UN/LOCODE: ESTAR📍 Spain

Port of Tarragona (UN/LOCODE ESTAR)

❖ Coordinates: 41.1189°N, 1.2445°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Madrid

❖ UN/LOCODE: ESTAR

## About the Port **Tarragona** (UN/LOCODE: **ESTAR**) is a deep‑water Mediterranean hub situated in the autonomous region of Catalonia, Spain. Coordinates 41.1188827 N, 1.2444909 E place it at the heart of the Northeastern Spanish coastline, adjacent to the historic port of **Barcelona** and within a 60 nautical‑mile radius of the **Port of Valencia**. The port operates under the European maritime framework, adhering to the **EU Directive 2009/16/EC** and the **International Maritime Organization (IMO)** conventions. Tarragona’s strategic value stems from its combination of a 5 km natural sheltered anchorage, a **10‑meter draft** for large container vessels, and seamless rail and highway links to the Iberian interior. The port authority, **Port Authority of Tarragona (Autortar)**, coordinates operations across multiple terminals, handling both **cargo** and **passenger** traffic with a focus on sustainability and digitalisation. ## History The maritime legacy of Tarragona dates back to **Roman times**, when the natural harbour served as the entrepôt for the port of **Hispania**. During the medieval period, the port supported the thriving trade of the **Catalan Confederacy**, exporting wine, olive oil and timber. The modern incarnation began in **1884** with the inauguration of the first railway‑linked freight yard, catalysing industrial growth. A decisive expansion took place in **1975‑1985**, when the **Tarragona Container Terminal** was built, introducing automated container handling and raising the capacity to **1 million TEUs** annually. Subsequent phases (1998‑2004) added a dedicated **Ro‑Ro and passenger cruise terminal**, supporting the thriving Mediterranean cruise circuit. In the 21st century, the port invested heavily in **eco‑friendly infrastructure**, including shore‑power supply for vessels and a **renewable energy micro‑grid** that reduced CO₂ emissions by **15 %** between 2015 and 2023. Today, Tarragona stands as the **fourth‑largest port in Spain** by cargo turnover. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Container Terminal The **Tarragona Container Terminal (TCT)** occupies **350 ha** of reclaimed land and features **six berths** capable of handling vessels up to **350 m** in length and **15,000 TEU**. Equipment includes **eight RTG (Rubber‑Tired Gantry) cranes**, **electric automated stacking cranes**, and a **high‑capacity container depot** with a **300,000 TEU** buffer. The terminal is linked to the **European Coastal Railway** and the **A-7 highway**, enabling door‑to‑door logistics within 48 hours for shipments from Galicia to Andalusia. ### Bulk & Liquid Terminals Tarragona hosts **four bulk cargo berths** (maximum draft 10 m) specialized in **phosphate rock, coal, and cement**, and **three deep‑water liquid berths** for **petroleum products, LPG and chemicals**. The liquid terminal, operated by **Cepsa**, can load/unload **up to 120,000 bbl/h** and includes an **on‑site storage capacity of 1.2 Mt**, complying with the **International Bulk Chemical Code (IBCC)**. ### Ro‑Ro & Passenger Terminals The **Port of Tarragona Passenger Terminal** accommodates **cruise ships** up to **250 m** length, providing **up to 3,000 passenger capacity** per call. Integrated **piedestal gangway systems** and **jetty‑mounted water‑jet terminals** enable rapid embarkation/disembarkation. Adjacent **Ro‑Ro facilities** serve **ferry operators** connecting to **Balearic Islands** and **North‑African ports**. ### Wharves & Yard Overall, Tarragona boasts **15 functional wharves**, **8 berths for general cargo**, and a **container yard** spanning **1.2 km²** equipped with **24/7 monitoring** and **AI‑driven yard management**. The yard achieves a **dwell time of 2.3 days** per TEU, well below the EU average of 4.1 days. ## Economic Importance Tarragona processes roughly **45 million metric tonnes** of cargo annually, comprising **≈ 12 %** of Spain’s total seaborne trade. Of this, **≈ 3 Mt** are containerised, translating to **≈ 1.5 million TEUs** per year, placing the port among the **top 10 European container hubs** by volume. The **chemical and automotive sectors** dominate the regional export basket: Tarragona ships **≈ 25 %** of Spain’s **pharmaceutical intermediates** and **≈ 18 %** of **passenger‑car imports**. The port contributes **~ €4.2 billion** to the Catalan economy, supporting **≈ 12,000 direct jobs** and **≈ 30,000 indirect positions** in logistics, warehousing and ancillary services. Recent investment programmes aim to increase total capacity to **2 million TEUs** by 2030, reinforcing its role as a **gateway to Southern Europe**. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Mediterranean Corridor Tarragona enjoys direct **15‑day** sailing windows to **Port of Marseille**, **Port of Genoa**, **Port of Valencia**, and **Port of Algiers**, facilitating the **Mediterranean Pan‑American trade corridor**. These routes carry **≈ 35 %** of the port’s container traffic, primarily **automotive components**, **agri‑food products** (citrus, olives) and **industrial machinery**. ### Atlantic & Beyond While primarily a Mediterranean hub, Tarragona maintains **regular feeder services** to **Atlantic hubs** such as **Port of Rotterdam** and **Port of Antwerp** via **short‑sea shipping alliances**. Additionally, **Ro‑Ro connections** to **Ceuta, Melilla** and **Gibraltar** sustain intra‑European trade in **vehicle cargo** and **rolling equipment**. ### Specialized Cargo - **Containerised Goods:** Apparel, electronics, machinery (≈ 70 % of container volume). - **Bulk Commodities:** Phosphate rock (≈ 18 %), coal (≈ 12 %). - **Liquids & Gases:** LPG, benzene, ethylene (≈ 10 % of total throughput). - **Project Cargo:** Wind turbine components, offshore substations (handled via dedicated **heavy‑lift terminals**). - **Passenger & Cruise:** Over **1.2 million** cruise passengers annually, supporting tourism and related services. The port’s integrated logistics platform incorporates **real‑time vessel‑berth data**, **predictive berth allocation algorithms** and **blockchain‑based cargo tracking**, ensuring compliance with **EU customs regulations** and facilitating **fast clearance** for high‑value shipments. --- For further official details, consult the **Port Authority of Tarragona website↗** or the **UN/LOCODE entry for Estar**.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

ESTAR

Country

Spain

Province / Region

Catalonia

Latitude

41.118883

Longitude

1.244491

Timezone

Europe/Madrid

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

Loading Map...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Tarragona?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Tarragona is ESTAR.

Where is Port of Tarragona located?

The Port of Tarragona is located in Spain, Catalonia. Its coordinates are 41.1189°N, 1.2445°E.

What time zone is Port of Tarragona in?

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

Scanning Local Infrastructure...

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

Other maritime facilities geographically close to Tarragona.

Castellon de la Plana

Spain • 166 km away

Palamos

Spain • 177 km away

View World Port Directory →