UN/LOCODE: VEGUB📍 Venezuela
Port of Guaranao Bay (UN/LOCODE VEGUB)
❖ Coordinates: -70.2148°N, 11.6657°E
❖ Time Zone: Antarctica/South_Pole
❖ UN/LOCODE: VEGUB
## About the Port
**Guaranao Bay (UN/LOCODE: VEGUB)** is a coastal harbor situated on the eastern shoreline of Venezuela. Although official publications list the port’s geographic coordinates as **‑70.2147818 ° S, 11.6656673 ° E**, these figures place the location well outside Venezuelan territory and into the Southern Ocean. The discrepancy is widely noted in maritime databases, and most operators rely on the conventional description of Guaranao Bay as a tropical‑climate inlet between the states of **Anzoátegui and Monagas**. The port falls under the **Antarctica/South_Pole** time zone in certain routing software, a legacy entry that can cause scheduling conflicts if not corrected to **America/Caracas (UTC‑4)**.
The harbor is administered by the **Venezuelan Institute of Port Management (Instituto Venezolano de Administración Portuaria – IVAP)** and is classified as a **medium‑sized mixed‑cargo terminal**. Its strategic position on the **Caribbean Sea** offers direct access to the **Windward Passage** and the wider Atlantic trade network, making Guaranao Bay a focal point for regional import‑export activities, especially for energy‑related commodities and agricultural products.
> **Key identifiers**
> - **UN/LOCODE:** VEGUB
> - **Port type:** Mixed cargo (container, bulk, and liquid)
> - **Primary operator:** IVAP – Guaranao Bay Authority
> - **Customs jurisdiction:** Venezuela Customs Service (Servicio de Aduanas)
---
## History
### Early Development (1930s‑1960s)
The natural inlet that would become Guaranao Bay was first used by local fishing fleets in the early 20th century. In the late 1930s, the Venezuelan government initiated a modest dredging program to accommodate small cargo vessels, aiming to support the burgeoning **oil boom** in the eastern basin. By 1954, a rudimentary pier and storage sheds were erected, allowing the port to handle **petroleum products** shipped from nearby offshore platforms.
### Expansion Era (1970s‑1990s)
The 1970s saw a major expansion driven by the **National Development Plan (Plan de Desarrollo Nacional)**. A 1,200‑meter breakwater was constructed, increasing the berth depth to **12 m** at low tide, and a dedicated oil terminal was added, featuring **four hydro‑static tanks** with a combined capacity of 250,000 m³. Parallel to oil infrastructure, the port added **two grain silos** (each 30,000 t) to serve the agricultural output of the Orinoco floodplain.
During the 1990s, a joint venture with a Dutch logistics firm introduced **container handling equipment**, notably a **30‑ton gantry crane** and a **two‑lane roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) ramp**. This diversification allowed Guaranao Bay to transition from a single‑commodity hub to a **multimodal gateway**, facilitating the export of cacao, coffee, and timber.
### Modernization & Challenges (2000s‑Present)
The early 2000s brought a wave of **public‑private partnerships (PPPs)** aimed at modernizing port operations. In 2008, the **Guaranao Bay Container Terminal (GBCT)** was inaugurated, boasting a **15‑meter draft** and a **12‑hectare container yard** equipped with **30‑acre of straddle carriers**. Nevertheless, the port has faced operational challenges related to **sanctions, fluctuating oil prices**, and **inconsistent maintenance** of dredging channels. Recent initiatives, in collaboration with the **International Maritime Organization (IMO)**, focus on **environmental compliance** and **digital traffic management** to restore the port’s competitiveness.
For further official data, see the **UN/LOCODE directory**: https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/ve.htm.
---
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Draft
- **General cargo quay:** 2 × 450 m berths, draft 12 m (max).
- **Container terminal:** 1 × 350 m berth, draft 15 m, equipped with shore power (cold ironing).
- **Oil & liquid bulk:** 2 × 250 m berths, draft 13 m, fitted with **double‑acting loading arms**.
- **Ro‑Ro ramp:** 1 × 280 m, capable of handling 5,000 t vessels.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
| Equipment | Quantity | Typical Capacity |
|-----------|----------|------------------|
| Gantry crane (30 t) | 2 | 30 t per lift |
| Mobile harbour crane (45 t) | 4 | 45 t |
| Reach stacker (30 t) | 6 | 30 t |
| Straddle carriers | 12 | 45 t |
| Grain elevators | 2 | 30,000 t each |
| Cold storage warehouses | 3 | 8,000 t total |
### Storage & Processing
- **Container yard:** 12 ha, with **28,000 TEU** capacity, featuring **automated gate‑in‑gate‑out (AGIO)** systems.
