ECBHA Port Code Lookup
Total 1 ports of ECBHA
Bahia De Caraquez Port is the seaport of Bahia de caraquez, in the city of Bahia de caraquezin Ecuador. Overseas routes include Central and South America, Port code is ECBHA.
Port Overview
Bahia de Caraquez Port, UN/LOCODE ECBHA, is a small roadstead and estuarine port in Ecuador. It is located on the right bank of the Jone estuary in the Bay of Caraquez, at approximately 0.6176°S, 80.4282°W, and about 550 nautical miles south of the Panama Canal. The port is oriented toward breakbulk and dry-bulk movements rather than regular containerized operations. Its principal documented export is castor seed, handled through 300-ton-capacity lighters. Lighters can generally cross the bar only at high water, while ocean vessels anchor approximately three nautical miles offshore. The recorded maximum permitted draft is 7.8 metres. Our service team therefore treats ECBHA as a tide-sensitive, lighter-assisted port call requiring advance nautical and cargo-planning confirmation.
| UN/LOCODE | ECBHA |
|---|---|
| Country / City | Ecuador / Bahia de Caraquez |
| Port type | Small roadstead and estuarine port |
| Recorded position | 80.4282°W, 0.6176°S |
| Recorded draft limit | 7.8 m maximum; confirm with the port and vessel operator before fixing |
Key Highlights
- Roadstead operation: Ocean vessels are expected to anchor offshore rather than use a conventional deep-water container berth.
- Tide-dependent lightering: Lighters may cross the bar only at high water, making the working window a core scheduling constraint.
- Bulk and breakbulk focus: The documented cargo profile is suited to loose, bagged, agricultural and other non-containerized cargo.
- Draft control: The recorded maximum draft is 7.8 metres; under-keel clearance and tide conditions must be reconfirmed for each call.
- Limited standardization: Our team does not assume regular container handling, fixed liner services or guaranteed berth productivity at ECBHA.
Facilities & Services
Routes & Transit Times
- Trade direction: Cargo may be connected with Ecuadorian coastal and international trade flows, but carrier acceptance, routing and transshipment options must be checked case by case.
- Port-call sequence: A typical operational sequence may involve offshore anchorage, high-tide lighter crossing, lighter loading and transfer to or from the ocean vessel.
- Time drivers: Tide height, bar conditions, swell, weather, lighter availability, loading readiness and vessel draft can materially alter the working schedule.
- Transit planning: Our team provides a shipment-specific schedule only after confirming the nominated vessel, cargo form, loading method, tide window and any connecting gateway.
Hinterland & Key Cargo
- Local coastal hinterland: Bahia de Caraquez and the surrounding Manabí coastal area form the practical origin and destination zone, subject to road access and local collection conditions.
- Primary documented export: Castor seed is identified as the main export associated with this port.
- Suitable cargo categories: Breakbulk, dry bulk, agricultural products and other cargo that can be safely handled by lighter may be considered after operational approval.
- Containerized cargo: Standard FCL/LCL planning should not be presumed. Our service team compares ECBHA with a suitable Ecuadorian container gateway when equipment or liner connectivity is required.
Operations & Compliance
- Booking and cut-off: Local cargo-receiving, lighter-loading and vessel cut-off times may differ from standard container-terminal practice. Obtain written confirmation from the port agent and vessel operator before dispatch.
- Draft and tide: Submit vessel particulars, cargo quantity, stowage plan and intended draft early. The 7.8-metre recorded limit is not a substitute for a voyage-specific navigation approval.
- Documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading instructions, cargo weight, origin documents and export declarations should be aligned before loading. Agricultural cargo may require additional sanitary or phytosanitary documents.
- Dangerous goods: Any regulated or hazardous cargo requires advance acceptance, correct classification, packing, marking, labelling and declaration under applicable Ecuadorian and maritime rules.
Shipping Tips
- Send cargo description, dimensions, packing method, total weight, moisture sensitivity and handling requirements to our service team before requesting a firm quotation.
- For castor seed and similar agricultural cargo, use moisture-resistant packaging, verify cleanliness and arrange inspection or treatment documents where required by the destination.
- Reserve operational margin around the high-water lighter window. Avoid planning a same-day onward connection unless the agent confirms the tide, lighter and loading sequence.
- When container equipment, reefer control or predictable liner frequency is essential, let our team compare an alternative Ecuador gateway and the additional inland leg before cargo is positioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ECBHA handle standard FCL or LCL shipments?
ECBHA is documented primarily as a breakbulk and dry-bulk roadstead port. Our team does not assume routine FCL/LCL handling; container acceptance, equipment supply and any feeder or transshipment connection must be confirmed before booking.
How is cargo transferred to an ocean vessel?
The documented arrangement uses lighters of approximately 300-tonne capacity, with the ocean vessel anchoring about three nautical miles offshore. The exact transfer plan depends on the cargo, vessel and local agent.
Why is the tide important?
Lighters may cross the bar only at high water. A round trip may take about three hours excluding lighter loading, but actual performance depends on tide, weather, bar conditions and cargo readiness.
Is the 7.8-metre draft limit guaranteed for every vessel?
No. It is the recorded maximum permitted draft in the supplied port data. Our team requires current port-agent and vessel-operator confirmation of draft, under-keel clearance and navigation restrictions for each call.
What should be supplied for a quotation?
Provide cargo type, packing, quantity, weight, dimensions, loading and discharge points, required delivery date, dangerous-goods status and whether a containerized or non-containerized solution is required.
Data Sources & Provenance
Hard facts in this module, including UN/LOCODE, port name, coordinates, roadstead description, cargo scope, lighter capacity, approximate offshore anchorage, draft figure and Panama Canal distance, are based on the supplied ECBHA port record. Operational conditions such as tide windows, acceptance, pilotage, documentation, customs controls, equipment and vessel suitability require current confirmation from the appointed Ecuadorian port agent, carrier and competent authorities.
For Ecuadorian customs and import/export compliance reference, our service team may consult aduana.gob.ec. This domain is provided as a regulatory reference only; it does not verify berth availability, sailing schedules, terminal capability or shipment-specific transit times.
No carrier schedule, throughput figure, berth count, terminal name, tariff, operating-hour commitment or guaranteed transit time is asserted here without shipment-specific confirmation.