The shipping platform

Location: Porto Grande is located in the Cape Verde archipelago, on the NE coast of Sao Vicente Island, 455km off the W coast of Africa (Senegal and Mauritania). General overview: The harbour is in a semi circular shape, spacious and sheltered, with 11 berths giving a total quayage of 1,589m, depths alongside range from 3.5-12.0m. There are also 3 ferry/passenger berths with a total quayage of 235m, with depths alongside of 4.0m. The principal imports are fuel and diesel oil, cement and general cargo, the main export are preserved fish, bananas, hides and sisal. Porto Grande is also an important bunker station due to its geographical position near major shipping routes. Traffic figures: Approx 2,280 vessels, 652,000t of cargo, 17,400TEU and 282,500 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: North Atlantic Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Nov 1 to Jul 15, Summer Jul 16 to Oct 31. Max size: Alongside: Draught 11.5m. CBM: LOA 233m, draught 10.7m, 53,000DWT. Largest vessels handled: "Albatros", 24,803GT, draught 8.9m. "Western Lion", 130,539GT, draught 22.0m, (at anchor only).