VEPAL Port Code Lookup

Port Code Lookup

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Total 1 ports of VEPAL

VEPAL Palua Port
Palua Port is the seaport of Ciudad guayana, in the city of Ciudad guayanain Venezuela. Overseas routes include Central and South America, Port code is VEPAL.

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Port Code

VEPAL

Name

Palua

Country / Region

Venezuela

City

Ciudad guayana

Sea Routes

Central and South America

Type

Latitude

8.3000000

Longitude

-62.7333333

Est. Unit Price

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Port Overview

Palua Port (UN/LOCODE: VEPAL) is a river port on the south bank of the Orinoco River in Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, approximately 1.5 nautical miles from San Felix and around Mile 181.4 on the river. Its principal logistics role is the export of iron ore together with the loading and unloading of general cargo. The port comprises a floating pier formed by five connected sections and a marginal steel pier supported by piles. River level is a central planning variable: the supplied port record indicates handling capability for vessels up to 100,000 DWT, subject to approximately 13.1 m draught at high river and 9.7 m at low river. Our service team treats Palua as a river-dependent bulk and breakbulk gateway rather than a standard container hub.

Port code	VEPAL
Location	Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela; Orinoco River south bank
Coordinates	8.3000000, -62.7333333
Primary profile	Iron ore export and general-cargo handling
Port type	River port with floating and marginal pier facilities

Key Highlights

River-level sensitivity: Navigational draught and vessel acceptance may change materially between high-water and low-water periods.
Bulk-oriented gateway: Iron ore is the defining cargo flow; general cargo can also be handled, while container availability should be confirmed case by case.
Floating and marginal structures: Berth suitability, mooring arrangements and cargo-handling resources require advance confirmation for each vessel and commodity.
Reconstructed operating base: The supplied port record states that reconstruction completed in 2015 and increased stated handling capacity from 3.5 million to 7.2 million tonnes per annum.
Planning priority: Our team recommends confirming river condition, nominated berth, cargo readiness and vessel restrictions before fixing a loading window.

Facilities & Services

Marine access Access is via the Orinoco River. Pilotage, river navigation restrictions, berth availability and draught clearance should be reconfirmed with the appointed local agent.

Berthing structures The port record identifies a five-section floating pier and a steel marginal pier supported by piles. Exact operational limits depend on vessel and river conditions.

Bulk and general cargo The documented cargo profile supports iron ore export and general-cargo loading or discharge. Loading rates and equipment should be obtained before quotation.

Stockyard planning Reconstruction included stockyard expansion. For project, steel or oversized cargo, our team verifies available laydown space, segregation requirements and cargo-release timing.

Container handling A container service should not be assumed from the port’s bulk profile. FCL feasibility, empty-equipment positioning, terminal acceptance and onward routing must be checked before booking.

Inland interface Road delivery arrangements are planned around local access, cargo dimensions, security requirements and the receiving party’s facilities; confirmed local conditions prevail.

Routes & Transit Times

International cargo normally requires coordination between the ocean leg, the Orinoco river approach and local port operations. The appropriate ocean gateway or transshipment arrangement depends on the nominated carrier, cargo type and current service availability.
Iron ore and other bulk shipments are usually planned around vessel nomination, cargo accumulation, river draught and berth readiness rather than a fixed container schedule.
For FCL or general cargo, our service team verifies whether the booking is accepted directly at VEPAL or requires an alternative port, feeder connection, barge arrangement or inland transfer.
Transit time is affected by river level, pilotage, berth congestion, cargo readiness, customs release, weather, vessel nomination and any transshipment. We do not promise a fixed transit time without a confirmed routing and carrier schedule.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Ciudad Guayana and the Orinoco industrial corridor: The port serves an industrial river region where mineral, metallurgical, project and general-cargo movements are operationally relevant.
Iron ore: The documented principal export is iron ore, generally requiring bulk-vessel planning, stockyard coordination, draft control and cargo-quality documentation.
General cargo: Machinery, steel products, industrial materials and project cargo may be suitable subject to berth equipment, dimensions, lifting method and local acceptance.
Containerized cargo: FCL cargo should be treated as subject to confirmation. Our team checks equipment availability, terminal handling, empty returns and the final inland delivery plan before accepting the shipment.

Operations & Compliance

Cut-off management: Do not use a generic terminal cut-off for VEPAL. Obtain the actual cargo-document cut-off, gate or delivery window, vessel nomination and river-condition confirmation from the carrier or local agent.
Documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, cargo description, weights, dimensions, consignee details and any export or import authorization must be consistent. Iron ore shipments should also align declared quantity and quality information with the sales and inspection documents.
Dangerous goods: For regulated cargo, provide the correct UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, SDS and multimodal dangerous-goods declaration before booking. Acceptance depends on the carrier and terminal.
Inspection and release: Customs examination, port inspection or document discrepancies can delay loading or delivery. Our service team coordinates pre-alerts and keeps cargo available for inspection until formal release is confirmed.

Shipping Tips

Provide cargo type, total quantity, packing method, dimensions, gross weight, loading rate and preferred shipment window at the quotation stage; this enables a realistic berth and vessel review.
For bulk or heavy cargo, request a river-level and permissible-draught check before fixing the vessel. Plan possible parceling, lightering or alternative routing only after confirmation from the local maritime parties.
For project cargo, submit lifting points, center of gravity, drawings, securing requirements and discharge-site details early. Our team can then verify handling and inland road feasibility.
Keep a contingency plan for an alternative gateway or delayed sailing when river conditions, equipment availability, customs release or berth congestion change the operating window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VEPAL a conventional container port?

Palua is principally documented as an iron ore and general-cargo river port. Container acceptance, equipment supply and direct booking options must be confirmed for each shipment rather than assumed.

What vessel size and draught can Palua handle?

The supplied port record states that vessels up to 100,000 DWT may be handled, with approximately 13.1 m draught at high river and 9.7 m at low river. These are planning references only; actual acceptance depends on current river level, navigation advice, vessel particulars and berth confirmation.

What is the main cargo exported through Palua?

Iron ore is the principal documented export. General cargo is also handled, while the suitability of steel, machinery or project cargo depends on handling resources, dimensions, weight and the nominated operating window.

Can our team quote a fixed transit time to or from VEPAL?

We can prepare a routing estimate after receiving the cargo and origin or destination details. A fixed transit commitment is not appropriate until the carrier schedule, river conditions, berth plan, customs process and any transshipment are confirmed.

What should be confirmed before booking?

Confirm cargo acceptance, vessel or container availability, river draught, berth window, cargo cut-offs, customs documents, dangerous-goods status, storage or stockyard arrangements and inland delivery conditions.

Data Sources & Provenance

The port code, name, location, coordinates, facility description, vessel reference, river-draught figures and stated reconstruction capacity in this module are based on the supplied VEPAL port record. Capacity and navigational parameters may be historical or operationally conditional and should be reconfirmed with the carrier, port representative, river pilot and local agent before execution.

For independent UN/LOCODE and international transport-reference checks, consult the official United Nations Economic Commission for Europe domain: unece.org.

Operational cut-offs, berth availability, customs procedures, local charges, equipment status, sailing schedules and transit times are changeable items. Our service team verifies these details against the active booking and local operating instructions before cargo movement.