capable of processing thousands of travelers per hour. Adjacent to the commercial docks lies the fishing port (Puerto Pesquero), equipped with refrigerated storage, ice plants, and slipways for the local fleet. Furthermore, Marina Lanzarote provides 400+ berths for recreational craft, bolstering the island’s nautical tourism sector.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
To maintain throughput efficiency, the port utilizes mobile harbor cranes (up to 100 tonnes lifting capacity), heavy-duty reach stackers, and specialized conveyor systems for dry bulk, such as aggregates and cement. The container yard at Los Mármoles is equipped with radiometric scanning technology for customs enforcement and non-intrusive inspection, reflecting compliance with international supply chain security protocols like the WCO SAFE Framework.
### Passenger and Cruise Facilities
The cruise terminal at Arrecife is a pivotal asset, featuring dedicated gangways, transit sheds, and coach embarkation areas. The inter-island ferry terminal facilitates continuous Ro-Ro operations, linking Lanzarote with Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura with high-frequency sailings.
## Economic Importance
The Port of Lanzarote is the lifeline of the island’s insular economy, given the territory’s near-total dependence on maritime supply chains for energy, consumer goods, and raw materials.
### Regional Logistics Hub
As the primary point of entry for Cabotage (internal Spanish trade) and external freight, ESACE underpins the logistical resilience of Lanzarote and the Chinijo Archipelago. It enables the distribution of perishable goods and construction inputs necessary for the island's infrastructure development. For deeper insights into the port's operational metrics and regulatory framework, consult the Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas↗.
### Tourism and Passenger Transit
Tourism constitutes over 30% of Lanzarote’s GDP, with the port receiving more than one million passenger movements annually via cruise ships and ferries. This influx supports downstream hospitality, retail, and transport sectors. The cruise segment, in particular, positions Lanzarote as a premium anchor destination within Atlantic cruise itineraries.
### Fisheries and Local Industry
The fishing facilities support a fleet targeting local demersal species and Atlantic pelagic migrations, contributing to food security and export revenues within the EU market.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
The Port of Lanzarote maintains a dynamic suite of maritime trade lanes, balancing short-sea shipping with deep-sea connectivity.
### Cabotage and Inter-Island Trade
Dominated by regular liner services, cabotage traffic connects ESACE with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ESLPA) and Puerto del Rosario (ESFUE). These routes transport fuel bunkers, bottled gas, packaged foods, and vehicles, utilizing standardized Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo vessels.
### International Connections
On the macro scale, Lanzarote integrates with overarching European and African trade corridors. Deep-sea feeders link the port to Cádiz, Rotterdam, and Hamburg, while proximity to the African coast fosters emerging trade with Morocco and Mauritania. The strategic maritime geography is further documented by global datasets such as those provided by UNCTAD's Transport and Trade Logistics↗ which monitor Canarian throughput.
### Principal Commodities
Imports are heavily weighted toward refined petroleum products, cereals, construction aggregates, and machinery. Exports, though smaller in volume, include volcanic aggregates (lapilli), local agricultural outputs (wrinkle potatoes, onions, and vineyard produce), and processed fish. The symbiosis of these trade routes ensures that the Port of Lanzarote remains an indispensable maritime intelligence focal point in the Mid-Atlantic Spanish domain.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
ESACE
Country
Spain
Province / Region
Las Palmas
Latitude
28.970000
Longitude
-13.530000
Timezone
Atlantic/Canary
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Lanzarote?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Lanzarote is ESACE.
Where is Port of Lanzarote located?
The Port of Lanzarote is located in Spain, Las Palmas. Its coordinates are 28.9700°N, -13.5300°E.
What time zone is Port of Lanzarote in?
Port of Lanzarote operates in the Atlantic/Canary 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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