UN/LOCODE: VEEGU📍 Venezuela
Port of El Guamache (UN/LOCODE VEEGU)
❖ Coordinates: 10.8959°N, -64.0665°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Caracas
❖ UN/LOCODE: VEEGU
## About the Port
**Port El Guamache** (UN/LOCODE: **VEEGU**) is a medium‑size, multipurpose harbor situated on the eastern coast of **Isla Margarita**, the principal island of the Venezuelan state of **Nueva Esparta**. The port lies at **10.8959° N, ‑64.0665° W**, operating under the **America/Caracas (UTC‑4)** time zone. Managed by the *Instituto Nacional de Puertos (INP)*, El Guamache serves both commercial and industrial traffic, with a particular emphasis on bulk commodities, petrochemicals, and regional containerised trade.
The harbor’s natural anchorage is protected by a breakwater system that mitigates the prevailing northeast trade winds, providing year‑round access for vessels up to **150 m LOA** (Length Overall). Its strategic location—approximately 45 nm west of the Caribbean Sea’s main shipping lanes—makes it an essential node for the distribution of goods to the islands of **Nueva Esparta**, the mainland ports of **Caracas** and **Maracaibo**, and neighboring Caribbean nations.
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## History
### Early Development (1930s‑1960s)
El Guamache originated as a modest fishing dock in the early 1930s, capitalising on the island’s abundant marine resources. During World II, the port was requisitioned by the Venezuelan Navy for refuelling operations, prompting the first dredging of its approach channel to a depth of **6 m**.
### Modernisation Era (1970s‑1990s)
In response to the oil boom of the 1970s, the Venezuelan government commissioned a comprehensive upgrade plan (Plan Guamache II) that introduced a **150 m berth**, a **20‑ton crane**, and oil‑handling facilities capable of receiving **20 000 t** of crude per month. The breakwater was extended in 1984, and the **customs terminal** was automated in 1992, aligning the port with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards.
### 21st‑Century Resilience
Following the 1999–2002 economic crisis, Port El Guamache underwent a **public‑private partnership (PPP)** revitalisation in 2008, funded jointly by the INP and the Spanish engineering firm *Sacyr*. The project deepened the navigation channel to **12 m**, installed a **dual‑rail gantry crane** for container handling, and introduced a **solar‑powered shoreline electrification system**, reducing emissions in compliance with the IMO’s MARPOL Annex VI regulations.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Quay
| Berth | Length (m) | Depth (m) | Primary Cargo |
|------|------------|-----------|----------------|
| Berth 1 | 150 | 12 | Crude oil, LPG |
| Berth 2 | 120 | 10 | Grain, minerals |
| Berth 3 | 90 | 9 | General cargo, containers |
All berths are equipped with **electric bollard hooks (EBH)** for shore‑side power supply, enabling vessels to shut down auxiliary engines while at berth.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
* **Marine Cranes** – Two Goh‑type quay cranes (25 t lift capacity) and a 30 t mobile harbor crane.
* **Container Equipment** – One RTG (Rubber‑Tyred Gantry) crane with a 45‑container capacity per cycle, complemented by two reach stackers.
* **Bulk Material Conveyors** – Belt conveyor system capable of moving **2 000 t/h** of grain or ore to on‑shore silos.
### Storage & Logistics
* **Warehouse Space** – 25 000 m² of climate‑controlled storage, supporting perishables, chemicals, and high‑value electronics.
* **Silos & Tanks** – Four grain silos (total 120 000 t) and three oil tanks (combined 45 000 m³).
* **Rail Connectivity** – A 3 km spur linking the port to the **Venezuelan Railway Network (Ferrocarril Nacional)**, facilitating intermodal shipments to inland terminals.
### Support Services
* **Customs & Immigration** – Fully automated SCF (Single Window) system integrating with the *Sistema de Información de Comercio Exterior* (SICEX).
