UN/LOCODE: ESCAR📍 Spain
Port of Cartagena (UN/LOCODE ESCAR)
❖ Coordinates: 37.6257°N, -0.9966°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/Madrid
❖ UN/LOCODE: ESCAR
## About the Port
The **Port of Cartagena** (UN/LOCODE: **ESCAR**) stands as a pivotal multimodal logistics hub on the southeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping lanes connecting Europe, North Africa, and the Americas. Located in the **Región de Murcia** at coordinates **37.6256827° N, -0.9965839° W**, the port operates within the **Europe/Madrid** timezone (CET/CEST).
Managed by the **Autoridad Portuaria de Cartagena (APC)**, the facility benefits from exceptional natural shelter provided by the Curra and Escombreras peninsulas, creating a deep-water basin capable of accommodating the world’s largest vessels—including VLCCs, Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), and Q-Max LNG carriers—without tidal restrictions. The port’s 24/7/365 operational capacity, combined with a maximum authorized draft reaching **25 meters** in the Escombreras basin, positions it as a critical deep-water gateway for the Spanish hinterland and a primary energy hub for Southern Europe.
## History
Cartagena’s maritime lineage extends over three millennia. Founded as **Qart Hadasht** ("New City") by the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal the Fair in 227 BC, its magnificent natural harbor served as the primary base for Carthaginian power in Iberia. Following the Second Punic War, it became the Roman **Carthago Nova**, flourishing as a major naval base and silver export terminal.
After centuries of fluctuating prominence under Visigothic, Byzantine, and Moorish rule, the port regained strategic primacy in the 16th century under the Spanish Habsburgs, becoming the headquarters of the **Spanish Mediterranean Galley Fleet**. The 18th century saw its designation as the capital of the **Maritime Department of the Mediterranean**, prompting massive fortification works (including the Arsenal and the Castle of Galeras) that define its historic waterfront today.
The modern commercial era commenced in the 1960s with the development of the **Valle de Escombreras** industrial complex. This shift transformed the port from a naval-centric facility into a petroleum and petrochemical powerhouse. Subsequent decades witnessed the construction of specialized terminals for containerized cargo (Terminal de Contenedores de Cartagena), solid bulks, and ro-ro traffic, culminating in its current status as Spain’s fourth-largest port by total throughput tonnage.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
The port spans over **1,600 hectares** of water surface and **600 hectares** of land area, segmented into distinct operational zones:
### Escombreras Basin (Energy & Industrial Core)
This is the deep-water engine of the port, featuring drafts of **22–25 meters**.
* **Liquid Bulks:** Hosts the **Repsol** and **Cepsa** refineries, representing a combined refining capacity exceeding 20 million tonnes/year. Dedicated mono-buoys and dolphin jetties handle VLCC crude discharge and product loading.
* **LNG:** The **Regasification Plant (Enagás)** possesses 5 storage tanks (total capacity ~1.2 Mm³) and high send-out capacity, serving as a critical entry point for gas into the Spanish and European grid.
* **Chemicals & Gas:** Specialized terminals for LPG, chemical products, and bitumen.
### Cartagena Inner Harbour & Santa Lucía (General Cargo & Containers)
* **Container Terminal (TCART):** Operated by **TCART (TIPSA/Noatum)**, it features **1,400 linear meters** of berth (Muelle de la Coruña, Muelle de Levante) with **16–18m draft**. Equipped with 8 Post-Panamax/Super Post-Panamax STS cranes and 24+ RTGs, it handles ~500,000 TEU annually with direct rail connectivity.
* **Ro-Ro & Ferry Terminal:** Dedicated ramps at Muelle de la Coruña and Muelle de Poniente serve short-sea shipping (SSS) lines to North Africa (Algeria, Morocco) and the Balearic Islands, handling ~400,000 rolling units/year.
* **Solid Bulks:** Specialized facilities at **Muelle de la Batería** and **Muelle de la Algameca** for cement (Cemex), coal, petroleum coke, cereals, and fertilizers, served by high-capacity ship unloaders and conveyor systems.
* **Breakbulk/Project Cargo:** Heavy-lift capabilities at Muelle de la Algameca for wind turbine components and industrial machinery.
### Logistics & Intermodality
The port is a **TEN-T Core Network Corridor** node (Mediterranean Corridor). It possesses direct dual-gauge (Iberian/Standard) rail access via the **Madrid-Cartagena** and **Chinchilla-Cartagena** lines, connecting to the **Los Camachos** logistics platform and the **ZAL (Logistics Activities Zone)**. Road connectivity is ensured via the **AP-7 / A-30** Mediterranean motorway axis.
