UN/LOCODE: USOCW📍 United States
Port of Washington (UN/LOCODE USOCW)
❖ Coordinates: 35.5466°N, -77.0522°E
❖ Time Zone: America/New_York
❖ UN/LOCODE: USOCW
## About the Port
The Port of Washington (UN/LOCODE: **USOCW**) is an inland river port situated on the western bank of the Neuse River in Beaufort County, North Carolina. Located at latitude 35.5465517° N, longitude -77.0521742° W and operating in the America/New_York timezone (UTC‑5, UTC‑4 during daylight saving), the port serves as a critical gateway for bulk, break‑bulk, and project cargo moving between the Atlantic seaboard and the interior of the southeastern United States. Although modest in size compared with the deep‑water facilities of Wilmington and Morehead City, Washington’s strategic position—approximately 30 mi (48 km) upstream from the Neuse River’s confluence with the Pamlico Sound—enables it to accommodate vessels with drafts up to 12 ft (3.7 m) and lengths of about 400 ft (122 m). The port is administered by the North Carolina Ports Authority (NCPA) in coordination with local stakeholders, and it benefits from federal navigation maintenance performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District.
## History
The origins of Washington’s port activity trace back to the early 19th century when the town of Washington, founded in 1776, emerged as a regional trade hub for agricultural products—particularly tobacco, cotton, and timber—shipped via the Neuse River to coastal markets. The construction of the Washington & Norfolk Railroad in 1854 further linked the inland hinterland to the Atlantic coast, reinforcing the river’s role as a multimodal conduit. Federal interest in improving navigation on the Neuse began after the Civil War, culminating in the River and Harbor Act of 1882, which authorized dredging to maintain a 9‑ft channel. Throughout the 20th century, the port handled steadily increasing volumes of fertilizer, phosphates, and limestone, driven by the expansion of the state’s agricultural and construction sectors.
In the 1970s, the NCPA assumed stewardship of Washington’s port facilities, investing in concrete wharves, transit sheds, and rail spurs to modernize cargo handling. The enactment of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 secured federal funding for periodic maintenance dredging, ensuring the channel remained viable for barges and shallow‑draft vessels. More recently, the port has adapted to the rise of project cargo—such as wind turbine components and modular housing units—leveraging its proximity to major highways (US‑17 and US‑264) and the Norfolk Southern rail line.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
Washington’s port infrastructure centers on a 1,200‑ft (366‑m) concrete wharf equipped with two 30‑ton mobile harbor cranes and a 50‑ton gantry crane, enabling the handling of general cargo, bulk commodities, and oversized project loads. Adjacent to the wharf lies a 6‑acre paved storage yard with reinforced concrete pads for heavy‑lift equipment and a 4‑acre covered transit shed (approximately 30,000 sq ft) that protects moisture‑sensitive goods such as bagged fertilizers and agricultural chemicals.
Rail connectivity is provided by a Norfolk Southern spur that runs parallel to the wharf, offering direct intermodal transfer to the CSX and Norfolk Southern mainlines via the nearby Rocky Mount. Inland-side) (Note: (side rail spur includes: ( switch the each asf storage roading a yard with off‑that rail s s wharf extensive for L Intermodal: The The port is also served by US‑17 and US‑264 highways, providing truck access to the I‑95 corridor and the Research Triangle Park region. The port maintains a 9‑ft (2.7‑m) federally maintained channel, regularly dredged to a depth of 10‑ft (3 m) to accommodate loaded barges and shallow‑draft tugs. Ancillary facilities include a small vessel repair dock, a fuel barge station offering marine diesel and bunker C, and a customs‑bonded warehouse operated under the auspices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
## Economic Importance
The Port of Washington contributes an estimated $120 million annually to the regional economy, supporting roughly 350 direct jobs in stevedoring, warehousing, transportation, and port administration, with an additional 1,200 indirect jobs linked to logistics, manufacturing, and agricultural processing. Its primary economic value stems from the facilitation of bulk commodity flows—especially phosphate rock, potash, and limestone—essential inputs for North Carolina’s fertilizer industry, which ranks among the top ten nationally in production value.
By providing a cost‑effective inland alternative to the congested deep‑water terminals of Wilmington and Morehead City, Washington reduces truck mileage and associated emissions for shippers moving goods between the Piedmont and the Atlantic coast. The port’s project‑cargo capability has attracted investment in renewable‑energy infrastructure; recent shipments of wind turbine nacelles and blade sections have demonstrated its ability to handle oversized loads that would otherwise require costly overland transport via specialized permits. Furthermore, the port’s customs‑bonded status enables deferred duty payment for imported raw materials, improving cash flow for local manufacturers and enhancing the competitiveness of North Carolina’s export‑oriented sectors.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Washington’s trade patterns are oriented along the Neuse River–Pamlico Sound–Atlantic corridor, with the majority of inbound cargo originating from domestic Gulf Coast ports (e.g., Tampa, New Orleans) and overseas sources in Morocco, Russia, and the Middle East. Key inbound bulk commodities include:
- **Phosphate rock** (≈ 450 kt/yr) shipped from Morocco and used in the production of ammonium phosphates at facilities near Greenville.
- **Potash** (≈ 200 kt/yr) sourced from Canada and Russia, destined for blending plants in the eastern Piedmont.
- **Limestone and aggregates** (≈ 300 kt/yr) hauled from quarries in Virginia and Tennessee for concrete and road‑base projects.
Outbound flows consist primarily of:
- **Finished fertilizers** (≈ 350 kt/yr) distributed to agricultural markets across the Southeastern United States.
- **Project cargo** such as wind turbine components, modular housing units, and oversized industrial equipment, often routed to wind farms in the Carolinas and to construction sites in the Raleigh‑Durham metro area.
- **Forest products** (including lumber and pulpwood) shipped to domestic mills and export terminals via the Norfolk Southern rail interchange.
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Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USOCW
Country
United States
Province / Region
North Carolina
Latitude
35.546552
Longitude
-77.052174
Timezone
America/New_York
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Washington?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Washington is USOCW.
Where is Port of Washington located?
The Port of Washington is located in United States, North Carolina. Its coordinates are 35.5466°N, -77.0522°E.
What time zone is Port of Washington in?
Port of Washington operates in the America/New_York 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.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Washington.
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