Port of Portland

GBPTL🇬🇧United Kingdom

Port Location

Port Arrivals & Departures

Vessel Traffic

Port of Portland GBPTL

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About Port of Portland

Also known as: Port de Portland, Portland Harbour, Portlandi sadam, Portlend, Puerto de Portland, Puerto de Pórtland

Located on England's south coast, Portland Harbour is a large, man-made harbor sheltered by the Isle of Portland. It serves as a significant port facility, with compulsory pilotage and tug assistance available.

Background
Portland Harbour is beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest human-made harbour in the world, and it remains one of the largest in the world today. It is naturally sheltered by Portland to the south, Chesil Beach to the west and mainland Dorset to the north. It consists of four breakwaters: two southern and two northern. These have a total length of 4.57 km (2.84 mi) and enclose approximately 1,000 ha of water.

Current Conditions

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Vessel Limits

Channel Depth
11ft
Tidal Range
2ft
Elevation
-9999m

Operations & Services

Port of Entry
Yes
Pilotage Compulsory
Yes
Tug Assistance
Yes
Cranes
Fixed, Mobile
Drydock
Unknown
Repair Code
B

References & Identifiers

WPI No.
35450 →
GeoNames ID
2640031 →
Wikidata
Q1585169 →
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Official Site
www.portland-port.co.uk →

Identification

UN/LOCODE
GBPTL
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Time Zone
UTC+0
Feature Type
HBR (Harbor)

Classification

Type
Port
Harbor Type
Coastal breakwater
Shelter
Fair

Region

Subdivision
GB-DOR
Area
UK Coast & Atlantic
Sub-area
English Channel
Latitude
50.5844°
Longitude
-2.4431°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

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

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The approach to Portland is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Portland Breakwater B Head Lighthouse at 0.8 NM to the NE. Other aids include Portland Breakwater C Head (0.8 NM NNE), Portland Breakwater Fort Head (1.1 NM E), Teignbridge District Lighthouses (40.3 NM W), Torbay Borough Lighthouses (42.3 NM WSW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.

What major shipping routes pass near the Port of Portland?

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The Port of Portland 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 Portland?

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You can track vessels near Portland (GBPTL) 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 Portland?

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The Port of Portland is a port in GB. Its UN/LOCODE is GBPTL — 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 GBPTL 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 Portland?

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The Port of Portland 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.