UN/LOCODE: TTPTS📍 Trinidad and Tobago
Port of Point Lisas (UN/LOCODE TTPTS)
❖ Coordinates: 10.4057°N, -61.4631°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Port_of_Spain
❖ UN/LOCODE: TTPTS
## About the Port
The Port of Point Lisas (UN/LOCODE: **TTPTS**) is the premier industrial and multi-purpose deep-water port facility in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Strategically situated on the west coast of the island of Trinidad within the **Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo** region, it operates at coordinates **10.4056994° N, -61.4630653° W** in the **America/Port_of_Spain** timezone (UTC-4). Unlike the capital-centric Port of Spain, Point Lisas was conceived and developed specifically as an integrated industrial estate port, serving as the maritime gateway for the **Point Lisas Industrial Estate (PLIE)**—one of the largest petrochemical hubs in the Western Hemisphere.
Managed by the **Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Limited (PLIPDECO)**, the facility functions as a landlord port, providing marine infrastructure, cargo handling equipment, and warehousing to a tenant base dominated by world-scale methanol, ammonia, urea, and melamine plants. Its sheltered location within the Gulf of Paria offers natural protection from prevailing swells, enabling 24/7 operations with minimal weather downtime—a critical factor for the continuous cargo flow required by the energy sector.
## History
The genesis of Point Lisas traces back to the early 1970s, driven by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic pivot toward industrial diversification leveraging the nation’s vast natural gas reserves. Prior to development, the area was predominantly sugarcane plantations. In **1974**, the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (PLIPDECO) was incorporated by an Act of Parliament with a mandate to plan, develop, and manage the industrial estate and its associated port infrastructure.
Construction of the marine terminal commenced in **1977**, with the first berths commissioned in the early 1980s to service the inaugural methanol and ammonia plants (Methanol Holdings Trinidad Limited and Tringen I). The port’s evolution mirrors the "gas-based" industrialization trajectory of the nation. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, successive "trains" of ammonia and methanol production came online, necessitating continuous berth expansion and the installation of specialized liquid bulk loading arms. A pivotal moment occurred in **1997** when PLIPDECO was partially divested, listing on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, introducing private sector governance discipline while the state retained a controlling interest. Today, the port stands as a mature brownfield asset undergoing modernization to handle post-Panamax vessels and diversify into non-energy breakbulk and containerized cargo.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
The port’s infrastructure is characterized by heavy-duty quay walls designed for high-capacity bulk and breakbulk operations, rather than high-density container stacking.
### Marine Terminals
The facility comprises **six primary berths** with a cumulative quay length exceeding **1,200 meters**.
* **Berths 1 & 2 (North & South):** Designed for general cargo, breakbulk, and Ro-Ro operations. Draft alongside is maintained at **10.5 meters (34.5 ft)**.
* **Berths 3, 4, 5 & 6 (The "Energy Berths"):** Purpose-built for the petrochemical tenants. These berths feature **12.2 meters (40 ft)** draft capability, accommodating Panamax and post-Panamax bulk carriers (up to 80,000 DWT). They are equipped with **marine loading arms (MLAs)** for the safe, closed-transfer handling of ammonia, methanol, and other hazardous liquid bulk cargoes, compliant with IMO MARPOL Annex II and IBC Code requirements.
* **Turning Basin:** A dredged turning basin of approximately **400 meters diameter** allows for the maneuvering of vessels up to **230 meters LOA** without tug assistance in favorable conditions, though tugs are mandatory for gas carriers.
### Cargo Handling & Storage
* **Liquid Bulk:** Dedicated pipeline corridors connect the berths directly to tank farms within the PLIE. The port does not operate tank storage; it provides the ship-shore interface (manifolds, ESD systems, vapor return lines).
* **Dry Bulk & Breakbulk:** A **32-hectare** paved marshalling area supports steel, aggregate, and project cargo. Covered storage includes **12,000 m²** of transit sheds.
* **Container Handling:** While not a primary container hub, the port maintains **two mobile harbor cranes (Liebherr LHM 420/500 class)** and reach stackers, handling approx. **35,000 TEU annually**, largely for industrial inputs (catalyst, machinery) and niche exports.
