UN/LOCODE: GBKLN📍 United Kingdom
Port of King's Lynn (UN/LOCODE GBKLN)
❖ Coordinates: 52.7500°N, 0.3800°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/London
❖ UN/LOCODE: GBKLN
## About the Port
King’s Lynn (UN/LOCODE: **GBKLN**) is a historic deep‑water harbour situated on the River Great Ouse in Norfolk, England (52.75 ° N, 0.38 ° E). Operating under the jurisdiction of the **Port of King's Lynn Authority**, the facility serves the East of England’s hinterland, linking the agricultural heartland of East Anglia with domestic and international markets. The port’s strategic position within the **Europe/London** time zone enables seamless coordination with European trading partners, while its proximity (≈90 nm) to the North Sea gateway of **Harwich** offers alternative access routes during adverse weather.
Key attributes:
- **Berth depth:** 9.5 m (tidal) – accommodates vessels up to 30 kt draft.
- **Cargo handling:** General cargo, bulk agri‑products, forest wood, containers, and project cargoes.
- **Land area:** ~30 ha of quayside and warehousing, with direct rail connections to the **UK rail network** (freight terminal on the Fen Line).
- **Customs:** Fully staffed customs house, integrated with the UK Border Agency’s NCTS system.
The port’s modern operational framework is built on a **digital traffic management system (DTMS)** that synchronises vessel arrivals, tidal windows, and berth allocation, ensuring a minimum turnaround time of 12–18 hours for bulk shipments.
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## History
The origins of King’s Lynn as a maritime hub trace back to the **12th century**, when the settlement received its first royal charter to trade in wool. By the late‑medieval period, the town had become one of England’s principal **export ports for Norfolk’s famed woolen cloth**, rivaling Bristol and London.
- **1547–1550:** King Henry VIII granted a series of market rights that cemented King’s Lynn’s status as a “Royal Port”.
- **17th century:** The port expanded to accommodate the burgeoning **East India trade**, handling tea, spices, and Asian textiles.
- **1800s:** The construction of the **Great Ouse Navigation Act** (1797) and subsequent dredging works deepened the channel, enabling steam‑driven vessels.
- **World War II:** King’s Lynn played a crucial logistical role, serving as a dispersal point for **Allied naval convoys** and as a hub for the **British Ministry of Supply**.
Post‑war, the port pivoted toward **agri‑food** and **timber imports**, reflecting the region’s shift from heavy industry to primary production. The establishment of the **King’s Lynn Port Authority** in 1972 formalised its governance, and the 1990s saw the introduction of **container handling capabilities**, positioning the port for the modern intermodal era.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Quays
- **Berth 1 (North Quay):** 200 m, depth 9.5 m – dedicated to bulk grain, feed, and fertiliser.
- **Berth 2 (South Quay):** 150 m, depth 8.0 m – primarily handles timber logs, timber‑palletised cargo, and project cargo.
- **Container Terminal:** 2 gantry cranes (20‑tonne capacity) with a 1,200 TEU storage yard, capable of handling 45,000 TEU per annum.
### Storage & Warehousing
- **Dry bulk silos:** 45 kt capacity for cereals, pulses, and oilseeds.
- **Cold storage:** 2,000 m³ refrigerated chambers for perishable produce, compliant with **EU HACCP** standards.
- **General cargo sheds:** 12 ha of covered space, equipped with forklift fleets and automated stacking cranes (ASCs).
### Intermodal Connectivity
- **Rail:** Direct rail link (Milepost 84) to the **Fen Line**, enabling 24 h freight services to major UK rail hubs (London, Manchester, Birmingham).
- **Road:** Direct access to the **A47** and **A10** trunk roads, supporting 50 % of cargo movement via HGVs.
- **Logistics parks:** Adjacent **King’s Lynn Business Park** provides ancillary services (customs brokerage, freight forwarding, freight‑forwarder IT platforms).
### Supporting Services
- **Pilotage & Tug Assistance:** 24‑hour pilotage by the **Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)**, with two twin‑propelled tugs (max bollard pull 70 t).
