Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Port Overview

Santo Domingo, located at the mouth of the Ozama River on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, is the country’s capital and a key Caribbean port. As the oldest operational port in the Americas, it serves as a major multipurpose hub for both cargo and cruise traffic. Its strategic position makes it vital for regional trade and tourism, with modern terminals offering direct access to the city’s UNESCO-listed Colonial Zone. The port handles significant container and vehicle volumes, with an annual TEU capacity estimated at around 100,000.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Santo Domingo’s main port facilities include the Don Diego and Sans Souci terminals. Don Diego handles cruise ships with modern passenger amenities, while Sans Souci serves both cruise and multipurpose cargo, including vehicles and containers. The port features a 20,000 m² logistics area, dedicated vehicle storage for over 7,000 units, and specialized ro-ro cargo systems. Equipment includes bollards up to 150 tons, foam-filled fenders, and advanced security systems. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are not currently in use.

Container Terminals

Santo Domingo’s main container terminal is DP World Caucedo, featuring over 1,400 meters of quay with two main berths and a capacity of approximately 2.5 million TEU annually. The terminal is highly automated, with advanced cargo handling systems and 24/7 operations. DP World is the major operator. The older Santo Domingo terminal offers five piers for mixed cargo but is less automated and has lower container throughput.

Port Services

• Container handling: loading, unloading, and storage of containers for import, export, and transshipment.
• Cargo operations: management of general cargo, vehicles, heavy equipment, and project cargo.
• Ship services: bunkering, husbandry, ship agency, and vessel support.
• Warehousing: secure storage facilities for various cargo types, including bonded and logistics warehouses.
• Customs: on-site customs clearance, documentation processing, and regulatory compliance support.

Global Connectivity

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s main port is strategically positioned in the Caribbean, serving as a key gateway for both commercial cargo and cruise traffic. It connects with major regional ports such as Rio Haina and Caucedo, and supports shipping routes to North America, Europe, and Latin America. The port’s multimodal links and advanced logistics infrastructure enable efficient service to the country’s economic centers and facilitate exports of agricultural and industrial goods to global markets.

Port Statistics

Port of Santo Domingo – Key Statistics (2025):

• TEU Throughput: Approximately 2 million TEU (Dominican Republic total; main container port is DP World Caucedo, near Santo Domingo)
• World Ranking: Among top 15 ports in Latin America
• Number of Berths: 3 main container berths (Caucedo Terminal)
• Port Area: Over 225 hectares (including Free Trade Zone expansion)
• Major Shipping Lines: MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Seaboard Marine, ZIM, Evergreen

The port serves as a major Caribbean transshipment hub with ongoing expansion to increase capacity.