Cartagena, Columbia, is at the northern end of the 9 square mile Cartagena Bay. Since the 16th Century, the Port of Cartagena has been one of the most important ports in the Americas. UNESCO has designated the city as a World Heritage site, and many consider it one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Port History
The area surrounding the Port of Cartagena has a long and interesting history. The mild climate and abundant hunting created a comfortable environment for centuries of human occupation. The Puerto Hormiga Culture lived in the area during the Precolombian Era as early as 7000 BC. The oldest ceramics discovered in the Americas, dating from 4000 BC, were discovered here. Archeological evidence from about 3000 BC points to the affluence of the Puerto Hormiga culture and the rise of a more developed people, the Monsu, who had a more mixed economy that relied more on the river and ocean. Artificial mounds from 3200 to 1000 BC show that today’s Port of Cartagena was a center for organized societies.
Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533. It was soon famous for the large fleets that stopped there every year to load gold for transport to Spain. Its fame as a gold port led to plunder, pirates, and thieves and the construction of castles, forts, and walls to protect the city. But the city was still attacked by pirates - French Roberto Baal and Jean du Casse and English Francis Drake and John Hawkins among them.
To defend against these attacks, Spain began to construct fortifications in the 17th Century that took over 200 years to complete. They left almost 7 miles of walls around the city, the San Felipe de Barajas Castle, the San Sebastian de Pastelillo Fort, the San Angel battery, buildings to store food and weapons, and underground tunnels.
The Port of Cartagena was not only a port for trade of precious metals but also for slaves. Slaves were worked to cut cane and build roads, plunder tombs of the original populations, build fortresses, and work mines.
For over 250 years, the Port of Cartagena belonged to the Spanish Crown. In 1811, the province declared its independence, and fighting with Spain continued for many years. The city was finally taken from Spain in 1821.
The 20th Century brought renewed growth. In 1917, petroleum fields were opened in the Magdalena River valley, and a pipeline to Barrancabermeja and new oil refinery was completed in 1926. Today, the Port of Cartagena is Colombia’s main oil port and a major export point for coffee and platinum. It is also a center for the manufacture of tobacco products, sugar, textiles, cosmetics, fertilizer, and leather products. Tourism is a growing sector of the local economy.
Port Commerce
The Port Society of Cartagena (SPRC) operates and manages the port under the authority of the Colombian government. The Terminal Society of Containers of Cartagena SA (CONTECAR) holds the harbor concession for development of harbor activity. The Port of Cartagena offers over 415 yards of wharf, over 2 acres of covered area, almost 44 acres of open area, and a cooled station for 84 containers. The Port of Cartagena can handle up to 120 thousand TEUs and 600 thousand tons of bulk cargo per year.
In February 2008, the Port of Cartagena handled over 2 million tons of cargo, including 1.5 million tons of liquid bulk and over 35 tons of containers. The Port of Cartagena is expanding the capacity of the port and is adding over a half-mile of wharf, almost 20 acres of warehouses, and almost 15 acres of space for empty containers. Its goal is to achieve capacity to handle 2.5 million TEUs of containerized cargo per year. In 2007, the Port of Cartagena’s container terminal was named the most outstanding seaport operation in the Caribbean by the Caribbean Shipping Association.
Cruising and Travel
The Port of Cartagena is a favorite destination for travelers. Its colorful history, lively nightlife, golden beaches, elaborate churches, and colonial architecture make it perfect for honeymooners, families, and adults. The country’s internal problems discouraged cruises for a time, but in the 2006-2007 season (from September to May), cruise ships made 50 calls in the Port of Cartagena. In the 2007-2008 season, over 200 stops were scheduled, and several major cruise lines were returning to the port (Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Holland America).
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