CV Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
Cape Verde UN/LOCODE entries begin with the country prefix CV and are followed by a three-character location identifier. Examples in the indexed sample include CVMDL for Mindelo and CVPRA for Praia.
Seaports in Cape Verde: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Cape Verde has 10 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting island-to-island distribution, regional Atlantic trade and international cargo flows.
Review Cape Verde port codes, operating locations, cargo roles and indicative trade-lane information for 2026 planning.
Cape Verde Port Overview
Cape Verde is an Atlantic island country whose seaports support domestic inter-island supply chains, fuel and general cargo movements, fisheries, tourism-related logistics and selected transshipment activity. Indexed coverage and national statistical reporting are separate measures: the figures below combine the Ecer Freight database snapshot with publicly reported macro indicators where available.
10
Cape Verde ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National seaborne cargo throughput, 2025; year-on-year change not published in a consistently comparable public series
MOT 2025 reporting
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National container throughput, 2025; year-on-year change not published in a consistently comparable public series
ENAPOR 2025 reporting
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Commercial berths nationally, 2025; year-on-year change not published in a consistently comparable public series
ENAPOR 2025 reporting
How many seaports does Cape Verde have?
Cape Verde has 10 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage figure, not a claim that every landing place or facility in the country is included.
Which is the largest or busiest port in Cape Verde?
Mindelo, represented by UN/LOCODE CVMDL, is generally regarded as one of Cape Verde’s principal commercial maritime gateways, with Praia, CVPRA, also serving a major national cargo and passenger role.
Which areas handle the main cargo flows?
The main cargo clusters are the northern São Vicente area around Mindelo and Porto Grande, including CVMDL and CVPGR, and the southern Santiago area around Praia, including CVPRA and CVRAI.
Top Cape Verde Ports by Commercial Relevance
The following operational list follows the Ecer Freight sample ordering, which reflects business activity in the indexed dataset. A comparable public 2025 TEU league table is not consistently available for every listed Cape Verde facility; therefore, rank, throughput and year-on-year fields are shown together as unavailable rather than mixing partial or non-comparable figures.
Cape Verde port and terminal coverage, with 2025 public throughput status
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Mindelo | CVMDL | — | — | São Vicente |
| — | Praia | CVPRA | — | — | Santiago |
| — | Mindelo | CVMIN | — | — | São Vicente |
| — | Praia | CVRAI | — | — | Santiago |
| — | Boa Vista | CVBVC | — | — | Boa Vista |
| — | Palmeira | CVPAL | — | — | Sal |
| — | Porto Grande | CVPGR | — | — | São Vicente |
| — | Palmeira | CVPMI | — | — | Sal |
| — | Sal Rei | CVSAR | — | — | Boa Vista |
| — | Sao Vicente | CVVXE | — | — | São Vicente |
Cape Verde Port Regions and Cargo Roles
São Vicente and Northern Maritime Cluster
São Vicente is a key northern maritime cluster, with Mindelo and Porto Grande associated with commercial shipping, general cargo, passenger services, bunkering-related activity and regional connections.
Ports in the São Vicente cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindelo | CVMDL | Mindelo / — | Commercial, general cargo and regional maritime services |
| Mindelo | CVMIN | Mindelo / — | City-level or facility-level indexed port reference |
| Porto Grande | CVPGR | Porto Grande / — | Commercial port and regional cargo operations |
| Sao Vicente | CVVXE | Sao Vicente / — | Island-level maritime and logistics reference |
Santiago and Southern Gateway
Praia is the principal southern urban and administrative gateway in the indexed sample, supporting cargo distribution for Santiago and connections with other Cape Verde islands.
Ports in the Santiago cluster
Sal and Eastern Island Cluster
The Sal and eastern-island locations serve island supply chains, tourism-linked demand, fuel and general cargo requirements. Service patterns can vary by season, vessel schedule and local handling capacity.
