The Port of Huelva is a cargo and fishing port located off the Spanish southwestern coast, belonging to the municipalities of Huelva and Palos de la Frontera. With a total annual traffic capacity of 33.8 million tonnes, it is the second biggest port in Andalusia after the Port of Algeciras.

Port of Huelva
Map
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Location
CountrySpain
LocationHuelva, Palos de la Frontera
Coordinates37°11′55″N 6°56′15″W / 37.198685°N 6.937533°W / 37.198685; -6.937533
UN/LOCODEESHUV[1]
Details
Operated byPort Authority of Huelva
Statistics
Annual cargo tonnage33.8 million tonnes (2019)[2]
Annual container volume70,852 TEU (2019)[2]

Description edit

The port is located in the estuary formed by the Odiel and Río Tinto rivers.[3] It is operated by the Port Authority of Huelva.[4] It is divided into two sectors: the Inner Port (in the city) and the Outer Port (the main port). The Inner Port's single wharf, the East Wharf, is the one used for smaller traffic including tourist boats.[citation needed] The Outer Port, with six wharves, is located to the south of the River Tinto.[citation needed]

History edit

 
18th century depiction of the port and the city of Huelva

Rich in metals, the Huelva region was known to be an exporter of silver already in Antiquity in the context of the "Tartessos" culture.[5] The mining activity was resumed by the Romans.[5]

The precursor of the current Port Authority of Huelva, the Junta Especial de Comercio y Puerto de Huelva, was created on 8 December 1873,[6] during a period of resurgence of the mining activity in the province of Huelva thanks to the injection of foreign capital and technology.[5] The Muelle de Riotinto was built in 1874-76 for the export of ore from Huelva to Britain. It is no longer in commercial use but is now a tourist attraction.[citation needed]

The East Wharf replaced constructed harbour facilities of inferior quality between 1900 and 1910.[citation needed]

In the 1960s much of the activity was moved to the Puerto Exterior, located in Palos de la Frontera, more apt for ships with greater draft:[7] as it was passed the project for a mineral loading dock and an oil dock in Torre Arenilla in 1963, the Levante dock (in the Puerto Interior) was mostly left for fishing,[8] specializing in the commercialization of frozen fish.[7]

The Outer Port was built in 1965. The Inner Port, which incorporates the East Wharf, was constructed in 1972.[citation needed]

Statistics edit

Freight volume:[9]

Year Freight traffic (Tn) Liquid bulk (Tn) Solid bulk (Tn) Other (Tn) Containers (TEU)
2013 26,369,503 21,488,718 4,145,909 137,783 3,116
2014 27,246,080 21,863,372 4,662,814 197,759 5,774
2015 27,375,435 21,598,676 5,137,350 159,384 7,834
2016 30,557,171 24,136,062 5,759,383 175,943 11,822
2017 32,332,572 24,904,547 6,487,378 155,200 58,916
2018 32,966,864 25,119,931 6,662,399 199,780 70,288

References edit

  1. ^ "UNLOCODE (ES) - SPAIN". service.unece.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "El puerto de Huelva bate un nuevo récord en 2019 con 33,8 millones de toneladas, un 2,5% más que en 2018". Europa Press. 21 January 2020.
  3. ^ Ruiz Romero de la Cruz 2004, p. 11.
  4. ^ Couceiro Martínez & Serrano Pérez 2013, p. 12.
  5. ^ a b c Mojarro Bayo & Romero Macías 2012, p. 3.
  6. ^ Mojarro Bayo & Romero Macías 2012, p. 7.
  7. ^ a b Mojarro Bayo, Ana María (18 June 2012). "Historia". Puerto de Huelva.
  8. ^ Ruiz Romero de la Cruz 2004, p. 12.
  9. ^ "El Puerto en cifras" (PDF). Autoridad Portuaria de Huelva. 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-19.

Bibliography edit