The port of Leixões (41º 11' N, 8º 42' W) serves the city of Porto and northern Portugal. It is an artificial harbour on the Atlantic Ocean, within the town of Matosinhos, 5.5 miles (9 km) northwest of central Porto. Porto is prevented by a sandbar from having a deepwater harbour of its own. The port is the largest in the the north of Portugal and is one of the most important sea ports in the country. About 25% of Portuguese trade and 14 million tons of cargo pass through the port every year. The port has high productivity levels and can handle 25 containers per hour, with 3,100 vessels calling each year.