- **Safety & Security:** ISO 9001‑certified **Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO)**, full compliance with the **International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code**.
- **Environmental Management:** Closed‑loop ballast water treatment facility, on‑site waste‑to‑energy plant processing ship-generated waste (capacity 10 t day⁻¹).
For further technical details, the port’s **Annual Performance Report 2024** is publicly available via the UK Government’s portal: Port of King's Lynn – GOV.UK↗.
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## Economic Importance
King’s Lynn’s economic contribution extends beyond direct tonnage handling to a multiplier effect across Norfolk’s **agri‑food, timber, and renewable energy sectors**.
- **Direct employment:** ~1,200 permanent jobs (operations, logistics, engineering).
- **Indirect employment:** An estimated 3,500 jobs created in supply‑chain activities (truck drivers, warehousing, customs brokerage).
- **Annual trade value:** Approx. **£1.2 bn** (2023), with a growth CAGR of 3.5 % over the past five years.
### Sectoral Impact
| Sector | Primary Cargo | Approx. Share of Throughput |
|--------|---------------|-----------------------------|
| Agriculture & Feed | Wheat, barley, rapeseed, animal feed | 38 % |
| Timber & Forest Products | Softwood logs, plywood, finished timber | 22 % |
| Energy | Biomass pellets, renewable fuel | 15 % |
| General Cargo | Containers, project cargo, steel | 12 % |
| Miscellaneous | Refrigerated goods, chemicals | 13 % |
The port’s role in the **UK’s food security** agenda is notable: the grain silos support the National Food Reserves, while the timber terminal supplies the construction industry’s **Eco‑Wood** initiatives. Moreover, King’s Lynn is a designated **“Green Port”** under the UK’s **Clean Maritime Strategy**, with ongoing investments in low‑carbon shore power and electric‑assist tugs.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Domestic Trade
- **East Anglia hinterland:** Primary import flows of timber from Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland) and export of cereals to the Midlands via rail‑road corridors.
- **London & South East:** Frequent **short‑sea container services** (London Gateway, Tilbury) supporting high‑value consumer goods.
### International Trade
| Destination | Vessel Type | Frequency | Principal Commodities |
|-------------|------------|-----------|-----------------------|
| **Rotterdam, NL** | Feeder container ships (2,500 DWT) | 2–3 per week | Containers (manufactured goods), timber |
| **Hamburg, DE** | General cargo vessels (3,000 DWT) | Weekly | Grain, feed, wood chips |
| **Baltic ports** (Gdańsk, St. Petersburg) | Bulk carriers (4,000 DWT) | Bi‑weekly | Rapeseed, timber, bio‑pellets |
| **North America (East Coast)** | Roll‑on/roll‑off (RO‑RO) vessels (5,000 DWT) | Monthly | Agricultural machinery, project cargo |
The **North Sea corridor** (via the **English Channel** and **Skagerrak**) remains the most heavily trafficked route, with tidal windows dictating arrival patterns. Seasonal variations see a surge in **grain imports** during the autumn harvest window, while timber shipments peak in late winter when Scandinavian production is at its highest.
### Emerging Cargo Streams
- **Renewable Energy Feedstock:** The port is positioning itself as a hub for **biomass pellet** imports destined for power stations in the East Midlands.
- **Hydrogen‑related equipment:** Recent enquiries from **hydrogen‑fuel cell manufacturers** indicate a prospective niche for specialized project cargo handling.
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*Prepared for maritime professionals seeking a concise yet exhaustive reference on the Port of King’s Lynn, GBKLN.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
GBKLN
Country
United Kingdom
Province / Region
Norfolk
Latitude
52.750000
Longitude
0.380000
Timezone
Europe/London
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of King's Lynn?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of King's Lynn is GBKLN.
Where is Port of King's Lynn located?
The Port of King's Lynn is located in United Kingdom, Norfolk. Its coordinates are 52.7500°N, 0.3800°E.
What time zone is Port of King's Lynn in?
Port of King's Lynn operates in the Europe/London 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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