DEFRA Port Code Lookup
Total 1 ports of DEFRA
Frankfurt Port is the major seaport of Frankfurt, in the city of Frankfurtin Germany. Overseas routes include Europe, Port code is DEFRA.
Frankfurt Port, Germany
Frankfurt Port, also known as Frankfurt am Main Port, is an inland river port on the Main River, approximately 30 km from its junction with the Rhine. It serves the Frankfurt metropolitan area and the wider Rhine-Main logistics region rather than functioning as a seaport with direct ocean access. The supplied port profile identifies facilities for breakbulk, containers, liquid bulk and dry bulk, making DEFRA relevant for multimodal cargo planning, transshipment and regional distribution. Our service team can coordinate the ocean leg through a suitable Rhine or North Sea gateway, followed by inland waterway, rail or road arrangements subject to carrier, terminal and cargo confirmation.
| UN/LOCODE | DEFRA |
|---|---|
| Country / City | Germany / Frankfurt |
| Port type | Inland river port on the Main |
| Coordinates | 50.1058750° N, 8.6894060° E |
| Reported vessel limits | Maximum recorded vessel length 187 m; maximum draught 5.4 m; maximum deadweight 6,500 t |
| Reported annual activity | Approximately 6 million tonnes of cargo and about 4,000 vessel calls in the supplied profile; confirm current figures before quoting |
Key Highlights
- Inland gateway: DEFRA is a Main River port, so ocean cargo requires an additional gateway-to-Frankfurt inland leg.
- Mixed cargo profile: The supplied data covers containers, breakbulk, liquid bulk and dry bulk operations.
- Rhine-Main location: The port is positioned close to Frankfurt’s industrial, commercial and distribution markets.
- Navigation planning matters: Vessel size and draught figures are operational reference points, not automatic acceptance limits for every berth or sailing.
- Multimodal coordination: Our team should confirm terminal acceptance, barge availability, rail options and final-mile truck capacity before issuing a firm plan.
Facilities & Services
Container Handling
Containerized import and export flows can be arranged through the relevant inland terminal or connecting gateway. Equipment, storage, reefer plugs and dangerous-goods acceptance must be checked for the nominated facility.
Breakbulk and General Cargo
The supplied profile records breakbulk capability. For machinery, steel, timber or project cargo, our service team will verify lifting method, package dimensions, weight distribution and berth-side handling conditions.
Liquid and Dry Bulk
Liquid and dry bulk are included in the port profile. Product compatibility, tank or silo availability, environmental documentation and discharge equipment require case-by-case confirmation.
Storage and Inland Distribution
Short-term storage, customs-controlled handling and onward trucking or rail should be booked against the actual terminal and cargo requirements rather than assumed from the port code alone.
Road, Rail and Waterway Connections
Frankfurt’s inland-port role supports multimodal planning. Our team will compare barge, rail and road options according to cargo urgency, terminal cut-offs, equipment availability and delivery postcode.
Inspection and Customs Coordination
Where customs or regulatory inspection is required, the container or cargo may need to move to an approved inspection location. Release timing depends on documents, customs routing and terminal instructions.
Routes & Transit Times
- Ocean imports: Cargo normally moves from an appropriate North Sea or Rhine gateway to Frankfurt by barge, rail or truck; the selected gateway depends on carrier routing, equipment and final destination.
- Ocean exports: Export containers need sufficient time for inland positioning, terminal receiving, customs release and connection to the nominated ocean vessel.
- Regional European cargo: Road and rail solutions may be considered for continental movements, while waterway transport can be suitable when schedule flexibility and cargo characteristics allow.
- Schedule variables: Actual transit time is affected by water levels, lock or waterway restrictions, terminal congestion, equipment shortages, customs examination, weekends and the ocean carrier’s cut-off.
Our service team provides a shipment-specific routing proposal after confirming origin, destination, incoterms, container type, cargo characteristics and required delivery date. No fixed transit time should be assumed from DEFRA alone.
Hinterland & Key Cargo
- Primary market: Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main economic region, including distribution, manufacturing, wholesale and commercial supply chains.
- Likely cargo segments: Containerized consumer and industrial goods, general cargo, machinery, metals, construction materials, liquid bulk and dry bulk, subject to terminal acceptance.
- Distribution planning: Frankfurt is well suited to regional replenishment and inland delivery programs, but final-mile vehicle restrictions, delivery windows and unloading conditions must be checked at consignee level.
- Project cargo: Oversized or heavy units require advance checks on route clearance, bridge limitations, lifting capacity, permits and delivery-site access.
Operations & Compliance
- Cut-offs: Inland terminal receiving, customs filing, barge or rail departure and ocean-vessel cut-offs are separate milestones. Our team will obtain the operative cut-off from the nominated carrier and terminal; published schedules may change.
- Dangerous goods: Provide the correct UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, flash point where applicable, SDS and container packing details before booking. Acceptance depends on the specific mode and facility.
- Customs and inspection: Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, origin information and applicable import or export references must be consistent. Examination, missing data or valuation queries can delay release.
- Inland delivery: Confirm gross weight, axle distribution, container type, delivery hours, unloading equipment and any site restrictions before dispatch. Water-level or infrastructure constraints can require a road or rail alternative.
Shipping Tips
- Request a door-to-door quotation rather than a port-only price, clearly separating ocean freight, gateway handling, inland transport, customs service, storage and possible inspection charges.
- For time-sensitive cargo, ask our team to compare barge, rail and truck combinations and to include contingency time for waterway conditions and terminal handover.
- Submit accurate weight, dimensions, commodity description and dangerous-goods information at the quotation stage; late amendments may affect equipment, routing or acceptance.
- For bulk or project shipments, provide loading and discharge drawings, lifting points, package photos, SDS or product specifications and the final delivery-site constraints before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. DEFRA refers to Frankfurt’s inland port on the Main River. Ocean cargo normally requires a separate sea gateway and an inland connection to or from Frankfurt.
Potentially, subject to the nominated terminal, carrier arrangement, equipment availability and customs status. Our team will confirm the actual receiving point and operating cut-off before booking.
The supplied port profile identifies containers, breakbulk, liquid bulk and dry bulk. Acceptance for a specific commodity depends on the terminal, handling equipment, packaging, regulatory status and available storage.
Provide origin, destination, incoterms, commodity, package count, dimensions, gross weight, container or bulk requirements, dangerous-goods status, delivery date and consignee-site restrictions.
Usually, our service team can evaluate rail or road alternatives, but feasibility depends on equipment, terminal receiving, permits, capacity, cost and the required delivery date. The final plan must be confirmed shipment by shipment.
Data Sources & Provenance
Port code, name, coordinates, location description, cargo categories, reported vessel parameters and activity figures are taken from the supplied DEFRA port profile. These figures should be reconfirmed with the nominated terminal, carrier or local port operator before a commercial commitment.
For official German waterway, navigation and inland-transport framework information, our team uses the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration domain wsv.de. For municipal and regional administrative context, the official Frankfurt city domain is frankfurt.de. These domains support institutional verification and do not replace shipment-specific terminal confirmation.
Operational details such as cut-offs, berth acceptance, storage availability, dangerous-goods approval, inspection arrangements, inland capacity and current schedules are time-sensitive and must be verified by our service team for each booking.