CKARU Port Code Lookup

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Total 1 ports of CKARU

CKARU Arutunga Port
Arutunga Port is the seaport of Arutunga, in the city of Arutungain Cook islands. Overseas routes include Australia, Port code is CKARU.

Show details

Port Code

CKARU

Name

Arutunga

Country / Region

Cook islands

City

Arutunga

Sea Routes

Australia

Type

Latitude

-18.8651000

Longitude

-159.7976000

Est. Unit Price

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Port Overview

Arutanga Port, UN/LOCODE CKARU, is the principal international-facing port serving Aitutaki Island in the Cook Islands. It is a small sheltered harbour located inside the surrounding reef, with access through a narrow pass. Vessels normally remain at the roadstead outside the port, while cargo is transferred between ship and shore by barge rather than discharged directly alongside a conventional deep-water container terminal. The supplied port record describes the entrance as approximately 30 metres wide and the harbour as approximately 1.6 metres deep; these conditions make vessel suitability, tidal limitations, weather and barge planning central to every shipment. Our service team therefore treats CKARU as a specialist island relay operation, not as a standard full-service container gateway.

Port code	CKARU
Port name	Arutanga
Country / territory	Cook Islands
Service location	Aitutaki Island, Arutanga
Coordinates	18.865100° S, 159.797600° W
Port profile	Reef-enclosed island harbour with roadstead discharge and shore-side barge transfer

Key Highlights

Roadstead operationOcean-going vessels generally remain outside the harbour; cargo transfer is arranged by barge.

Restricted accessThe narrow reef pass and shallow harbour require confirmation of vessel, draft and operational conditions.

Island logisticsAitutaki is the direct service hinterland, with no mainland rail or road feeder network.

Port authority coordinationThe Cook Islands Ports Authority manages the port and dock-side equipment according to the supplied port record.

Schedule sensitivityWeather, tide, vessel arrival, barge availability and cargo readiness can materially affect delivery timing.

Facilities & Services

Ship-to-shore transfer: Cargo is normally moved from the vessel at the roadstead to Aitutaki shore by barge. Our team will seek confirmation of the receiving barge, lifting method and cargo acceptance conditions before booking.
Harbour access: The harbour is protected by the reef but has a narrow entrance and shallow reported depth. Direct vessel berthing assumptions should not be made without port-side confirmation.
Dock-side equipment: The supplied port information states that the Cook Islands Ports Authority owns and manages the dock-side equipment and barges. Equipment suitability for heavy, oversized or project cargo must be checked case by case.
Container handling: CKARU should not be treated as a conventional deep-sea container terminal. Container availability, lifting, stripping, temporary holding and empty-container return arrangements require advance confirmation.
Inland connectivity: Aitutaki operations are island-based. Final delivery normally requires local road transport from the shore facility; road access, vehicle dimensions and delivery location should be checked before dispatch.

Routes & Transit Times

Typical routing concept: International cargo is generally planned through a regional transshipment point or feeder connection serving the Cook Islands, followed by sea movement to the Aitutaki roadstead and barge transfer ashore. The actual routing depends on the carrier, origin, equipment and sailing plan.
No fixed transit commitment: We do not promise a direct sailing, regular frequency or fixed transit time for CKARU. The carrier’s acceptance, transshipment sequence and local discharge plan must be confirmed for each shipment.
Time-sensitive variables: Waiting for a suitable vessel window, barge availability, weather, tide, reef-pass restrictions, port instructions, customs release and final-island delivery can extend the overall lead time.
Planning practice: Our team recommends allowing schedule margin beyond the ocean-leg estimate and obtaining a current operational plan from the carrier or local port representative before issuing a firm delivery date.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Primary hinterland: Arutanga Port serves Aitutaki Island. Final delivery is determined by the consignee’s location on the island and local road-access conditions.
Likely cargo profile: Island supply cargo commonly requires careful planning for consumer provisions, household and commercial supplies, construction materials, maintenance items, machinery, spare parts and packaged project cargo. Cargo acceptance remains subject to the carrier and port operator.
Equipment considerations: Standard dry containers may be suitable where local handling is confirmed, while heavy, long, high or non-stackable cargo may require breakbulk, flat-rack or special barge arrangements.
Seasonal and resilience cargo: Weather-sensitive supplies and essential goods should be booked with additional schedule and packaging margin because a missed transfer window can delay island delivery.

Operations & Compliance

Booking and cut-off: Cut-off times are carrier- and routing-specific and may be earlier than the ocean departure because of transshipment and barge coordination. Our team will obtain the applicable documentation, cargo and gate cut-offs instead of applying a generic terminal deadline.
Dangerous goods: Dangerous goods require accurate UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, marine pollutant status, packaging and emergency-contact information. Acceptance must be approved before dispatch; do not assume barge or island handling approval.
Documents: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading instructions, consignee details, cargo dimensions and weight must be consistent. For machinery or project cargo, lifting points, centre of gravity and handling drawings should be supplied in advance.
Customs and inspection: Customs release, quarantine or other government controls may be required before final delivery. Inspection, document correction or cargo examination can interrupt the planned barge transfer, so our service team will coordinate the required local confirmation.

Shipping Tips

Send the complete cargo profile at quotation stage, including package count, gross and net weight, dimensions, stackability, lifting points, dangerous-goods status and final delivery address on Aitutaki.
Request written confirmation of the proposed ocean carrier, transshipment point, roadstead discharge plan, barge arrangement, cargo-handling equipment and local receiving party before confirming a firm delivery date.
Use robust, moisture-resistant packaging and secure internal contents for repeated handling. Clearly mark each package with consignee, destination, piece number, gross weight and handling instructions.
For urgent or high-value cargo, our team can compare airfreight or alternative island supply options where available, while explaining that capacity, frequency, customs treatment and final delivery must be verified separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a large ocean vessel berth directly at Arutanga?

Direct berth should not be assumed. The supplied port description states that vessels bound for Arutanga berth at the roadstead and cargo is transferred ashore by barge. Our team will request current vessel and port-operational confirmation for the specific shipment.

Is CKARU a normal container terminal with standard terminal cut-offs?

No standard deep-sea terminal process should be presumed. Container acceptance, discharge, lifting, temporary holding and empty-equipment arrangements must be confirmed with the carrier, the port-side operator and the local receiving party.

What causes the most common delivery delays?

Typical risks include transshipment changes, weather, tide and reef-pass restrictions, roadstead waiting, barge availability, incomplete customs documentation, cargo inspection and unsuitable packing or lifting information.

Can dangerous goods be shipped to CKARU?

Potentially, subject to carrier, barge, port and local regulatory acceptance. Full dangerous-goods details must be submitted before booking; acceptance cannot be inferred from the availability of a general cargo service.

How should we quote transit time to the consignee?

Quote the ocean leg and island delivery as separate planning components, then add contingency for roadstead-to-shore transfer and clearance. Our team will provide an indicative schedule only after the routing and local handling plan are confirmed.

Data Sources & Provenance

Hard identifiers, port code, location, coordinates, reported entrance width, reported harbour depth, management information and roadstead-to-barge operating description are based on the supplied CKARU port master record. Operational statements concerning carrier acceptance, barge scheduling, customs release, dangerous-goods handling and delivery timing are planning guidance and require shipment-specific confirmation.

For current government, port and regulatory verification, our service team recommends checking the relevant Cook Islands authorities through gov.ck and obtaining the latest instruction from the port or appointed carrier before shipment.

The reported approximate dimensions are not a substitute for a current nautical, tidal, vessel-compatibility or port-operational assessment. No unsupported throughput, berth, frequency, tariff or transit-time figures are presented.