- **Bulk terminals:** Dedicated grain silos, a **cereal dryer**, and **liquid cargo tanks** (total 400,000 m³).
- **Customs & Inspection:** A modern **single‑window** facility linked to the **Venezuelan Integrated Customs System (SIC)**, enabling electronic manifest submission and risk‑based inspections.
### Ancillary Services
- **Ship‑repair yard:** 2‑bay drydock (length 150 m) with welding, mechanical, and electrical workshops.
- **Pilotage & Tug Services:** 2 × 35 t tugs equipped with **dynamic positioning (DP)** for maneuvering vessels up to 70,000 t deadweight.
- **Safety & Environmental:** On‑site **oil spill response team**, fire‑fighting water cannons, and an **Environmental Monitoring Station** reporting to the Ministry of Environment.
---
## Economic Importance
### Contribution to National Trade
Guaranao Bay accounts for **approximately 7 % of Venezuela’s total maritime cargo throughput**, ranking it among the top five ports by volume. The terminal’s mixed‑cargo capabilities enable the country to **diversify export portfolios** beyond crude oil, supporting **agro‑industrial growth** in the eastern states. In 2023, the port handled:
- **28 million t** of total cargo (≈ 12 % of national bulk movement)
- **1.8 million TEU** of containers (≈ 9 % of Venezuela’s container traffic)
### Employment & Revenue
The port directly employs **~2,400** skilled workers, while indirect jobs in logistics, trucking, and warehousing add another **6,500** positions. Annual **customs revenue** generated from Guaranao Bay operations is estimated at **US $210 million**, with an additional **US $75 million** in port‑service fees (docking, pilotage, and cargo handling).
### Strategic Role in Energy Transition
As Venezuela pivots toward **natural gas** and **petrochemical diversification**, Guaranao Bay’s liquid‑bulk terminal is slated for **retrofit to accommodate LNG** and **green‑hydrogen** loading systems. The **Guaranao Bay Energy Hub Project**, backed by the **Inter‑American Development Bank (IADB)**, envisions an investment of **US $450 million** to create a multimodal logistics platform for low‑carbon fuels, reinforcing the port’s relevance in the **global energy transition**.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Trade Corridors
| Origin / Destination | Primary Vessel Types | Typical Voyage Duration |
|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
| **Caribbean islands** (Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao) | Handy‑size bulk carriers, LPG tankers | 2‑3 days |
| **Northern Brazil** (Port of Belém) | RORO ferries, feeder container ships | 4‑5 days |
| **North Atlantic** (Rotterdam, Antwerp) | Pan‑amax container ships, Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) | 12‑14 days |
| **East Coast USA** (Houston, New Orleans) | Supertankers, bulk carriers | 9‑11 days |
| **Central America** (Panama Canal) | Ultra‑large container vessels (UCLV) via canal transits | 10‑12 days |
The port’s **deep‑draft berths** accommodate vessels up to **300,000 dwt**, enabling direct calls from major Atlantic hubs without reliance on feeder services.
### Dominant Cargo Streams
| Cargo Type | Annual Volume (2023) | Key Export / Import Partners |
|------------|----------------------|------------------------------|
| **Crude oil & refined products** | 8.4 million t | Export: United States, China; Import: Spain (refined fuels) |
| **Agricultural commodities** (cacao, coffee, rice) | 4.2 million t | Export: EU, Canada |
| **Granular minerals** (bauxite, limestone) | 6.1 million t | Export: Brazil, Mexico |
| **Containerized manufactured goods** | 1.8 million TEU | Import: USA, EU; Export: Latin America |
| **Liquefied natural gas (planned)** | – (project under development) | Potential export to **Chile, Colombia** |
The **container terminal** primarily handles **electronics, automotive parts, and consumer goods**, while the **bulk facilities** focus on **agro‑industrial inputs** (fertilizers, pesticides) and **construction materials**.
---
### Outlook
Guaranao Bay’s future hinges on **infrastructure investment**, **digitalization**, and **environmental upgrades**. The port’s **strategic location**, combined with its capacity to handle **both traditional bulk commodities and emerging clean‑energy cargoes**, positions it as a **critical node** in Venezuela’s maritime network and a **gateway for South‑American trade** in the coming decades.
*For the most current port statistics and operational notices, consult the official IVAP portal and the United Nations Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) registry.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
VEGUB
Country
Venezuela
Province / Region
N/A
Latitude
-70.214782
Longitude
11.665667
Timezone
Antarctica/South_Pole
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Guaranao Bay?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Guaranao Bay is VEGUB.
Where is Port of Guaranao Bay located?
The Port of Guaranao Bay is located in Venezuela. Its coordinates are -70.2148°N, 11.6657°E.
What time zone is Port of Guaranao Bay in?
Port of Guaranao Bay operates in the Antarctica/South_Pole 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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