Handling about 1.2 million tonnes and roughly 1,600 vessel calls a year, Cairns works as a multi-purpose regional harbour on Trinity Inlet rather than a container gateway, run by the Queensland Government's Ports North. Its eleven berths handle bulk commodities such as sugar, molasses, silica sand, zinc, fertiliser and petroleum products, alongside project cargo, the fishing fleet and reef passenger ferries. Container shipping is marginal here, so forwarders moving boxes or large volumes should look to Townsville, roughly 350 km south, or to Brisbane. Bunkering is available at Wharves 7, 8 and 10 and by road tanker under supervised procedures. Road links via the Bruce Highway and rail connect the port to North Queensland's cane-growing and mining hinterland. Cairns is also one of Australia's busiest cruise calls, with a dedicated liner terminal beside the city centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE of Cairns?▼

The UN/LOCODE of Cairns is AU CNS. This international code identifies ports and logistics locations worldwide.

Where is the port of Cairns located?▼

The port of Cairns is located in Australia (Coral Sea; South Pacific Ocean).

What is the size of the port Cairns?▼

Cairns is a Small harbor of type River (Natural).

What is the channel depth of Cairns?▼

The channel depth of Cairns is 7.9 meters.

Location & Weather

-16.91667, 145.78333

Channel depth: 7.9 m

Transit time routes from Cairns

Sydney → Shanghai Sydney → Shenzhen Sydney → Guangzhou Sydney → Hong Kong Sydney → Tokyo Sydney → Busan

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The information on this page is based on publicly available transport and infrastructure data. The logistics significance of a location may change. All information without warranty.

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