Ship chandlers & ship supply at Port-of-Spain TTPOS

The Port of Port of Spain (PPOS) is the cargo-handling business unit of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT), which also runs the inter-island ferry (TTIT) and the landlord and cruise unit POSINCO. PPOS describes itself as the country’s first and major multipurpose port, 100% government owned, with about 142 hectares of which 61 are used for cargo, at latitude 10°39′ N, longitude 61°31′ W.^[1,2]

—Cargo: containers, breakbulk, dry and liquid bulk, ro-ro car carriers, LCL and a One-Stop Barrel Shop for personal effects. PPOS also lists towage, heavy-lift operations, a lay-by berth for minor repairs and cruise and passenger berthing among its services.^[2,3]

—Volumes: PATT’s annual container statistics give 324,575 TEU for 2024 and 357,820 TEU for 2025.^[4]

—Ship size: PATT gives a maximum LOA of 294 m and a maximum berth draft of 12 m; its milestones record the 339 m cruise ship MSC Seashore berthing at a depth of 12.1 m in 2022.^[2,4]

PATT’s berthing table lists length and draft for each berth:^[2]

—Container terminal: berth 5 (180 m, 10.4 m), berth 6 (140 m, 10.5 m), berth 6A East (170 m, 11.5 m) and berth 6A West (170 m, 11.6 m).^[2]

—Multipurpose and cruise: berth 4 multipurpose (152 m, 9.9 m); berth 3 passenger/cruise (152 m, 9.2 m); berths 1 and 2 (198 m at 8.1 m and 152 m at 9.2 m) shown against the Hyatt.^[2]

—Bulk: berth 7 (165 m, 12 m) used by UM Bulk Liquids Trinidad; berth 8 (194 m, 9.5 m at high water) used by National Flour Mills and UM Bulk Liquids; berth 8A dry bulk (72 m, 4 m).^[2]

—Small craft: the CARICOM Jetty (248 m, 4 m), the ferry-terminal catwalk (107 m, 4 m) and the St Vincent Jetty for tugs and dredges (119 m, 4 m). POSINCO limits the CARICOM Wharves to vessels of 500 GRT engaged in CARICOM trade.^[2,5]

—ETA: PATT requires the ETA 24 hours before arrival for deep-sea calls and 10 hours for short-sea calls, emailed to the Planning Office, with a Standard Berthing Application. The anchorage is 2 nautical miles from the entrance of the channel. Vessel operations run 24 hours.^[2]

—Agents: an agent wanting to work vessel calls at PPOS first agrees calls, berthing schedule and volumes with the Port’s management, then receives access to the terminal operating system for electronic load and discharge lists and an account with Finance.^[6]

—Pilotage: the Pilotage Authority, set up under Chapter 51:02 and chaired by the Director of Maritime Services, licenses pilots for the compulsory pilotage areas; the service itself is provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Pilots’ Association. Under the Pilotage Bye-laws (as updated to 2009), compulsory pilotage dues cover piloting a ship to or from the Grier Channel — the dredged channel into the harbour — and the Basin within the limits of Port-of-Spain harbour.^[7,8]

—Pilot station: Navigational Warning 055/22 from the Maritime Services Division announced that all functions of Pilot Station A at its Port of Spain location (10°38.26′ N, 061°34.97′ W) had been discontinued — confirm the current boarding arrangement with your agent.^[9]

—Bunkers: the national marketer NP supplies bunkers ex-wharf and ex-vessel at the authorised ports of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain among them, from its Sea Lots base. Offshore, TFG Marine relaunched supply in December 2025, delivering VLSFO and LSMGO from the vessel Valley Oak. Nominate through your agent and compare offers.^[10,11]

—Port access: PPOS is a Customs-controlled ISPS facility — anyone delivering to a ship must be identified and authorised before entering designated areas; PATT now issues two-year wharf passes.^[1]

—Provisions, deck and engine stores, spares and launch deliveries: post a requirement and suppliers serving Port of Spain answer with sealed bids; suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships in Trinidad, activate Port of Spain.