CHLAU Port Code Lookup
Total 1 ports of CHLAU
Lausanne Port is the seaport of Lausanne, in the city of Lausannein Switzerland. Overseas routes include Europe, Port code is CHLAU.
Port Overview
Lausanne port, identified by UN/LOCODE CHLAU, refers to the Port of Ouchy on the southern side of Lausanne, Switzerland, at the edge of Lake Geneva. It is a lake port rather than an ocean container gateway. Its operating profile combines local harbour activity, private and yacht services, passenger-related lake traffic and limited commercial vessel links across the lake to Evian and Thonon in France. For international freight, our service team normally treats CHLAU as a regional lake-side destination or collection point and evaluates road, rail and external seaport connections separately. Cargo plans should therefore distinguish the final Lausanne delivery point from the ocean port or inland terminal used for the main international leg.
| UN/LOCODE | CHLAU |
|---|---|
| Port / locality | Lausanne, Port of Ouchy |
| Country | Switzerland (CH) |
| Coordinates | 46.521300, 6.624800 |
| Port classification | Lake port on Lake Geneva; not an ocean-facing container terminal |
Key Highlights
Facilities & Services
- Harbour functions: The Port of Ouchy supports private boats, yachts and lake-vessel activity, with commercial use subject to the specific vessel, cargo and operator arrangement.
- Container handling: Do not assume a dedicated ocean container yard, quay crane or empty-container depot at CHLAU. Our team confirms the actual loading or discharge point before booking.
- Breakbulk and project cargo: Non-containerised cargo may require a pre-arranged vessel, handling contractor, lifting plan and temporary staging solution; dimensions and gross weight must be submitted in advance.
- Warehousing and inspection: Storage, customs presentation and inspection are normally coordinated through a suitable inland facility rather than presumed to be available inside the Ouchy harbour area.
- Inland distribution: Road delivery is the practical planning baseline for door service. Rail availability, terminal selection and final drayage depend on the confirmed ocean or inland gateway.
Routes & Transit Times
- Lake Geneva direction: Cross-lake movements toward Evian or Thonon can be considered for suitable commercial cargo, but vessel schedules, cargo rules and weather conditions must be reconfirmed for each shipment.
- Ocean import or export: International sea cargo is generally routed via an external seaport or inland container terminal, followed by road or rail movement to the Lausanne area. CHLAU should not be presented as the ocean leg.
- Transit planning: Total lead time depends on the selected gateway, vessel connection, transshipment, Swiss customs status, terminal handover and final delivery appointment. Our service team provides a confirmed estimate only after the complete routing is validated.
- Seasonal and local factors: Lake operating conditions, urban traffic, public holidays, road restrictions and terminal cut-offs may affect the final leg.
Hinterland & Key Cargo
- Primary market: Lausanne and the wider Vaud area form the immediate delivery and collection zone, with onward distribution subject to the selected inland route.
- Typical cargo profile: General commercial goods, packaged products, machinery, industrial components, consumer goods and project consignments may be handled through the wider logistics network, subject to carrier and facility acceptance.
- Lake-related cargo: Cargo connected with regional lake transport, tourism, boating and local supply movements may be relevant, although acceptance is operator-specific.
- High-value and time-sensitive goods: Pharmaceuticals, precision equipment and other controlled or sensitive cargo require a qualified inland facility, temperature or security plan where applicable, and documented handover points.
Operations & Compliance
- Booking and cut-offs: There is no universal CHLAU ocean terminal cut-off to rely on. Confirm the actual lake operator, inland terminal, ocean carrier and final-mile carrier before communicating closing times.
- Customs documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, origin information and any permits must match the actual cross-border movement. Swiss import, export or transit treatment should be confirmed with the appointed customs representative.
- Dangerous goods: IMDG, ADR and any applicable lake-vessel rules may all be relevant depending on the transport leg. Provide the UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, quantity and safety documentation before acceptance.
- Delivery constraints: For oversized, heavy or difficult-to-access cargo, our team checks vehicle dimensions, lifting arrangements, road restrictions, delivery time windows and whether a harbour-area transfer is operationally permitted.
Shipping Tips
- State the actual final destination as Lausanne or Ouchy and request a complete multimodal routing proposal rather than booking “CHLAU” as if it were an ocean container terminal.
- Send cargo dimensions, gross weight, package count, stackability, lifting points and delivery-address photographs early for machinery, project cargo or restricted-access deliveries.
- For FCL or LCL cargo, compare a suitable inland container terminal with direct truck delivery after the ocean leg; the best option depends on container availability, customs status and final-mile requirements.
- Prepare dangerous-goods declarations, commercial documents and customs instructions before the operational cut-off. Our service team can coordinate a lake solution only after vessel and cargo acceptance are confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can CHLAU be used as the port of discharge for an ocean container?
- CHLAU is a Lake Geneva port, not an ocean-facing container gateway. Our team normally arranges discharge at a suitable external seaport or inland terminal, followed by delivery to Lausanne.
- Is commercial cargo service available between Lausanne and France?
- The Port of Ouchy is described as having commercial links with Evian and Thonon. Availability, vessel capacity, cargo type and sailing date must be confirmed for the individual shipment.
- Does the port provide standard container storage and handling?
- Do not assume that standard ocean-terminal services are available at Ouchy. We verify the actual handling point, equipment, storage period and transfer method before issuing an operational plan.
- What documents are needed for a Lausanne delivery?
- The usual file includes a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document, with origin, customs, permit and dangerous-goods documents added where applicable. Requirements depend on the actual country, routing and cargo.
- How should urgent cargo be routed?
- Our service team compares direct road delivery from the selected gateway with an inland-terminal solution. The decision should consider customs release, vehicle availability, delivery access, cargo sensitivity and confirmed cut-offs rather than a generic transit promise.
Data Sources & Provenance
The port code, locality, country, coordinates and Port of Ouchy description in this module are based on the supplied CHLAU port record. Operational statements are presented as shipment-planning guidance for a Lake Geneva port and are not a substitute for confirmation from the relevant carrier, harbour operator, customs representative or inland facility.
For municipal and local-area verification, consult lausanne.ch. For Swiss customs and cross-border compliance reference, consult bazg.admin.ch. Current sailing arrangements, cargo acceptance, handling resources, cut-offs and charges must be verified directly for each shipment.