Overview
In Colombia, the waterway network is composed of four river basins: Magdalena, Atrato, Orinoco and Amazon basins. The Magdalena river has a significant waterflow passing through areas with high population density, which makes it the main waterway in Colombia. It is 24,725 km long, of which permanent small vessels navigation is allowed for 18,225 km (74%) throughout the year. Of these, permanent large vessels navigation is allowed for 7,063 km (39%) and temporary larger vessels navigation is allowed for 4,210 km (23%). The remaining 6,500 km (26%) are not navigable.
Small vessels are defined as any of the following: Canoes, speedboats, panga boats, boats. Tugboats and ferries are considered large vessels.
The Magdalena and Cauca rivers are the most important trade routes, especially for cargo, but to a much lesser extent than road transport. Others are slow-moving rivers supporting nearby localities isolated from the rest of the country. Due to infrastructure problems, river navigation generally remains underutilized as river ports are not prepared for a large number of passengers and most rivers have a low capacity. Waterways are still very important in the Amazon, Colombian Orinoco and Chocó regions. However, jungle conditions have hindered road development so far.
Source: Invías
Source: Invías
The Ministry of Transport, through the Land, Water and Rail Transit Task Force, is responsible for issuing and certifying crew and cargo licenses and supporting the Territorial Directorates and River Inspections under the Ministry.
The Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Rio Grande de la Magdalena (CORMAGDALENA) is a government agency responsible for the recovery of navigation and port activity, land adaptation and conservation, energy generation and distribution, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental preservation.
http://www.cormagdalena.gov.co/
DIMAR is the government entity responsible for rate registration, additions or modifications, liner conferences and/or transport agreements registration, operation authorizations and permits, ship chartering approvals, ship registration approvals, coastal chartering authorizations, company additions and/or modifications, ship arrival authorizations, ship departure authorizations, among others.
River Ports of National Interest
Geographic Region |
River Ports |
---|---|
Magdalena River (managed by Cormagdalena) |
Barranquilla, Calamar, Magangué, La Gloria, Gamarra, Capulco, Puerto Wilches, Barrancabermeja, Puerto Berrío, Puerto Salgar and La Dorada. |
Pacific Coast and Atrato River |
Quibdó, Tumbo, Pizarro, Palestina and Istmina. |
Orinoco (Orinoco river basin) |
Puerto Carreño, Puerto Nariño, La Banqueta, Cabuyo, Puerto López, San José del Guaviare, Mitú, Yuruparí, Pucarón, Calamar and Puerto Inírida. |
Amazonia (Amazon river basin) |
Puerto Asís, Puerto Leguizamo, Tarapacá, La Tagua, La Pedrera and Leticia. |
Inland Navigation Companies
Barranquilla Container Terminal (BCT): This company reactivated container barge transportation along the Magdalena River, achieving an average loading capacity of 25 units per hour from dock to barge using Panamax gantry cranes.
Impala Terminals Colombia: The company provides specialized river container cargo, general cargo and project cargo transportation along the Magdalena River with land transport links from Barrancabermeja to the main consumption and dispatch centers in the country.
https://www.impalaterminals.com/our-global-network/latin-america/colombia/
Naviera Central S.A.: The company provides river and multimodal transport services and port terminals along the Magdalena and Cauca rivers in Colombia. Backed by new equipment and extensive logistics and shipping experience.
https://www.navieracentral.com/
Naviera Fluvial Colombiana: The company provides diversified fluvial mass cargo transportation services along the Magdalena River, operating 91 specialized barges for hydrocarbon transportation, steel bulk cargo, containers cargo, bagged cargo and oversized cargo.
