Port Overview 

The Port of Port Vila on Efate Island, Shefa Province is the principal port in Vanuatu. It consists of the Main International Wharf and Lapetasi International Wharf. The Main International Wharf handles cruise ships and oil tankers and Lapetasi Wharf handles international cargo vessels. A smaller dock currently handles domestic cargo carriers. A larger domestic wharf is currently being built beside the Lapetasi International Wharf. 

 

Port website: N/A 

Key port information may also be found at: https://www.maritime-database.com/port.php?pid=1594 

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Vanuatu
Province or District	Port Vila, Shefa Province
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Port Vila  11.5 km
Port's Complete Name	Port of Port Vila
Latitude	-17.75534
Longitude	168.30601
Managing Company or Port Authority	Department of Ports and Marine  Ifira Wharf and Stevedoring
Management Contact Person	Department of Ports and Marine  P: +678 22339 / 33600  F: +678 22475  Ifira Wharf and Stevedoring  P: +678 22929  F: +678 25351
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Bauerfield International Airport – approx. 12 km from port  Aircalin  Air Vanuatu  Fiji Airways  Solomon Airways  Virgin Australia

 

Port Picture 

 

• Lapetasi International Wharf 

• Main International Wharf 

• Container Storage 

• Ifira Port Development Services 

• Biosecurity Vanuatu Wharf Office 

• Customs Wharf Office 

 

Aerial view of Lapetasi International Wharf (left) and the Main International Wharf (right) 

Warehouse at the Main International Wharf 

 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority: Ensures the safety of all vessels and passengers on international and domestic vessels. Ensure the effective regulation of ports and port facilities through the promotion of efficient and safe port operations and the protection of rights of port users to access ports and port facilities. 

Department of Ports and Marine: The Department of Ports and Marine has jurisdiction over the two commercial harbours in Vanuatu: Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Espiritu Santo. The Department is responsible for the implementation of the Shipping and Ports Act which regulates Vanuatu’s ports of entry, internal ports, the role of harbourmasters who oversee the ports and additional related aspects of maritime operations. 

Ifira Port Development Services (IPDS): Responsible for all stevedoring activities at the Lapetasi International Wharf. 

Vanuatu Customs & Inland Revenue (Border Control): Execute and enforce relevant laws and regulations to protect the welfare of Vanuatu by boarding international crafts (air and sea) to assess the risk of possible threat through our borders, maintaining the level of compliance to relevant laws and regulations, and providing clearance for entry, coast-wise movement, and departure. 

Biosecurity Vanuatu (Border Control):  Mandated to protect Vanuatu from the introduction of harmful exotic and invasive plant and animal pests and diseases. Biosecurity Vanuatu’s sea port operation is to ensure that all sea going crafts, people, and goods do not bring with them organisms that can affect the livelihood and the environment of the people of Vanuatu. Biosecurity Vanuatu has offices in Port Vila (Post Office, Bauerfield International Airport and Main International Wharf) on Efate Island and in Luganville on Espiritu Santo Island. 

 

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List. 

 

Port Performance 

The port is currently not congested in terms of ships berthing. Containers continue to be offloaded and empty containers shipped back so there is a steady movement of containers through Lapetasi International Wharf.  

At the Main International Wharf, cruise ships normally dock for a day and depart by 1700 hours while gas and oil tankers can stay up to 1.5 days depending on the rate of fuel discharge. 

During an emergency response, humanitarian cargo is prioritised for offloading and clearance and the Department of Ports and Marine works closely with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Customs to clear humanitarian cargo efficiently. During an emergency response, the Main International Wharf can be used by foreign military assets and personnel. 

 

Seasonal Constraints
	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	Yes	From November to April
Major Import Campaigns	No	N/A
Other Comments	N/A

 

Handling Figures for 2022 for Lapetasi International Wharf
Vessel Calls	69
Container Traffic (TEUs)	Information not available

 

Handling Figures for 2022 for Main International Wharf
Cruise ships	20
Gas and oil tankers	17

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following: 

• Wharfage, light, pilot, etc fees are paid to Department of Ports and Marine. Refer to 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List for contact details. 

• Discharge rates and terminal handling charges are paid to Ifira Wharf and Stevedoring. Refer to 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List for contact details. 

