Port of La Goulette: An Essential Maritime Hub in the Maghreb

The Port of La Goulette is one of the most sought-after destinations in the western Mediterranean basin. It serves as a convergence point for Tunisia’s major road and rail networks. This port is the outlet for the region that is historically the richest, culturally the most diverse, and the most populated, including the city of Tunis and its suburbs. Until the mid-1980s, it handled the majority of Tunisia’s maritime trade. This role has since been taken over by the Rades Combined Terminal (containers and roll-on/roll-off) since its opening to international trade in 1987, while the Port of La Goulette has specialized in handling passenger and cruise ship traffic. Passenger traffic is managed at 99% at the dedicated terminal in La Goulette, primarily serving the Tunisian diaspora living abroad. In addition to its passenger and cruise activities, the Port of La Goulette also accommodates vessels carrying homogeneous cargoes such as cars, rolling units, and various goods. However, the port’s development plan aims to specialize it exclusively for passenger and cruise traffic.

**Overview of Port Traffic:** The Port of La Goulette specializes in receiving passenger and cruise ships. It also receives vessels transporting cars, trailers, and rolling equipment.

**Geographical Location:**
Position: 36° 47′ N – 10° 16′ E

**Nautical Data:**
Approach: Nautical access to the Port of La Goulette is ensured by a dredged channel at -12 m, 6.4 km long and 100 m wide, marked by 10 buoys. Learn more about the importance of La Goulette.
The Swell: From the Northwest (the strongest and most frequent is 22%)
The Tides: Irregular, between 20 and 40 cm, 60 cm in case of a storm.
The Currents: Southward on the rising tide (flood current) and northward on the falling tide (ebb current), with speeds between 0.1 and 0.3 m/s, generally oriented from North to South.
Dominant Winds: From the Northeast sector in summer, and from the Northwest sector in winter.

**Infrastructure:**
Basins: The main basin covers 63.6 hectares, dredged to -11.5 meters (channel inside the basin) and features a turning circle of 370 meters in diameter dredged to -12 meters, located downstream of the port’s entrance.
Berthing Structures: These structures include: The North Commercial Quay (Post 1) with a return (1 bis) of a length of 146 m, with a draft of -8.2 m and -5.1 m respectively. The North Commercial Quay (Posts 2, 3, 4, and 5) has a total length of 584 m, with a draft of -8.2 m for post number 2, and -8.8 m for posts 3, 4, and 5. The North Commercial Quay (Post 6) for car ferries + conventional ships is 180 m long with a draft of -8.8 m. Post (7) for car ferries is also 180 m long, with a draft of -8.8 m. A floating platform « Didon » measuring 40m/30m allows for the simultaneous berthing of two passenger or Ro-Ro ships.
Cruise Terminal: Two berths exclusively for handling cruise ships, totaling 657 ml in length, with a draft of -9 m and -8.8 m.
Maritime Station: The commercial port of La Goulette features a maritime station for passengers located at the northern end of the port, in front of berth no. 7, served by a platform and a ramp allowing for the berthing and handling of motorized passenger ships (car ferries). This terminal includes:
Three stations covering a ground area of 6.5 ha with a capacity of 1,600 cars.
A passenger lounge for handling pedestrian passengers covering 5,000 m².
Four berths served by a floating platform allowing for the simultaneous reception of two vessels and the handling of RoRo Pax ships. Explore safety measures for passenger ships.
Two telescopic mobile gangways on rails to ensure pedestrian passage between the ship and the reception area.
Protection Works: South Breakwater: 944 m long, North Breakwater: 1000 m long.
Access: Road Access: A northern entrance providing access to port facilities, connected to the Tunis-M’saken highway and the Tunis-Bizerte highway. Rail Access: The railway is equipped with a passenger line serving the suburbs of Tunis (Light Metro).
Request for Port Access Card: Download the application form here.

**Regular Lines at the Port of La Goulette:**
1. CTN – La Goulette – Marseille, 2 times/week
2. CTN – La Goulette – Genoa, 2 times/week
3. SNCM – La Goulette – Marseille
4. Grimaldi Lines – La Goulette – Palermo
5. Grimaldi Lines – La Goulette – Palermo – Civitavecchia, 3 times/week
6. GNV D’alessandro – La Goulette – Genoa, 2 times/week
7. GNV D’alessandro – La Goulette – Palermo – Salerno, 2 times/week.
See the current layout plan of the Port of La Goulette in the annex. Download the port plan.