Pointe A Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago
Pointe A Pierre is Trinidad and Tobago’s key oil port and refinery hub, vital to the nation’s energy sector.
Port Overview
Pointe A Pierre is a small port located on the southwestern coast of Trinidad, north of San Fernando and south of Claxton Bay, on the Gulf of Paria. It is primarily known as a key oil and tanker terminal, historically supporting Trinidad and Tobago’s largest oil refinery. Despite its small size, the port holds strategic importance for the country’s energy exports and regional trade. The port mainly handles petroleum products and does not have significant container operations, so annual TEU capacity is negligible or not reported.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Pointe A Pierre is primarily a refinery and tanker terminal with seven berths, including facilities for vessels up to 120,000 DWT. Key terminals handle petroleum, sulphur, and general cargo. The port features floating and mobile cranes with lifting capacities up to 50-100 tons, but does not utilize AGVs. Cargo operations include pipeline jetties, safe anchorage, and limited ship repair services, supporting efficient bulk liquid and general cargo handling.
Container Terminals
Pointe A Pierre in Trinidad and Tobago is primarily a refinery and tanker terminal, not a container terminal. It has 7 berths designed for liquid bulk cargo, with a maximum vessel length of 290 meters and a draft up to 15.8 meters. There is no dedicated container handling capacity, no container terminal automation, and no major container operators present. The port mainly serves the oil and energy sector.
Port Services
- Container handling: Limited, mainly focused on fuel and petrochemical cargo.
- Cargo operations: Bulk liquid cargoes, especially oil and petrochemicals; general cargo handled on a smaller scale.
- Ship services: Pilotage, tug assistance, provisions, fuel and water supply, limited ship repairs, garbage disposal.
- Warehousing: Minimal, primarily for operational support rather than large-scale storage.
- Customs: Full customs and immigration clearance for vessels and cargo.
Global Connectivity
Pointe A Pierre, located on Trinidad’s southwestern coast, is a key petroleum export terminal primarily serving the Caribbean, North America, and Latin America. The port handles mainly tankers and connects with nearby ports such as Point Lisas, Claxton Bay, and San Fernando. Its shipping routes facilitate the export of refined petroleum products to major markets in the Americas, leveraging its strategic position on regional and international maritime trade lanes.
Port Statistics
Pointe A Pierre Port, Trinidad and Tobago – Key Statistics (2025):
- TEU throughput: Not applicable; primarily an oil and general cargo port, with negligible container activity.
- World ranking: Not ranked among major container ports globally.
- Number of berths: 0 dedicated container berths; port handles tankers and general cargo.
- Area: Medium-sized port.
- Shipping lines: Mainly serves oil tankers; no regular container shipping lines.
Pointe A Pierre specializes in petroleum exports and general cargo, with limited container operations and no significant TEU throughput.