Berthing Specifications 

Main International Wharf	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	1	220 m	10 m along side	Main wharf shears off to around 20 m with a 10 m wide apron
Container Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Silo Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	1	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

Lapetasi International Wharf	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Container Berth	1	200 m	13 m along side
Silo Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	1	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	N/A	N/A	N/A

 
No infrastructure was built at the Lapetasi International Wharf to discharge fuel from tanker vessels. Gas and oil tankers continue to berth at the Main International Wharf to discharge fuel and gas. Note that it is possible to refuel ships at both international wharves. 

 

Port Handling Equipment 

Is the port equipment managed by the government or privately? The port equipment is managed by IPDS which is a privately owned company. IPDS manages all the port handling equipment, and they have an office at Lapetasi International Wharf. Port handling equipment available at the wharf include 45-tonne full reach stackers and 10-tonne empty reach stackers. 

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
Dockside Crane	No	N/A
Container Gantries	No	N/A
Mobile Cranes	No	N/A
Reachstackers	Yes	4	2 x 45 tonne full reachstackers – 5 high over 3 rows. For 20- and 40-foot containers.  2 x 10 tonne empty reachstackers for empties that can stack 6 high.
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer)	No	N/A
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines	No	N/A
Transtainer	No	N/A
Forklifts	Yes	8 x forklifts various SWL  3 tonne maximum

Container Facilities 

Lapetasi International Wharf can handle approximately 4,500 containers on the wharf at any one time. IPDS is the only company in Port Vila with any stevedoring capacity and has a long-term agreement with the Government of Vanuatu to manage the stevedoring and cargo handling. 

 

 

Lapetasi International Wharf Facilities
Facilities	20 ft	40 ft
Container Facilities Available	Yes	Yes
Container Freight Station (CFS)	N/A	N/A
Refrigerated Container Stations	Yes	Yes
Other Capacity Details	N/A	N/A
Daily Take Off Capacity   (Containers per Day)	320 in total for both 20 ft and 40 ft
Number of Reefer Stations   (Connection Points)	34	Information not available
Emergency Take-off Capacity	N/A	N/A
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift   (Containers per Shift)	Information not available	Information not available

Lapetasi International Wharf can handle approximately 4,500 containers on the wharf at any one time with a 10-day dwell time. 

Customs Guidance 

Customs and Biosecurity have small offices located at the Main International Wharf for container releases. All customs and biosecurity release paperwork and payment of storage and handling fees must be provided to IPDS before bookings can be made for container movement from the wharf.  

Sea freight clearance at the Port of Port Vila is done electronically through ASYCUDA. 

 

Documents required by Customs for clearance of relief items: 

• Tax exemption letter from the NDMO 

• Commercial invoices 

• Freight statements 

• Other charges statements 

• Packing lists 

• Bill of Ladings 

• Cargo manifest 

• Sanitary or phytosanitary certificate (where required) 

 

Important to note that when sending relief items, only relief items are to be included in the package, packing list, bill of lading, tax exemption letter from NDMO, etc. No personal items are to be included as personal items are not tax exempt. 

 

During peacetime, goods must be cleared from customs control within two months from the date of arrival of the goods. After two months, the goods may be seized by Customs and forfeited to the Government of Vanuatu. 

 

Contact details: 

Customs Lapetasi Wharf 

P: +678 22862 / 33590 

E: customsborder@vanuatu.gov.vu  

 

Reference: https://customsinlandrevenue.gov.vu/  

 

For more information on customs in Vanuatu, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

 

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

The Lapetasi International Wharf is a multipurpose cargo wharf for international shipping vessels. There is a large container storage facility within the premises and space for bonded, LCL and break-bulk cargo. Ro-Ro facilities are available, when needed. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

The port is not equipped to handle bulk grain. There are no companies available for bagging and no silo storage facilities. 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

The Lapetasi International Wharf includes a break bulk cargo warehouse and 3.5 hectares allocated for different sized cargo. A 600 m2 bonded warehouse is also available for LCL and bonded cargo. 

 

The Main International Wharf has space for containers, but this is reserved for containers seized by Customs. 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	1
Refrigerated Cargo	34 reefer stations
General Cargo	Lapetasi Int. Wharf – 1  Main Int. Wharf - 1

Stevedoring 

IPDS is the only company in Port Vila with any stevedoring capacity and has a long-term agreement with the Government of Vanuatu to manage the stevedoring and cargo handling.  

