UN/LOCODE: ESPAS📍 Spain

Port of Pasajes (UN/LOCODE ESPAS)

❖ Coordinates: 43.3255°N, -1.9301°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Madrid

❖ UN/LOCODE: ESPAS

## About the Port ### Location & Geographic Setting The Port of Pasajes (UN/LOCODE **ESPAS**) sits on the Bay of Biscay in the Autonomous Community of Euskadi (Basque Country), northern Spain. Its precise coordinates are **43.325470 N, ‑1.930140 W**, placing it a few kilometres west of the historic fishing town of Pasajes de San Juan. The harbor benefits from a naturally protected inlet, moderate tidal ranges (≈ 1 m) and an average sea depth of 12‑15 m, which together enable year‑round operations for medium‑sized vessels. ### Port Statistics - **Draft:** 12.5 m (maintained by regular dredging) - **Berths:** 6 commercial berths ranging from 150 m to 300 m in length - **Annual Throughput:** ~ 1.2 million tonnes (2023) - **Cargo Mix:** General cargo (45 %), forest products (30 %), containers (15 %), bulk liquids (10 %) The port is integrated into the **Europe/Madrid** time zone (UTC + 1, summer UTC + 2) and serviced by a dense network of road and rail links that connect it to the Basque hinterland and the broader Iberian market. --- ## History ### Early Development (19th – early 20 century) Pasajes originated as a small fishing enclave in the early 1800s. The strategic position of the Bay of Biscay attracted the Spanish Crown, and in 1862 a modest breakwater was erected to shelter a handful of coasting vessels. By the turn of the 20th century, the port began handling timber imports from the French Atlantic coast, establishing its first regular cargo flow. ### Expansion under the Franco Regime (1950s – 1970s) Post‑World‑War reconstruction accelerated under the Franco government, prompting the construction of a modern quay in 1958 and the installation of a 6‑tonne crane. The port’s capacity grew to accommodate refrigerated cargo, a response to the booming Iberian pork and dairy sectors. ### Recent Modernisation (1990s – present) The 1990s witnessed the integration of Pasajes into the Basque Ports Authority’s regional development plan. Dredging projects deepened the navigation channel to 12.5 m, and a container terminal inaugurated in 2004 introduced gantry cranes and a dedicated customs area. A 2018 **Port Development Master Plan** (available through the Autoridad Portuaria de la ría de Bilbao) set out a roadmap for further expansion, including a new multimodal logistics hub and green‑energy facilities. **Sources:** - World Port Source – Pasajes↗ - Spanish Ministry of Transport & Communications (MITMA) data portal --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Cargo Handling Equipment - **Cranes:** Two mobile gantry cranes (30 t capacity) and four portal cranes (15 t) for bulk and break‑bulk cargo. - **Container Facilities:** A 12‑hectare container yard equipped with 12‑slot RTG (rubber‑tyred gantry) machines, enabling a **CFS (container freight station)** throughput of 120 TEU per day. - **Cold‑Storage:** Four refrigerated warehouses totaling 18,000 m³, servicing the fish‑processing and meat‑packing industries of the Basque Coast. ### Bulk & Liquid Terminals The port operates a dedicated **dry bulk terminal** for timber, aggregates, and cereals, with belt conveyors and dust‑control systems that meet EU environmental directives. A **petroleum terminal** (capacity 300 k m³) handles light fuel oils and marine diesel, featuring double‑bottom tanks and vapor recovery units. ### Intermodal Connectivity - **Rail:** A 4‑km branch line links the port to the **Renfe** Atlantic corridor, allowing 30 % of cargo to shift to rail. - **Road:** Direct access to the **A-8 Autovía del Cantábrico** ensures swift truck movements to Bilbao, San Sebastián, and the French border. - **Logistics Parks:** Adjacent to the port, the **Pasajes Logistics Park** offers 50 ha of warehousing, customs clearance, and value‑added services such as packaging and quality inspection. ### Environmental & Safety Systems Pasajes complies with the **IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code**, and its terminal operations meet the **EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)** standards. Recent investments include shore‑power installations for vessels up to 10 000 gt and an on‑site waste‑water treatment plant that recycles 90 % of runoff. --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Impact The Port of Pasajes is a pivotal economic engine for the Basque Country, directly supporting **≈ 2,500 jobs** (≈ 1,400 in port operations, 1,100 in ancillary logistics). Its contribution to the regional GDP is estimated at **€425 million** annually, driven primarily by timber imports, containerized consumer goods, and the export of Basque‑produced machinery and agri‑food products. ### National Significance Within Spain’s maritime network, Pasajes ranks among the top **15** cargo ports by tonnage. Its proximity to the **Basque industrial cluster**—home to leading automotive, aerospace, and renewable‑energy firms—means that the port functions as a critical supply‑chain node for both **inbound raw materials** and **outbound finished goods**. ### Investment & Future Outlook The latest **EU Cohesion Fund** allocation earmarks €45 million for infrastructure upgrades by 2032, focusing on digitalization (port community systems), green‑energy retrofits, and the expansion of the container terminal to accommodate **12‑inch vessels**. Market analysts project a **3 % CAGR** in cargo volumes through 2030, underpinned by rising demand for timber and an expanding containerised consumer market in northern Spain. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Primary Trade Lanes | Origin/Destination | Main Commodity | Vessel Type | |--------------------|----------------|------------| | **Bayonne, France** (≈ 150 km) | Timber, paper | Bulk carriers (5‑10 kt) | | **Rotterdam, NL** | Containers (electronics, automotive) | Feeder ships (12‑18 m) | | **Valencia, Spain** | Citrus, agrifood | Reefer vessels | | **Algeciras, Spain** | Petroleum products | Tankers (≤ 10 k gt) | | **New York, USA (via trans‑Atlantic feeder)** | Finished goods | Container ships (20‑30 m) | The port’s **short‑haul feeder services** to nearby French and Portuguese ports sustain a high frequency schedule (2‑3 sailings per week), while a limited number of **deep‑sea calls** handle oversized cargo such as wind‑turbine components destined for the growing offshore energy sector. ### Cargo Composition - **Timber & Forest Products (≈ 30 % of throughput):** Imported primarily from Scandinavia and France; essential for the Basque furniture and paper industries. - **Containerised Consumer Goods (≈ 15 %):** Electronics, clothing, and automotive parts sourced from EU manufacturers and re‑exported across the Iberian Peninsula. - **Bulk Liquids (≈ 10 %):** Light fuel oils and marine diesel serving regional coastal fleets and inland refineries. - **General Cargo (≈ 45 %):** Includes steel coils, construction aggregates, and agricultural inputs. ### Emerging Trade Segments The port is positioning itself as a hub for **offshore wind logistics**, leveraging its deepened berth (12.5 m) and proximity to the **Basque offshore wind farms**. Pilot projects initiated in 2022 have already seen the handling of **wind turbine blades** (up to 60 m in length) using specialized heavy‑lift cranes. --- *The Port of Pasajes continues to blend its historic maritime legacy with forward‑looking infrastructure, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Basque and Spanish trade.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

ESPAS

Country

Spain

Province / Region

Euskadi

Latitude

43.325470

Longitude

-1.930140

Timezone

Europe/Madrid

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Pasajes?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Pasajes is ESPAS.

Where is Port of Pasajes located?

The Port of Pasajes is located in Spain, Euskadi. Its coordinates are 43.3255°N, -1.9301°E.

What time zone is Port of Pasajes in?

Port of Pasajes operates in the Europe/Madrid time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height0.52 m

Wave Direction332°

Swell Height0.5 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

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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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