Passenger Carrying Capacity
Type of vessel |
Description |
Capacity |
Route |
Type of cargo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boats |
Small oar-driven boats mainly made of wood or fiberglass. Mainly used for fishing. |
Up to 50 people. |
Medium hauls |
Bulk cargo, food cargo, passenger transport |
Speedboats |
Powered by an internal combustion engine driving a propeller. As speedboats are faster, travel times are shorter than by boat and loads can be higher. |
Lower tonnage capacity |
Long hauls |
Bulk cargo, food cargo |
Panga boats |
Medium-sized boats with an outboard motor. Usually made of wood. |
Approximately 8 to 18 people |
Long hauls |
Passenger transportation |
Canoes |
Small size front and back pointed boats making them faster. Human-powered by paddles depending on the number of people carried in the boat. |
Less than 8 people |
Medium hauls |
Passenger transportation |
Tugboats |
Large vessels pushing or towing large load capacity ferries. |
Zero load capacity. Variable pushing capacity according to tug type. |
Long hauls |
Provide power to boats and ferries. |
Ferries |
For cargo transport propelled by tugboats. |
Capacity ranges between 463Tons - 4536 Tons. |
Long hauls |
Bulk cargo, food cargo, hydrocarbons, materials |
Distance Matrix
Transit time from one main port to another port (km) by conventional barge |
|||||||
|
Barranquilla |
Magangué |
Gamarra |
Puerto Wilches |
Barrancabermeja |
Puerto Triunfo |
Puerto Salgar |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barranquilla |
237.9 |
472.7 |
597.1 |
631.2 |
824.9 |
887.8 |
|
Magangué |
237.9 |
234.8 |
359.2 |
393.3 |
587 |
649.9 |
|
Gamarra |
472.7 |
234.8 |
124.4 |
158.5 |
352.2 |
415.1 |
|
Puerto Wilches |
597.1 |
359.2 |
124.4 |
34.1 |
227.8 |
290.7 |
|
Barrancabermeja |
631.2 |
393.3 |
158.5 |
34.1 |
193.7 |
256.6 |
|
Puerto Triunfo |
824.9 |
587 |
352.2 |
227.8 |
193.7 |
62.9 |
|
Puerto Salgar |
887.8 |
649.9 |
415.1 |
290.7 |
256.6 |
62.9 |
Key Routes
Barrancabermeja to Puerto Salgar |
Barranquilla to Puerto Wilches |
Gamarra to Barranquilla |
Puerto Wilches to Magangué |
|
Width (m): |
300m - 500m |
300m - 500m |
300m - 500 m |
300m - 500m |
---|---|---|---|---|
Companies Operating on the Waterway |
Impala, Naviera Rio Grande, Naviera Central |
Impala, Naviera Rio Grande, Naviera Central |
Impala, Naviera Rio Grande, Naviera Central |
Impala, Naviera Rio Grande, Naviera Central |
Total Distance (km) |
256 km |
597 km |
472 km |
231 km |
Weather Effects |
Dry season |
Dry season |
Dry season |
Dry season |
Flow (m³/ s) |
7.100 m3/s |
7.000 m3/s |
8.000 m3/s |
6.000 m3/s |
Maximum Weight and Dimensions for Vessels |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Main Ports |
Puerto Triunfo |
Gamarra and Magangué |
Mompox, El Banco, Puerto Wilches, Barrancabermeja, |
Barrancabermeja, Puerto Berrio, Puerto Salgar, Girardot |
Security concerns |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
Regular Traffic Passenger/Cargo |
Passenger/Cargo |
Passenger/Cargo |
Passenger/Cargo |
Passenger/Cargo |
Port Information
Key Port Information |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Puerto Salgar |
Leticia |
Barrancabermeja |
Antioquia |
Barranquilla |
Location |
La Dorada, Caldas |
Leticia, Amazonas |
Barrancabermeja, Santander |
Turbo, Antioquia |
Barranquilla, Atlántico |
Contact Information |
|||||
Connections with other transport means |
Road |
Road |
Road |
Road - Waterways |
Road - Waterways |
Storage Capacity |
No data |
No data |
No data |
No data |
Barranquilla seaport between 2600 and 6000 sq. meters |
Load handling equipment |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Customs clearance control |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Additional comments |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Disclaimer: Provider registration shall not imply any business relationship between the provider and WFP/Logistics Cluster, which shall be solely used as a determinant of services and capabilities. Please note, WFP/Logistics Cluster shall maintain impartiality at all times and not be in a position to endorse any comments on the suitability of any company as a reputable service provider.