Hinterland Information 

IPDS has two straddle trucks of 20 mt capacity for movement of 20- and 40-foot containers. 

 

Apart from IPDS, only licensed customs brokers and transporters can access the Lapetasi International Wharf for container deliveries / returns. 

Port Security 

The Department of Ports and Marine is responsible for security at the Main International Wharf. IPDS is responsible for security at the Lapetasi International Wharf. 

Main International Wharf Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Police Boats	Yes, on request
Fire Engines	No, not stationed at the wharf

 

Lapetasi International Wharf Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Police Boats	Yes, on request
Fire Engines	No, not stationed at the wharf

 

 

Port Overview 

The Port of Luganville is located on the south-eastern coast of Espiritu Santo Island in Sanma Province. The port is used for transhipment of beef, fish, cacao and copra (dried coconut) and import of general goods and oils. The port is government-owned and can also accommodate cruise ships and tankers. The draft at the Port of Luganville is deeper than at the Port of Port Vila. 

Adjacent to the Port of Luganville is the Samansen Wharf which handles domestic ships and ferries. The Samansen Wharf can handle only one cargo ship at a time. 

There are two other ports in Luganville which are also used for domestic sea travel: 

• Ifira Santo Wharf 

• Melcoffee Wharf 

Port website: N/A 

Key port information may also be found at: https://www.maritime-database.com/port.php?pid=3712  

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Vanuatu
Province or District	Espiritu Santo, Sanma Province
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Luganville  1.9 km
Port's Complete Name	International Wharf
Latitude	-15.51494
Longitude	167.188
Managing Company or Port Authority	Port Authority – Department of Ports and Marine  Stevedoring – Northern Islands Stevedoring Company Limited (NISCOL)
Management Contact Person	Department of Ports and Marine  P: +678 36033  Harbour Master – Capt. Terry Ngwele: +678 33790; 7783338; 5728816 (tngwele@vanuatu.gov.vu)   NISCOL  P: +678 36084  E: commercial@niscol.com.vu   CEO – Hollingsworth Ala Ngwele: +678 36084; 7777124
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Santo International Airport, Luganville  Air Vanuatu  Aircalin  Virgin Australia  Solomon Airlines

 

Port Picture 

 

• Luganville International Wharf 

• Customs 

• Container Storage 

• Cruise Ship Terminal 

• Samansen Domestic Wharf 

 

View from the Cruise Ship Terminal 

 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Department of Ports and Marine: The Department of Ports and Marine has jurisdiction over the two commercial harbours in Vanuatu: Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Espiritu Santo. The Department is responsible for the implementation of the Shipping and Ports Act which regulates Vanuatu’s ports of entry, internal ports, the role of harbourmasters who oversee the ports and additional related aspects of maritime operations. 

 

Northern Islands Stevedoring Company Limited (NISCOL): A stevedoring company which is responsible for all stevedoring services at the Port of Luganville. NISCOL handles loading and offloading of international cargo, storage and movement of cargo (containers) to delivery sites on Espiritu Santo. 

 

Vanuatu Customs & Inland Revenue (Border Control): Execute and enforce relevant laws and regulations to protect the welfare of Vanuatu by boarding international crafts (air and sea) to assess the risk of possible threat through our borders, maintaining the level of compliance to relevant laws and regulations, and providing clearance for entry, coast-wise movement, and departure. 

 

Biosecurity Vanuatu (Border Control):  Mandated to protect Vanuatu from the introduction of harmful exotic and invasive plant and animal pests and diseases. Biosecurity Vanuatu’s sea port operation is to ensure that all sea going crafts, people, and goods do not bring with them organisms that can affect the livelihood and the environment of the people of Vanuatu. Biosecurity Vanuatu has offices in Port Vila (Post Office, Bauerfield International Airport and Main International Wharf) on Efate Island and in Luganville on Espiritu Santo Island. 

 

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List. 

 

Port Performance 

Live port performance can be found at the following link: https://www.fleetmon.com/ports/luganville-santo_vusan_9837/?language=en  

 

Designed with a 360m long wharf apron, the Port of Luganville can berth a 30,000-dead-weight tonnage cargo ship or a 100,000 GT cruise ship. 

 

The port is currently not congested but there are times when congestion occurs. During an emergency, there is an established priority for humanitarian cargo. 

