Port of Cristóbal

PACTB🇵🇦Panama

Port Location

Port Arrivals & Departures

Vessel Traffic

Port of Cristóbal PACTB

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About Port of Cristóbal

Also known as: Cristobal Harbor, Puerto Cristobal, Puerto Cristóbal, Puerto de Cristobal, Puerto de Cristóbal

Cristóbal is a port located on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, on Manzanillo Island. It serves as a key transshipment point, handling significant container traffic. The port is equipped to manage a variety of cargo vessels.

Background
Cristóbal is a port town and corregimiento in Colón District, Colón Province, Panama. The corregimiento has a population of 49,422 as of 2010. The town is located on the western edge of Manzanillo Island, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal.

Current Conditions

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Vessel Limits

Elevation
-9999m

Operations & Services

Terminals
1

References & Identifiers

GeoNames ID
3711825 →
Wikidata
Q80777 →
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Identification

UN/LOCODE
PACTB
Country
🇵🇦Panama
Time Zone
UTC-5
Feature Type
HBR (Harbor)

Classification

Type
Port

Region

Subdivision
PA-3
Area
East Coast Central America
Sub-area
Panama Canal
Latitude
9.3451°
Longitude
-79.9071°

Terminals

PPC CONTAINER TERMINAL CRISTOBAL

HUTCHISON PORTS PPC

6 Roosevelt Avenue & Terminal Street, Building #1010, P.O.Box 03420, Cristobal Colon, Republic of Panama

www.ppc.com.pa →
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Frequently Asked Questions

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

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The approach to Cristóbal is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Gatún Approach Northbound Range Rear Lighthouse at 0.9 NM to the SSW. Other aids include Limón Bay West Breakwater (2.7 NM NNW), Limón Bay East Breakwater (2.9 NM N), Isla Pastores (3 NM WNW), Toro Point (3 NM WNW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.

What major shipping routes pass near the Port of Cristóbal?

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The Port of Cristóbal is located within the Panama Canal approach — the vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Central America. 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 Cristóbal?

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You can track vessels near Cristóbal (PACTB) 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 Cristóbal?

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The Port of Cristóbal is a port in PA. Its UN/LOCODE is PACTB — 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 PACTB mean?

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The first two characters, PA, are the ISO country code for PA. 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 Cristóbal?

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The Port of Cristóbal operates in the UTC-5 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.