Porto Amboim is a port town located in the Cuanza Sul Province of Angola. It covers an area of 4,638 km2 and has a population of approximately 65,000 people. The settlement was originally known as Kissonde, a small village colonized by the Portuguese in 1587. It was initially named Benguela and later renamed Benguela Velha before officially becoming Porto Amboim in 1923.
Historically, the town was connected to Gabela via a 123 km narrow gauge railway, which closed in 1987 following the civil war and the decline of coffee plantations. In contemporary times, Porto Amboim has emerged as a significant hub for the offshore industry. It serves as a central planned development area for pre-salt activities off the Angolan coast, hosting major offshore fabrication yards such as Paenal and Heerema Porto Amboim.