Seasonal Constraints
	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	Yes	November to April
Major Import Campaigns	No	N/A
Other Comments	N/A

 

Handling Figures for 2022
Vessel Calls	31
Container Traffic (TEUs)	5,024

 

Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2022
Bulk (MT)	55,109 RT
Break bulk (MT)	9,069 mt

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	1	360 m	20 m	30 m wide apron
Container Berth	1	360 m	20 m	30 m wide apron
Silo Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	1	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

The port is the deepest in the Pacific at 20 m with approximately 12 m at the wharf front. 

The wharf can handle 40 mt per m3 loading. 

Port Handling Equipment 

The management and handling of the port is contracted to NISCOL. There are no cranes or gantries available. Ships arriving at the port must be equipped with own crane at a capacity of minimum 38 mt. No tined machines. There is one crane for hire – 70 mt grove – owned by a Chinese company at Velit Bay. 

 

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
Dockside Crane	No	N/A
Container Gantries	No	N/A
Mobile Cranes	No	N/A
Reachstackers	No	N/A
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer)	No	N/A
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines	No	N/A
Transtainer	No	N/A
Forklifts	Yes	3 x 35 mt mega forklift  1 x 18 mt forklift  4 x 3.5 mt forklift  2 x sidelifters (20 ft and 40 ft)

Container Facilities 

The Port of Luganville has capacity for about 1,000 TEU’s at the container freight station with 18 reefer connections. 

International Wharf Facilities
Facilities	20 ft	40 ft
Container Facilities Available	Yes	Yes
Container Freight Station (CFS)	Yes	Yes
Refrigerated Container Stations	Yes	Yes
Other Capacity Details	N/A
Daily Take Off Capacity   (Containers per Day)	Information not available
Number of Reefer Stations   (Connection Points)	18	18
Emergency Take-off Capacity	Information not available
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift (Containers per Shift)	Information not available

Customs Guidance 

There is a Customs office at the wharf. It is located within the Cruise Ship Terminal Building. Opening hours: 08:00am to 05:00pm (Monday to Friday). 

 

Sea freight clearance at the Port of Luganville is done electronically through ASYCUDA. 

 

Documents required by Customs for clearance of relief items: 

• Tax exemption letter from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) 

• Commercial invoices 

• Freight statements 

• Other charges statements 

• Packing lists 

• Bill of Ladings 

• Cargo manifest 

• Sanitary or phytosanitary certificate (where required) 

 

Important to note that when sending relief items, only relief items are to be included in the package, packing list, bill of lading, tax exemption letter from NDMO, etc. No personal items are to be included as personal items are not tax exempt. 

 

During peacetime, goods must be cleared from customs control within two months from the date of arrival of the goods. After two months, the goods may be seized by Customs and forfeited to the Government of Vanuatu. 

 

Contact details: 

Customs Santo International Wharf 

P: +678 33780 

VoIP: 6514 

E: customssanto@vanuatu.gov.vu  

 

Reference: https://customsinlandrevenue.gov.vu/ 

 

For more information on customs in Vanuatu, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

The International Wharf at Luganville is managed by NISCOL. The port has one berth that is shared by international cargo vessels and cruise ships. 

 

Pacific Petroleum Company has their own port installation for unloading fuel tankers directly into their storage facilities. 

 

Ro-Ro facilities are available, if needed. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

The port is not equipped to handle bulk grain. There are no companies available for bagging and no silo storage facilities. 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

The main storage located on the wharf is about 1,000 m2 in size and is the custom and quarantine warehouse. The storage has capacity for approximately 500 bulker bags at 1.2 m2 (stacked 3 bags high). 

 

There are also two large copra warehouses at the wharf, but these are generally always full. They can hold up to 2,500 tonnes of copra. 

 

The Cruise Ship Terminal may not be appropriate to be used for storage during an emergency as it now houses offices for customs, biosecurity and Department of Ports and Marine. If relief supplies were to be stored at the terminal, it would be difficult for NDMO staff to control access. 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	1	1,000 m2
Refrigerated Cargo	18 reefer stations	N/A
General Cargo	1	1,000 m2

Stevedoring 

NISCOL is the only stevedoring company in Espiritu Santo. They handle: 

• Export and import containers; 

• Transit of containers and handling; 

• Transhipment of containers; and 

• Transportation of 20- and 40-foot containers. 

