[2] The light is maintained by the Capitania dos Portos, Serviços de Marinha.

Plans to develop the port to support the shipping of bauxite go back to at least 1983, when a $47.4 million project was announced.

[5] The stevedores were on their first strike, organized by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde, PAIGC),[6] marking the beginning of strong resistance against the Portuguese colonial authority.

[7] Several older buildings remain around the port area, including the 18th century military barracks and old prison.

The Bissau port was designed to handle 5,000 containers a year, yet it serves nearly five times as many today.