The shipping platform

Location: The main port of Esmeraldas is situated on the north western most part of the Ecuador coastline. General overview: Esmeraldas, in Esmeraldas Province, is a medium sized general and bulk cargo port with three berths. There is an oil refinery which handles the following offshore oil terminals: Balao Terminal: Balao is a crude oil terminal situated a few miles offshore. Sea Terminal Berth X (SBM-W) for vessels up to 100,000DWT limited to wind intensity, off the mouth of the Esmeraldas River in position 01°02'N 079°43'W and has a min depth of 36.5m at LWS. Sea Terminal Berth Y (SBM-E), also for 100,000DWT vessels, is situated 2.9nm from shore and 0.9nm distant on true bearing 081° from Berth X in position 01°02.2'N 079°41.9'W and has a min depth of 36.5m at LWS. Tepre Terminal: 01°01'N 079°40'W. Tepre has a CBM with four buoys, for oil products connected to a shore refinery/tank farm by submarine pipelines. Petroecuador Products Terminal: Located near anchorage area 2nm from shore. There are facilities for loading and discharging operations of fuel oil, gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil. Principal Commodities: Esmeraldas. Imports: Pipes and steel billets. Exports: Bananas and timber. Esmeraldas Port has a Free Zone. Traffic figures: Approx number of vessels visiting the port annually: Esmeraldas 470 vessels; Balao 220 vessels. Load line zone: Tropical. Max size: Esmeraldas: LOA 200m, draught 10.7m, 40,000DWT. Balao SBM's: LOA 304.9m, draught 15.7m, BCM 160m, 120,000DWT. Tepre CBM: LOA 183m, draught 12.2m, 40,000DWT. Largest vessel handled: 120,000DWT at Balao.