GBCDF Port Code Lookup

Port Code Lookup

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Total 1 ports of GBCDF

GBCDF Cardiff Port
Cardiff Port is the major seaport of Cardiff, in the city of Cardiffin United kingdom. Overseas routes include Europe, Port code is GBCDF.

Show details

Port Code

GBCDF

Name

Cardiff

Country / Region

United kingdom

City

Cardiff

Sea Routes

Europe

Type

Main Port

Latitude

51.4620600

Longitude

-3.1620410

Est. Unit Price

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Port Overview

Cardiff Port (UN/LOCODE: GBCDF)

Cardiff Port is a sea port serving Cardiff and the wider Wales market. It lies on the north side of the Bristol Channel, at the River Taff estuary, approximately 240 kilometres west of London. The port record identifies it as a multi-purpose facility handling container, general, project, liquid bulk and dry bulk cargo. Its operating profile is particularly relevant to shippers moving cargo to or from Wales, the Bristol Channel region, Ireland and Mediterranean-linked markets. Cardiff supports container traffic as well as heavy roll-on/roll-off and heavy-lift project cargo, while storage and distribution facilities support palletised and bulk supply chains. Our service team treats GBCDF as a cargo-specific planning point: vessel suitability, terminal acceptance, cargo dimensions, draft, customs status and inland collection conditions should be confirmed before booking.

Port code	GBCDF
Location	Cardiff, United Kingdom; River Taff estuary, Bristol Channel
Coordinates	51.4620600, -3.1620410
Reported port profile	Approx. 2 million tonnes and 9,000 TEU annually in the supplied port record; verify the applicable reporting year before publication or quotation.
Recorded vessel limits	Maximum recorded vessel length 165 m, maximum draught 8.7 m and maximum deadweight 20,635 t, subject to berth, tide, pilotage and current port confirmation.

Key Highlights

Decision Points for Freight Planning

Multi-purpose Cardiff facility with container, general cargo, project cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk handling capability.
Useful Welsh gateway for cargo requiring regional distribution rather than a London-centric inland routing.
Reported container activity includes trade connected with Ireland and Mediterranean markets; actual service, transshipment and sailing options must be checked per shipment.
Open storage and distribution capacity support cargo that needs temporary holding, palletisation or staged delivery.
Vessel acceptance is sensitive to the declared length, draft, deadweight, cargo dimensions and operational restrictions; do not use the recorded maximums as automatic booking limits.

Facilities & Services

Terminal and Cargo-Handling Profile

Container handling

The supplied port data records a container terminal serving traffic to and from Ireland and Mediterranean-linked markets. Our team confirms the applicable terminal, equipment, acceptance window and carrier connection before issuing a firm plan.

General and project cargo

Facilities are described as suitable for general cargo, heavy roll-on/roll-off and heavy-lift project cargo. Breakbulk drawings, lifting points, piece weights and transport dimensions should be submitted during quotation.

Storage and distribution

The port record identifies 12.3 hectares of open storage, an additional 10.6 hectares operated independently, and a distribution terminal with 8,000 pallet spaces and drive-in racking.

Bulk and liquid cargo

Reported cargo capability includes grain, coal, petroleum, chemicals, fuel oil and petrol or diesel distribution. Product compatibility, tank availability, safety documentation and terminal approval must be checked in advance.

Inland connections

Road collection and delivery are central to regional cargo planning. For out-of-gauge or heavy units, our service team checks route surveys, axle-weight limits, bridge constraints, permits and delivery-site access.

Inspection and control

Customs or physical inspection arrangements depend on cargo status, commodity, declaration data and the relevant UK control process. Inspection-related handling, storage and re-delivery should be allowed for in the operating plan.

Routes & Transit Times

Routing and Schedule Considerations

Ireland and Mediterranean-linked cargo: the supplied port description identifies these as relevant container trade directions. Depending on the carrier and sailing date, cargo may move by direct service, feeder or transshipment; our team confirms the actual routing rather than assuming a fixed service.
Regional UK distribution: Cardiff can be evaluated for Welsh and nearby Bristol Channel demand where inland distance, delivery timing and terminal availability compare favourably with alternative UK gateways.
Project and bulk movements: vessel nomination, berth availability, tide, cargo readiness, lifting arrangements and road permits can affect the operating window more than the nominal sea transit.
Transit-time control: quoted timing should be separated into port cut-off, vessel transit, transshipment risk, customs release and final-mile delivery. All schedules remain subject to carrier and terminal confirmation.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Regional Cargo Fit

Primary hinterland

Cardiff and the wider Wales market form the immediate service area. The Bristol Channel location also makes the port relevant for selected regional flows, subject to inland cost and delivery-site feasibility.

