Port of Belfast

GBBEL🇬🇧United Kingdom

Port Location

Port Arrivals & Departures

Vessel Traffic

Port of Belfast GBBEL

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About Port of Belfast

Also known as: Belfast Ferry Port

Belfast Harbour serves as Northern Ireland's primary maritime gateway, handling 67% of its seaborne trade. It is a vital hub for raw materials, exports, and consumer goods, processing approximately 25% of the island of Ireland's maritime trade. The port features large, sheltered facilities and requires pilotage and tug assistance.

Background
Belfast Harbour is a major maritime hub in Belfast, Northern Ireland, handling 67% of Northern Ireland's seaborne trade and about 25% of the maritime trade of the entire island of Ireland. It is a vital gateway for raw materials, exports and consumer goods, and is also Northern Ireland's leading logistics and distribution hub.

Current Conditions

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Vessel Limits

Max Draft
11m
Channel Depth
9ft
Tidal Range
2ft
Elevation
4m

Operations & Services

Port of Entry
Yes
Pilotage Compulsory
Yes
Tug Assistance
Yes
Cranes
Fixed, Mobile, Floating
Drydock
Large
Repair Code
A
Terminals
1

References & Identifiers

WPI No.
33770 →
GeoNames ID
9253555 →
Wikidata
Q7231086 →
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Official Site
www.belfast-harbour.co.uk →
Seamark Type
beacon_isolated_danger

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Identification

UN/LOCODE
GBBEL
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Time Zone
UTC+0
Feature Type
PRT (Port)

Classification

Type
Port
Harbor Type
River basin
Shelter
Excellent

Region

Subdivision
GB-BFS
Area
UK Coast & Atlantic
Sub-area
Irish Sea
Latitude
54.6187°
Longitude
-5.8977°

Terminals

VICTORIA TERMINAL 3 (VT3)

BELFAST CONTAINER TERMINAL

19 W Bank Rd, Belfast BT3 9JL, United Kingdom

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the draft restrictions at the Port of Belfast?

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The controlling depth at Belfast is 11 meters. Draft restrictions should be confirmed with the port authority before arrival, as silting, dredging operations, and tidal conditions can affect available depths. Pilotage is typically required for larger vessels.

How do I navigate the approach to the Port of Belfast?

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The approach to Belfast is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Pladdy Lug Lighthouse at 11.6 NM to the SE. Other aids include Killyleagh (16.1 NM SSE), Carnlough North Pier (23.5 NM NNE), Portpatrick Range Rear (30.2 NM ENE), Crammag Head (33.2 NM ENE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.

What major shipping routes pass near the Port of Belfast?

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The Port of Belfast is located within the English Channel / North Sea corridor — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors connecting the Atlantic to Northern European ports. This strategic position influences vessel traffic density, anchorage availability, and port scheduling.

How do I track vessels arriving at or departing from the Port of Belfast?

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You can track vessels near Belfast (GBBEL) in real time using MarineRadar. The platform displays live AIS positions of nearby ships, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course.

Where is the Port of Belfast?

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The Port of Belfast is a port in GB. Its UN/LOCODE is GBBEL — the five-character code the UNECE assigns to trade and transport locations, and the identifier used on shipping documents and in port calls.

What does the UN/LOCODE GBBEL mean?

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The first two characters, GB, are the ISO country code for GB. The remaining three identify the location within that country. The code is issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and is the international standard for naming ports in trade and transport systems.

What are the operating hours and time zone for the Port of Belfast?

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The Port of Belfast operates in the UTC+0 time zone. Operating hours, VTS schedules, and pilot availability vary — vessel agents should confirm with the port authority in advance, especially for night arrivals or weekend operations.