* **Rail/Road Connectivity:** Direct access to the **Priority Bus Route/Uriah Butler Highway** corridor ensures rapid evacuation of cargo to the national highway network. Rail connectivity was historically present but is currently dormant pending the proposed national rail revival.
## Economic Importance
Point Lisas is the **engine room of the Trinidad and Tobago economy**, contributing an estimated **30–40% of national GDP** through the industrial estate it serves. The port facilitates the export of approximately **6–7 million metric tonnes of methanol** and **5–6 million metric tonnes of ammonia** annually, positioning Trinidad and Tobago as the **world’s largest exporter of methanol** and a top-three global exporter of ammonia.
PLIPDECO itself is a significant economic entity, generating revenue through wharfage, dockage, stevedoring, and estate rental fees. The port’s operational efficiency directly correlates to the competitiveness of the downstream petrochemical sector, which faces fierce competition from US Gulf Coast shale-gas advantaged plants. The facility supports over **10,000 direct and indirect jobs** across the estate. Furthermore, the port’s "Estate Manager" role—providing common user infrastructure (fire water, nitrogen, potable water, effluent treatment)—lowers the barrier to entry for new downstream investments, such as the recent **Nutrien Geismar-style melamine and UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate) projects**, maximizing value retention within the local economy.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Cargo Profile
The cargo throughput is heavily skewed toward **Liquid Bulk (Class 2.1/2.2/6.1)**, accounting for **>85% of total tonnage**.
* **Exports:** Methanol, Anhydrous Ammonia, Urea (Granular/Prilled), Melamine, UAN Solution, Dimethyl Ether (DME).
* **Imports:** Natural Gas Condensate (feedstock for some plants), Catalyst (specialized breakbulk), Rock Phosphate/Sulfur (raw materials for fertilizer complexes), General Machinery/Project Cargo for plant turnarounds (TARs).
### Trade Lanes & Connectivity
Point Lisas enjoys a geographically privileged position for **Atlantic Basin Trade**.
* **North America (US Gulf & East Coast):** The dominant route. Short transit times (3–5 days to Houston/New Orleans; 6–8 days to Tampa/Baltimore) serve the massive US petrochemical derivative and fertilizer blending markets. Jones Act compliant barges frequently shuttle methanol to US terminals.
* **Latin America & Caribbean:** Coastal voyages to Brazil (Santos, Paranaguá), Argentina (Bahía Blanca), and regional CARICOM markets for fertilizer distribution.
* **Europe (ARA Range & Mediterranean):** Standard 14–18 day voyages via the Mona Passage or Cape Route for methanol and melamine destined for European chemical clusters (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Le Havre).
* **Asia Pacific:** Emerging route via the **Panama Canal (Neopanamax locks)** for methanol to China and India, though freight economics favor US Gulf arbitrage.
The port operates as a **liner-free, tramp/charter-driven facility**. Major shipping lines (Mitsui OSK Lines, Navigator Gas, Stena Bulk, Proman Shipping) operate dedicated parcel tanker fleets on Contracts of Affreightment (COAs) tied to specific plant output. This "dedicated fleet" model ensures schedule integrity for just-in-time (JIT) production cycles, distinguishing Point Lisas from common-user liner ports. For further details on global methanol trade flows originating from this hub, see the **International Methanol Producers & Consumers Association (IMPCA)** market analysis. The port's adherence to the **ISPS Code Level 1** security regime and **OCIMF SIRE** vetting standards ensures acceptance by major oil majors and chemical charterers globally.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
TTPTS
Country
Trinidad and Tobago
Province / Region
Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo
Latitude
10.405699
Longitude
-61.463065
Timezone
America/Port_of_Spain
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Point Lisas?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Point Lisas is TTPTS.
Where is Port of Point Lisas located?
The Port of Point Lisas is located in Trinidad and Tobago, Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo. Its coordinates are 10.4057°N, -61.4631°E.
What time zone is Port of Point Lisas in?
Port of Point Lisas operates in the America/Port_of_Spain time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height0.22 m
Wave Direction22°
Swell Height0.14 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.
📍 Nearby Ports
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