Hinterland Information 

NISCOL has the following equipment: 

• 3 x 35 mt mega forklift 

• 1 x 18 mt forklift 

• 4 x 3.5 mt forklift 

• 2 x sidelifters (20 ft and 40 ft) 

Port Security 

Port security is facilitated by the Department of Ports and Marine. NISCOL also provides their own security for the port. 

 

International Wharf Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Police Boats	1 available on request
Fire Engines	No, not stationed at the wharf

 

 

 

Port Overview 

The Port of Lenakel is a domestic port and receives local ships / ferries weekly. Local landing crafts like MV Touaraken III, MV Kiwi Trader, Tiwi Trader and Young Blood can anchor at the wharf. Swells in Tanna are usually high so ships must take precaution when approaching and when anchored at the port. 

The Port facilities include an office for Lenakel Wharf & Stevedoring, a building for storage and a restroom and bathroom. 

Port website: N/A 

Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com 

 

Port Location and Contact
Country	Vanuatu
Province or District	Tafea Province
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Lenakel Town  (Wharf is located within the town vicinity)
Port's Complete Name	Lenakel Wharf
Latitude	-19.5328
Longitude	169.2660
Managing Company or Port Authority	Information not available
Management Contact Person	Information not available
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	Whitegrass Airport  Air Vanuatu  Solomon Airlines

Port Picture 

• Lenakel Wharf 

• Lenakel Wharf & Stevedoring 

• Wharf Storage 

• Restroom/Bathroom 

• Potential Mobile Storage Unit site 

Conventional berth at Port of Lenakel 

 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority – Ensures the safety of all vessels and passengers on international and domestic vessels. Ensures the effective regulation of ports and port facilities through the promotion of efficient and safe port operations and the protection of rights of port users to access ports and port facilities. 

Lenakel Wharf & Stevedoring – Responsible for receiving ships at the port. Shipping companies inform Lenakel Wharf & Stevedoring when they are enroute to the port and estimated time of arrival. 

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List. 

 

Port Performance 

The port is currently not congested and there is an established priority for humanitarian cargo. The port receives only landing crafts and not container ships. The port is usually clear when each ship arrives so waiting time is minimal. 

Seasonal Constraints
	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	Yes	November to April
Major Import Campaigns	No	N/A
Other Comments	N/A

 

Handling Figures for 2022
Vessel Calls	40
Container Traffic (TEUs)	Does not receive containers

 

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

Berthing Specifications 

Type of Berth	Quantity	Length  (m)	Maximum  Draft (m)	Comments
Conventional Berth	1	56.5 m	Information not available	Seas around the berth are generally rough
Container Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Silo Berth	N/A	N/A	N/A
Berthing Tugs	N/A	N/A	N/A
Water Barges	N/A	N/A	N/A

 
Port Handling Equipment 

Is the port equipment managed by the government or privately? There is no port equipment available at the wharf. Ships that dock at the wharf bring their own handling equipment like forklifts. 

 

Equipment	Available	Total Quantity and Capacity Available	Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage
Dockside Crane	No	N/A	N/A
Container Gantries	No	N/A	N/A
Mobile Cranes	No	N/A	N/A
Reachstacker	No	N/A	N/A
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer)	No	N/A	N/A
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines	No	N/A	N/A
Transtainer	No	N/A	N/A
Forklifts	No	N/A	N/A

Customs Guidance 

The Port of Lenakel currently only handles local cargo so there is no customs agent at the wharf. 

 

For more information on customs in Vanuatu, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

There is no multipurpose terminal. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

There is no grain and bulk handling at the Port of Lenakel. 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

There is a storage facility at the port which can be used as storage during an emergency response. 

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	1	10 m x 4 m
Refrigerated Cargo	0
General Cargo	1	10 m x 4 m

Stevedoring 

Ships that dock at the port bring their own port handling equipment like forklifts and the ship’s crew carry out all stevedoring activities as necessary. Passengers are responsible for offloading their own cargo.  

Hinterland Information 

Cargo owners are responsible for moving their cargo in and out of the port. 

Port Security  

There are two security guards who take turns looking after the port between 2100 and 0500 hours daily. The area where the office, storage and restroom/bathroom are located is fenced and the gate is closed when the port is not in use. 

 

Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	1
Police Boats	No
Fire Engines	No