## Economic Importance
The Port of Cartagena is the economic lung of the Región de Murcia and a strategic asset for the Spanish national economy. It generates approximately **€4.5 billion in annual economic impact** and supports over **30,000 direct and indirect jobs**.
Its dominance in the **energy sector** is unparalleled nationally: it processes roughly **60% of Spain’s crude oil imports** and a significant share of LNG regasification, underpinning national energy security. The adjacent petrochemical cluster (Repsol, Cepsa, Sabic, Dow) constitutes one of Europe’s largest integrated chemical hubs, exporting high-value polymers and derivatives globally.
In containerized trade, Cartagena serves as the primary maritime gateway for the **Murcian agri-food sector** (the "Orchard of Europe"), facilitating the reefer export of fruits, vegetables, and processed foods to Northern Europe, the UK, and the US East Coast. The **ZAL Cartagena** hosts over 40 logistics operators, adding value through cold storage, packaging, and distribution services. Cruise traffic, while secondary to industrial throughput, contributes ~150,000 passengers annually, docking at the historic **Muelle de Alfonso XII** adjacent to the Roman Theatre archaeological site.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Cartagena’s cargo profile is heavily weighted toward **liquid bulk (approx. 65-70% of total tonnage)**, followed by solid bulk, containers, and general cargo.
### Major Cargo Commodities
| Category | Key Commodities | Annual Volume (Approx.) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Liquid Bulk** | Crude Oil, Diesel, Gasoline, Fuel Oil, LNG, LPG, Chemical Products, Biofuels | > 25 Million Tonnes |
| **Solid Bulk** | Petroleum Coke, Coal, Cereals, Soybean Meal, Cement, Clinker, Fertilizers | ~ 6-8 Million Tonnes |
| **Containers** | Reefer Cargo (Fruit/Veg), Paper Pulp, Chemicals, Ceramics, Machinery | ~ 500k TEU / 5-6 Mt |
| **Ro-Ro** | Trailers, New Vehicles (Export), Project Cargo | ~ 400k Units |
### Strategic Trade Lanes
1. **Transatlantic / Americas:** Primary route for **crude oil imports** (Mexico, USA, Brazil, Guyana) and **LNG** (USA, Trinidad & Tobago). Container exports of refrigerated produce target the **US East Coast** (New York, Savannah, Miami) via dedicated reefer services.
2. **Middle East & Gulf:** Critical VLCC route for **Arab Light/Extra Light crude** (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait) feeding the Escombreras refineries.
3. **North Africa (Maghreb):** High-frequency **Short Sea Shipping (SSS)** Ro-Ro and feeder container lines connect Cartagena with **Algeria (Arzew, Bejaia, Oran, Algiers)** and **Morocco (Nador, Tanger Med, Casablanca)**, facilitating triangular trade of industrial goods, agricultural inputs, and energy products.
4. **Intra-Mediterranean & Black Sea:** Feeder connections to major hubs (**Tanger Med, Algeciras, Valencia, Genoa, Piraeus**) for global transshipment. Imports of **cereals, oilseeds, and fertilizers** originate from **Ukraine, Romania, Russia, and France**.
5. **Northern Europe:** Direct container and Ro-Ro services to **Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bremerhaven, and UK ports** (Liverpool, Southampton) for the export of Murcian perishables and import of consumer goods/industrial inputs.
The port’s ongoing **dredging campaigns to maintain -25m LAT** and the expansion of rail gauge to UIC standard gauge solidify its role as a **Motorway of the Sea** endpoint, ensuring Cartagena remains a linchpin of Euro-Mediterranean logistics and energy resilience. For real-time vessel traffic and port call data, stakeholders reference the Puertos del Estado↗ official portal or the Autoridad Portuaria de Cartagena↗ management dashboard.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
ESCAR
Country
Spain
Province / Region
Región de Murcia
Latitude
37.625683
Longitude
-0.996584
Timezone
Europe/Madrid
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Cartagena?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Cartagena is ESCAR.
Where is Port of Cartagena located?
The Port of Cartagena is located in Spain, Región de Murcia. Its coordinates are 37.6257°N, -0.9966°E.
What time zone is Port of Cartagena in?
Port of Cartagena operates in the Europe/Madrid 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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