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Port of Havana
Province: La Habana · Coordinates: 23.14, -82.34
The fleet assembly point of the Spanish Americas — convoy rendezvous, shipbuilding center, naval base and defended commercial hinge.
Commodities recorded
- sugar
- tobacco
- silver (transit)
- general goods
Sourced facts
Havana became the largest port in the region in the second half of the 16th century.
In the 18th century Havana developed the most complete dockyard in the New World.
Toward the end of the 18th century about 1,000 ships entered Havana Bay annually to load sugar and deliver overseas goods.
Its bay was an obligatory stop on the maritime route to the New World; LoC map holdings include Havana harbor soundings and fortifications.
Maritime corridors
Florida Straits Corridor
Western Cuba and South Florida as one historical relationship region across ~90 miles of water.
Gulf of Mexico Corridor
Havana and the Gulf ports linked directly through the Spanish fleet system and the Gulf Stream.
Atlantic Return Corridor
The fleet assembly system: Havana's dockyards, fortifications and Gulf Stream access on the maritime route toward Europe.
Connected American ports
- Key West
- Miami
- Tampa
- Veracruz
- New Orleans
Live vessel tracking, routes & maritime data
The free, industry-standard tools, focused on Port of Havana. Follow ships by live AIS, read the nautical chart and the official port registers — each opens in a new tab.
🚢 Live vessel tracking (AIS)
Routes & connections
Free third-party resources, as used across the maritime industry. CubaAtlas neither hosts nor rebrands this data — we link the real source.
All Cuban ports
Full port record
Maritime formalities
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Old Havana and its Fortification System (World Heritage 204)
- UNESCO — The Enchanted Seashell: a portrait of Old Havana
- Library of Congress — Historical maps of Havana harbor and Cuban ports
Information only — CubaAtlas does not operate a port, freight company or customs service, and does not sell, book or clear anything.
Guides & common questions
In-depth answers, one question at a time.
port of havana cuba
A plain-language overview of the Port of Havana on the Bahia de La Habana, its cruise, cargo and ferry roles, and how it fits Cuba's coast.
havana bay narrow entrance channel
How the narrow channel into the Bahia de La Habana works, why the bay is so sheltered, and the forts that guard the mouth of the harbour.
havana cruise terminal old havana
The Sierra Maestra cruise terminal sits on the edge of Old Havana, so passengers can walk straight from the ship into the UNESCO historic centre.
history of the port of havana treasure fleets
How Havana's sheltered bay became the assembly point for Spain's treasure fleets and one of the most fortified ports of the colonial Atlantic.
how ships enter and clear havana harbour
A general guide to how vessels approach the narrow channel into Havana, use the sheltered bay, and complete arrival formalities at a Cuban port.
havana port unlocode cuhav
What the UN/LOCODE CUHAV means, how the code identifies the Port of Havana in shipping systems, and how to read Cuban port codes.
havana bay ferry regla casablanca
The lanchas that cross the Bahia de La Habana to Regla and Casablanca: a short, local passenger crossing with fine views back at Old Havana.
port of havana vs port of mariel
Why much of Cuba's container traffic shifted from Havana to the deepwater Port of Mariel, and what each port focuses on today.
shipping cargo to port of havana
A general, non-commercial primer on how cargo reaches the Port of Havana, its role for the capital, and where container traffic now goes.
morro castle la cabana havana harbour forts
The two great fortresses that guard the entrance to Havana's bay, the Morro Castle and La Cabana, and why they defined the port for centuries.
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