Ports in the Sal and eastern-island cluster
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmeira | CVPAL | Palmeira / — | Island cargo, fuel and general maritime supply |
| Palmeira | CVPMI | — / — | Facility-level indexed port reference |
| Boa Vista | CVBVC | Boa Vista / — | Island distribution and tourism-related logistics |
| Sal Rei | CVSAR | Sal Rei / — | Local island supply and general cargo services |
Cape Verde Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
City-Level and Facility-Level References
A city-level reference and a terminal or facility-level reference may appear as separate records. Similar names do not necessarily indicate duplicate commercial operations, so the exact code should be matched to the booking, bill of lading and destination instructions.
How to Verify a Cape Verde Port Code
Verify the code against the UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and cross-check the current Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier systems and local agents may apply operational aliases or terminal-specific references.
Shipping from Cape Verde: Main Trade Lanes
Cape Verde shipping schedules are generally subject to transshipment, vessel availability, island feeder connections, seasonality and port operating conditions. Transit times below are indicative planning ranges rather than guaranteed sailing times.
Cape Verde to Europe
Common commercial planning flows connect Cape Verde with Iberian and other European gateways, often using direct or transshipment services depending on the sailing schedule.
Cape Verde to West Africa
Regional Atlantic services support imports, exports and redistribution between Cape Verde and West African markets, with schedules varying by carrier network.
Cape Verde to North America
North American cargo is generally planned through connecting hubs, with routing selected according to equipment availability, carrier coverage and final destination.
Inter-Island Cape Verde Distribution
Domestic maritime distribution links the principal island gateways with smaller island markets. Cargo planning should allow for sailing frequency, consolidation and local handling requirements.
Data Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and commercial descriptions are reconciled for the 2026 page edition. Public statistics are shown only where the reporting basis is sufficiently clear and comparable; unavailable fields are not estimated.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 10 Cape Verde ports and terminals; database snapshot: Nov 2026.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- ENAPOR — Cape Verde port authority context, port operations and public port information.
- Government of Cape Verde — national transport and maritime policy context.
- National Institute of Statistics of Cape Verde — official statistical context where maritime and trade series are available.
Cape Verde Port FAQ
How many seaports does Cape Verde have?
Cape Verde has 10 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and should not be treated as a complete count of every landing place.
What is the main commercial port in Cape Verde?
Mindelo, listed as CVMDL, is generally treated as one of Cape Verde’s principal commercial maritime gateways. Praia, listed as CVPRA, is another major national cargo and passenger gateway.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Mindelo?
The indexed sample includes CVMDL for Mindelo and CVMIN as another Mindelo reference. The precise code should be checked against the carrier, terminal and shipping-document requirements.
Which Cape Verde port areas handle the most cargo?
The São Vicente cluster around Mindelo and Porto Grande, together with the Santiago cluster around Praia, forms the main commercial focus in the indexed sample. Palmeira also supports important island supply and fuel-related flows.
Are 2025 Cape Verde port throughput figures available?
Public 2025 throughput reporting is not consistently available in a comparable port-by-port TEU series for all 10 indexed records. The page therefore avoids assigning estimated rankings or partial throughput figures.
How current is the Cape Verde port data?
The Ecer Freight database snapshot for this page is Nov 2026, while the latest complete statistical reference year used for macro-level review is 2025. Sailing schedules, port services and operational restrictions remain subject to confirmation.
How can a shipper request Cape Verde freight rates?
Shippers can request indicative FCL or LCL pricing through the relevant Ecer Freight rate-search pages. A quote normally requires origin, destination, cargo details, equipment type, weight, volume and preferred shipping date.
Editorial note: This Cape Verde port guide combines Ecer Freight’s first-party port index with publicly available institutional information. Indexed codes and coverage are reviewed as database records change, while trade-lane guidance and public statistics are refreshed during scheduled quarterly content reviews.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Cape Verde: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact