Castletown Bere

Size limits

Draught 5.4m

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 3.5m.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

Direction of buoyage: The direction of buoyage throughout the Outer Harbour is from W to E.

West Entrance: known locally as Pipers Sound, lies between Fair Head (51°37.0'N 009°56.0'W) and Ardnakinna Point (0.75nm ENE). There is a least depth of 7.9m in the fairway. The Outer Harbour includes West Entrance and that part of the haven which lies W of Hornet Rock ( 51°39.0'N 009°52.0'W).

Directions: Fair Head to Drom Point. The West Entrance is approached on a NNE course between Fair Head and Ardnakinna Point.

Leading marks: Front mark: Castletown Bere Direction Light (white hut, red stripe, 6m in height) stands, at an elevation of 4m, on the SW end of Dinish Island (51°38.8'N 009°54.3'W).

Rear mark: A beacon (white concrete hut, red stripe) stands, at an elevation of 12m, 0.35nm NNE of the front mark.

By day the alignment (024°) of these marks, or at night the white sector (024-024.5°) of Castletown Bere Direction Light, lead through West Entrance.

The track passes: Between Piper's Point (0.75nm NNE of Fair Head), a bold rocky headland, and Naglas Point (0.2nm E). The Pipers, a group of above-water rocks and an isolated rock with a depth of 0.3m (close E of them), lie on the S side of Pipers Point. This is the narrowest part of the channel with a navigable width of 0.125nm. Then across the mouth of Bullig Bay on the W side of the channel, lying on the N side of Pipers Point, which is backed by perpendicular cliffs 7-12.0m, in height, surmounted by large trees, then E of Harbour Rock (0.35nm NNE of Pipers Point) which consists of several pinnacles, then E of Dunboy Point (0.55nm N of Pipers Point), low and wooded with the ruins of a castle standing on it among the trees, then E of Colt Rock (0.2nm ENE of Dunboy Point) which dries, and on which stands a beacon surmounted by the red figure of a horse, then

W of Fort Point (51°38.0'N 009°54.6'W) upon which is a battery and a square blockhouse, then W of Foilnaboe Rocks (0.05nm N of Fort Point), a group of three small rocks which dry. Two detached rocks, over which there is a least depth of 2.4m, lie within 0.125nm NNE of Foilnaboe Rocks, then E of Kealamullagh Point (0.3nm WNW of Fort Point), a rocky point covered in grass. Little Colt Rocks, which dry, lie close SSW of the point, then E of Drom Point (0.15nm NNE of Kealamullagh Point).

Directions for entering western channel: Leading lights for the fairway of the W channel are situated on the N shore of the harbour:

Front light (white concrete column red stripe, with black and white chequered sides, 3m in height) stands 0.35nm N of Perch Rock Light Beacon.

Rear light (white rectangle, red stripe, 4m in height) stands 80m from the front light.

The alignment (010°) of these lights leads from the fairway of West Entrance (approx 0.05nm N of Drom Point) through the W channel into Castletown Bere Inner Harbour, passing (with positions given relative to Perch Rock Light Beacon):

W of the lightbuoy marking Walter Scott Rock (S cardinal) (0.3nm SSE), then E of Doctor's Rock (0.25nm SSW), then between Frenchman's Point (0.15nm SW) and Carrigaglos (0.15nm E of Frenchman's Point), 0.6m in height, which lies on a reef extending from the SW side of Dinish Island, then between Perch Rock Light Beacon and Came Point Light Beacon (0.05nm W), then as requisite for the anchorage or quays in Castletown Bere Inner Harbour.

Clearing marks: The alignment (347°) of a conspicuous chapel

(51°39.1'N 009°54.5'W) at Castletown and the light beacon (green concrete column) on Perch Rock (0.32nm SSE of the chapel) passes W of Walter Scott Rock.

Port limits

The harbour limits lie within a line extending E from Fair Head to Shee Head at the West Entrance to, at the East Entrance, a line extending from Carrigranean ENE to Roancarrigmore Light, then N to Furze Point on the mainland.

Anchorages

The most convenient anchorage for small vessels is off the W entrance to Castletown Bere Inner Harbour S of Dinish Island

(51°39.0'N 009°54.0'W). The anchorage is, however, unpleasant in a strong wind from S when the tidal stream is setting against it.

The recommended berth is: On the alignment (approx 074°) of Privateer Rock and the point E of Beal Lough (1.75nm ENE), with Castletown Direction Light bearing 015° distance 0.17nm in depths of 7.0-9.0m. A vessel will have approx 0.1nm swinging room.

Larger vessels may anchor in the harbour between Bere Island and Danish Island, E of George Rock buoy between Bere Island and the main land.

Restrictions

The port has two entrances, E (51°38.7'N 09°45.2'W) and W (51°36.8'N 09°55.5'W) of Bere Island. The E entrance for larger vessels and bad weather conditions.

Tugs

Available.

Charts and publications

BA 1840. Admiralty Pilot NP40, NP286(1).

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Maritime Safety Directorate, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Address: Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Tel: +353 1 678 2000.

Fax: +353 1 678 2349

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

There is a quay with 30m of length available for repairs.

Dry docks

There is a mechanical lift dock at the NW end of Dinish Island.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available.

Medical

St Joseph's Community Hospital, 0.5km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Cork Airport, 100km.

Nearest railway: Killarney Train Station, 54km.

Working hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1200hrs, 1300-1700hrs and as required.

Where it is

Castletown Bere is located in Berehaven within Bantry Bay on the SW coast of Ireland, approx 1nm NW of Bere Island.

The port

The port is major fishing harbour and is Ireland's largest white fish harbour with significant level of aquaculture landings. The inner harbour is divided into two areas, Castletown Bere and Dinish Island.

Dinish Island terminal is comprised mainly of sites leased to the fishery industry and industrial estate.

What are the pilot arrangements at Castletown Bere?

Not compulsory. There is no recognised pilot.

What time zone is Castletown Bere in?

Local time at Castletown Bere is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Castletown Bere?

1025.

Which load line zone is Castletown Bere in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Castletown Bere?

Port State Control at Castletown Bere: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Castletown Bere?

The UN/LOCODE of Castletown Bere is IECTB.

What crews who called at Castletown Bere say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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