Location and General
The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, located on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, is an outstanding port that performs commercial, passenger, mercantile, industrial, fishing and sporting functions. This port, managed by the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is positioned as the main port of the island and one of the most important in the Canary Islands, especially in terms of passenger transport, handling 23% of the archipelago's maritime passenger transport.
A Global Connection
The port not only facilitates inter-island maritime connections but also serves as a stopover for numerous international shipping lines, linking it to major ports in Europe, Africa, and America. This extensive connectivity puts it on the global map, being included among the top three ports in the world for cruise traffic along with the Port of Southampton and the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong. Recently, a report by the World Bank and S&P Global highlighted it as the third most efficient port in Spain and the ninth in Europe.
Technical characteristics
The port stretches from the Dársena Pesquera de San Andrés to the Muelle de Hondura, extending over twelve kilometres. This extension makes it the largest port in the Canary Islands, with a surface area of more than 14,000 hectares. It has two container terminals and is the leader in cruise traffic in the Atlantic area, with over one million cruise passengers in the 2017-2018 season.
A Little History
The First Days
Since the arrival of Fernández de Lugo, the port has been the island's main channel of connection with the outside world. It initially served as a defensive base to protect the island from incursions, playing a crucial role in preventing pirate attacks against the city of La Laguna, the island's capital at the time.
Development and Challenges
Despite initial challenges, including its location in an area that was not entirely safe and competition from other Canarian ports in terms of commercial activity, the port of Santa Cruz gradually consolidated its position as the island's main port. This development began on a small beach known as La Carnicería, which despite its limited capacity and difficult access, became the initial nucleus of the port. Over the years, the port has suffered damage due to inclement weather, but continuous reforms and improvements have allowed its expansion and strengthening as a vital port for Tenerife and for international maritime connections.
Conclusion
The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is not only a crucial point for the transport and economy of the Canary Islands, but also an important link in the global maritime traffic network. Its rich history and continuous development position it as a port of international relevance, crucial for tourism, trade, commerce and the maritime industry.