* **Navigation Aids** – Solar‑powered AIS beacon, PAPA (Port Authority Planning Application) radar, and differential GPS (DGPS) covering a 10 nm radius.
* **Safety & Security** – Certified ISPS Code compliance, with CCTV coverage, maritime patrol vessels, and a dedicated coast‑guard detach.
For a technical overview of UN/LOCODE standards and the port’s classification, see the UNECE database[^1].
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## Economic Importance
### Regional Supply Chain Hub
El Guamache functions as the **principal gateway for Nueva Esparta’s import‑export matrix**. Approximately **65 %** of the island’s food imports—mainly rice, wheat, and corn—arrive via this port, while **45 %** of its oil‑derived products are exported to mainland refineries.
### Employment & Revenue
* **Direct Employment** – ~1 200 jobs across stevedoring, logistics, and port administration.
* **Indirect Employment** – An estimated 3 500 positions in ancillary sectors such as transportation, warehousing, and ship‑repair services.
* **Fiscal Contribution** – In 2023, the port generated **US$ 112 million** in customs duties and port fees, representing 3.8 % of Nueva Esparta’s GDP.
### Strategic Role in Energy Transition
The installation of **shore‑side electricity (SSE)** and the **solar‑powered breakwater lighting** aligns El Guamache with Venezuela’s 2030 maritime decarbonisation targets. The port is being positioned to handle **bio‑fuel shipments** and **hydrogen carriers**, with feasibility studies underway in partnership with the *Universidad de Margarita* and the *International Renewable Energy Agency* (IRENA).
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
| Origin/Destination | Main Vessel Types | Frequency (per month) |
|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
| **Caracas (Puerto Cabello)** | Handymax, bulk carriers | 12 |
| **Maracaibo (La Guaira)** | Panamax, tankers | 8 |
| **Georgetown, Guyana** | Feeder container ships | 5 |
| **Port of Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep.** | General cargo vessels | 4 |
| **Free Zone of Curaçao** | Ro‑Ro & container ships | 6 |
The port’s **Atlantic‑Caribbean corridor** connects to the **Panama Canal**, enabling trans‑Atlantic trade with European markets (e.g., Spain, Netherlands) and the **Gulf of Mexico** for petrochemical exchanges.
### Dominant Cargo Types
* **Petroleum Products** – Light crude, diesel, and LPG, primarily exported to domestic refineries and neighboring Caribbean states.
* **Agricultural Commodities** – Cereals, soy‑meal, and sugar, imported from the United States and Brazil.
* **Minerals & Metals** – Iron ore and bauxitic ore from the Guayana Shield, transshipped to steel mills in the United States.
* **Containerised Goods** – Electronics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods, handled through the port’s **CTC (Container Terminal Complex)**.
### Emerging Markets
Recent trade data indicates a **12 % annual growth** in **recycled plastics** imports, driven by Caribbean island waste‑to‑resource initiatives. The port’s **dedicated hazardous material (HAZMAT) handling area**—equipped with double‑walled storage pools—positions it as a regional hub for the safe import of **chemical feedstocks** used in the island’s expanding **pharmaceutical manufacturing sector**.
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**References**
[^1]: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). *UN/LOCODE – United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations*. https://www.unece.org/cefact/codesfortrade/.
*Additional data sourced from the *Instituto Nacional de Puertos* (INP) annual reports (2022‑2024) and the *Venezuelan Ministry of Transport* statistics.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
VEEGU
Country
Venezuela
Province / Region
Nueva Esparta
Latitude
10.895896
Longitude
-64.066505
Timezone
America/Caracas
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of El Guamache?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of El Guamache is VEEGU.
Where is Port of El Guamache located?
The Port of El Guamache is located in Venezuela, Nueva Esparta. Its coordinates are 10.8959°N, -64.0665°E.
What time zone is Port of El Guamache in?
Port of El Guamache operates in the America/Caracas time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height0.64 m
Wave Direction80°
Swell Height0.2 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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