Containerised goods

General merchandise, palletised products and Ireland or Mediterranean-linked cargo may be considered for container routing when the confirmed service pattern and inland destination are suitable.

Breakbulk and project cargo

Timber, steel, iron, machinery and other heavy or dimensional cargo can require vessel-specific lifting plans, temporary storage, lashing and specialist road transport.

Bulk and energy-related cargo

The supplied profile includes grain, coal, petroleum, chemicals, fuel oil, petrol and diesel distribution. Dangerous-goods classification and terminal acceptance are essential before cargo release.

Operations & Compliance

Practical Controls Before Cargo Delivery

Cut-offs: carrier booking cut-off, VGM deadline, shipping-instruction deadline, terminal receiving window and customs release are separate controls. Our service team obtains the shipment-specific times; published generic cut-offs should not be relied upon.
Dangerous goods: provide the correct UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, marine pollutant status, SDS and package details. Obtain carrier and terminal acceptance before dispatch, especially for chemicals, fuels and other liquid bulk.
Customs documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, transport document data, origin information and any required licences must be consistent. The importer or appointed customs representative remains responsible for declaration accuracy and release conditions.
Inspection and inland delivery: allow contingency for customs examination, port handling, storage and re-delivery. For heavy or oversized cargo, confirm route permits, vehicle configuration, lifting equipment and consignee-site access before the vessel is nominated.

Shipping Tips

Recommended Booking Workflow

Send our service team the commodity, HS classification, package count, dimensions, gross weight, cargo readiness date, Incoterm and final delivery postcode before requesting routing.
For project cargo, provide a dimensioned packing list, centre of gravity, lifting points, drawings, lashing requirements and photographs so vessel and inland equipment can be screened early.
For container cargo, plan VGM and customs data ahead of the carrier cut-off, and keep a buffer for terminal receiving, inspection or documentation corrections.
Compare Cardiff with alternative UK gateways only after calculating the complete landed logistics chain: ocean or feeder leg, terminal handling, customs, storage, haulage, permits and final-mile constraints.

FAQs

Cardiff Port Freight Questions

Can Cardiff handle both containers and non-containerised cargo?

Yes. The supplied port profile covers container traffic, general cargo, heavy roll-on/roll-off, heavy-lift project cargo, dry bulk and liquid bulk. Acceptance depends on the selected terminal, vessel, cargo specification and operating window.

Is Cardiff a guaranteed direct gateway for Ireland or Mediterranean cargo?

No service should be assumed from the port description alone. Our team checks the current carrier or feeder routing, transshipment point, equipment availability and sailing schedule for the required shipment.

What information is needed for a heavy or oversized shipment?

Provide exact piece dimensions and weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, packing method, cargo value, delivery address and site restrictions. The route may require specialist vehicles, permits, escort arrangements or a route survey.

How should dangerous goods be arranged?

Submit the complete dangerous-goods declaration and supporting product information before booking. Carrier and terminal approval must be obtained before the cargo is delivered to the port; acceptance is not automatic.

Are the published vessel limits booking guarantees?

No. The recorded maximum length, draught and deadweight are reference parameters from the supplied port record. Actual acceptance is subject to berth, tide, pilotage, cargo, vessel and port-operational confirmation.

Data Sources & Provenance

Reference Basis and Verification Boundary

Port code, name, location, coordinates, cargo profile, storage figures, reported throughput and recorded vessel parameters are taken from the port data supplied for GBCDF. These figures should be treated as reference data tied to that record and rechecked against the applicable operating year before being used in a quotation, contract or compliance document.

For current port facilities, operating contacts and cargo acceptance, our service team recommends verification with the port operator at abports.co.uk. For UK customs and border-control requirements, consult the official government domain gov.uk. Current carrier schedules, terminal cut-offs, inspection arrangements, charges and inland restrictions require shipment-specific confirmation.