Port of Cartagena

Maritime Risk Context

In the last 180 days, ArcNautical recorded 31 vessel arrivals at Cartagena, with Cargo accounting for 23% of port calls — lower than the Mediterranean Sea regional average of 44%. Cartagena in Spain operates in a semi-enclosed basin that carries approximately 20% of global seaborne trade. The Suez Canal is the single most critical chokepoint for Mediterranean-bound shipping, and disruptions there — from groundings, Houthi-driven diversions, or political shocks — force vessels onto the Cape of Good Hope routing, adding 10–14 days and substantial fuel cost. Libya's ongoing instability creates an active maritime security concern in the central Mediterranean, with oil terminals periodically subject to militia control. PSC under the Paris MOU is among the most rigorous globally; vessels with deficiencies face detention rates well above the global average at Mediterranean ports.

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