Puerto La Unión
El Salvador
Technical sheet of Puerto La Unión Centroamericana, a multi-purpose commercial terminal located on the Gulf of Fonseca.
General information
Official name
Puerto La Unión Centroamericana
Location
Department of La Unión, on the Gulf of Fonseca
Operator
Unión Portuaria del Pacífico (UPdP)
Port type
Commercial / multi-purpose
Construction start
2005
Strategic objective
To become a regional logistics hub for Central America and the Pacific
Main technical specifications
Geographic location
Gulf of Fonseca
Maritime access
Protected natural bay
Terminal type
Containers, general cargo and multi-purpose
Operating draft
10 m (multi-purpose), 8 m (containers), 6 m (passengers)
Access channel draft
7.50 m at low tide
Main berth length
580 m
Handling capacity
Post-Panamax vessels
Container yard
Yes
Operation
24/7
Connectivity
Pan-American Highway and eastern region
Country
El Salvador
Port infrastructure
Berths and capacity
The port was designed to receive large vessels and operate as a modern container terminal.
Its natural location on the Gulf of Fonseca gives it an advantage over other ports exposed to Pacific swell.
Operating drafts by berth
Berth / accessMulti-purpose berth
- Operating draft
- 10 m
Berth / accessContainer berth
- Operating draft
- 8 m
Berth / accessPassenger berth
- Operating draft
- 6 m
Berth / accessAccess channel
- Operating draft
- 7.50 m at low tide
| Berth / access | Operating draft |
|---|---|
| Multi-purpose berth | 10 m |
| Container berth | 8 m |
| Passenger berth | 6 m |
| Access channel | 7.50 m at low tide |
Logistics area
- Container yard
- Storage areas
- Loading and unloading equipment
- Vehicle handling
- Customs and logistics zone
Quick comparison with Puerto de Acajutla
ConceptRegion
- La Unión
- East
- Acajutla
- West
ConceptNatural protection
- La Unión
- High
- Acajutla
- Medium
ConceptSpecialty
- La Unión
- Containers and logistics
- Acajutla
- Traditional trade
ConceptDraft
- La Unión
- 10 m (multi-purpose)
- Acajutla
- 8–12.50 m
ConceptAge
- La Unión
- Modern
- Acajutla
- Historic
ConceptExpansion potential
- La Unión
- Very high
- Acajutla
- More limited
| Concept | La Unión | Acajutla |
|---|---|---|
| Region | East | West |
| Natural protection | High | Medium |
| Specialty | Containers and logistics | Traditional trade |
| Draft | 10 m (multi-purpose) | 8–12.50 m |
| Age | Modern | Historic |
| Expansion potential | Very high | More limited |