The Port of Belawan (Port Code: IDBLW) serves as a vital maritime hub in Indonesia, strategically positioned on the northwest coast of Sumatra along the western side of the Malacca Strait. This key location establishes Belawan as a critical nexus connecting Southeast Asia with global trade networks.
Geographical Advantage
Belawan maintains strong shipping connections with major regional ports, situated 145 nautical miles from Penang (Malaysia), 237 nautical miles from Port Klang, and 363 nautical miles from Singapore. While functioning as a supporting port for Medan city, it primarily serves as Sumatra's principal maritime gateway.
Port Infrastructure
The port facilities are distributed along the eastern and southern banks of the Belawan River, with the Tip Top area primarily reserved for naval use. Its infrastructure includes:
- 9 ocean-going berths with 2,183 meters of total quay length and 10-meter chart datum depth
- Dedicated facilities: 2 container berths, 1 general cargo berth, and 1 passenger berth
- 3 coastal vessel berths (7m depth) and 6 barge berths (6m depth)
- 4 buoy moorings with 8.5-meter depth
- Butterfly-shaped oil terminal with 10-meter deep tanker berth, located 1km east of main docks
Commercial Significance
With over 20 cargo berths (half being deep-water), Belawan became one of the first four Indonesian ports reopened to Chinese vessels following the 1985 restoration of shipping relations between China and Indonesia. The port handles:
Exports: Palm oil (Indonesia's second largest), rubber, coffee, tobacco, tea
Imports: Rice, flour, fertilizer, petroleum products, cement
Operational Capacity
The main wharf features 9 berths spanning 2,187 meters with maximum 10-meter depth. Equipment includes:
- Various cranes (shore, mobile, floating)
- 40-ton capacity floating cranes
- 882kW tugboats
- 22-meter deep anchorage for large vessels
By 1992, the port achieved 133,000 TEU container handling capacity, demonstrating its growing regional trade potential.
Environmental Conditions
The tropical rainforest climate brings average temperatures of 15-27°C and approximately 2,500mm annual rainfall. As a semi-diurnal tidal port, Belawan experiences average tidal variations of 1.3 meters.
Geographic coordinates: 3.7841385°N, 98.688805°E
