Port of East London (ZAELS): Details, Transit Times & Shipping Routes
Port of East London (UN/LOCODE ZAELS) is a small river (natural) harbor located in South Africa, on the Indian Ocean. It sits at 33.0333° S, 27.9167° E. The port reports a channel depth of about 11 m, an anchorage depth near 23.2 m, cargo pier depths around 9.4 m. Shelter afforded is rated excellent. Cargo handling includes wharves, anchorage facilities.
Port Specifications & Capabilities
Physical characteristics from the NGA World Port Index. Values of 0 in the source are shown as not reported.
Harbor Profile
- Harbor Type
- River (Natural)
- Harbor Size
- Small
- Shelter Afforded
- Excellent
- World Water Body
- Indian Ocean
- Region
- South Africa
Services & Restrictions
Route Calculator & Transit Estimator
Great-circle distance — actual sea routes vary with canals, traffic lanes & weather.
nautical miles (direct)
@ 14 knots
B2B Freight Quote — Port of East London
Compare competitive ocean and inland freight rates to and from East London (ZAELS) via trusted logistics partners.
Nearby Ports & Connections
Nearest Ports to East London
Distances to Major World Ports
Frequently Asked Questions about Port of East London
Where is Port of East London located?
Port of East London is a seaport located in South Africa, on the Indian Ocean. Its coordinates are 33.0333° S, 27.9167° E.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of East London?
The UN/LOCODE for Port of East London is ZAELS — country code ZA, location code ELS.
How deep is Port of East London?
Per the NGA World Port Index, Port of East London has a channel depth of about 11 m, an anchorage depth of about 23.2 m, cargo pier depths of about 9.4 m.
Does Port of East London require a pilot?
Yes — pilotage is compulsory at Port of East London.
What type of harbor is Port of East London?
Port of East London is classified as a river (natural) harbor, of small size, offering excellent shelter.
What cargo facilities does Port of East London have?
Port of East London is recorded as offering wharves, anchorage facilities.
About this data
Specifications for Port of East London are derived from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) World Port Index (Pub 150, WPI #46830), a public-domain U.S. Government dataset. View the relevant Sailing Directions →