How do I use the seaport code and port code finder

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Using this seaport code locator is as easy as using Google Maps. Both seaports and airports are included. Search by port name, seaport code, or city and you’ll immediately see the port on the map. Clicking on the port will display specific information like port code, region, latitude/longitude position, and other key points.

Looking to identify more ports in a specific area? Zoom in on a region or search for a specific city, state, or country to find their local seaports (anchor icon) and airports (the airplane icon). If you’ve already chosen ocean freight or air freight, you can narrow the search by unchecking ‘Seaports’ or ‘Airports’ on the top right of the map.

Seaport Codes

Any location used in international trade and transport, including seaports, airports, and other inland destinations, is assigned a code.

This structure is used by most major shipping companies and freight forwarders. These codes appear on bills of lading, invoices, and contracts to make sure that all parties in the supply chain are aligned.

International Port Codes

Much like with Harmonized Schedule codes, the UN plays a critical role in standardization. In 1981, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in collaboration with other major trade and transport organizations, initiated a framework to facilitate global trade. This evolved into what’s today known as LOCODE – Code for Trade and Transport Locations. The database is still maintained by the UNECE and currently includes over 103,030 locations in 249 countries.

Every international airport and seaport code consists of five characters. Referring to the diagram’s pink numbering:

  1. Country: These are standard country codes as assigned by the International Organization of Standardization. In the above example, the country, “China,” is specified with a “CN.”
  2. Port / Airport Identifier: These characters represent a location within the designated country. The above example identifies “Shenyang.” In countries such as the United States, where the number of possible three-letter combinations has been exceeded, numerical digits are used.

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