Cherbourg

Size limits

LOA 210m, 32.0m beam , 32,124DWT

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

Mean spring range 5.3m; mean neap range 2.4m.

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

Approach

Cherbourg is approached direct from the English Channel and entered through Passe de l'Ouest, the deepest and most frequently used entrance, or through Passe de l'Est. The controlling depth is 11.0m within the limits of the leading lines through Passe de l'Ouest.

Directions for entering harbour: Vessels will maintain depths of more than 10.0m when N of the outer breakwaters at Cherbourg by keeping N of the alignment (090°) of Cap Levi Light and Pointe de Barfleur-Gatteville Light.

Cherbourg Approach Channel: From a position NW of Cherbourg "CH1" Landfall Lightbuoy (safe water) (49°43.0'N 001°42.0'W) the route leads generally SE passing clear of Landfall Lightbuoy (safe water) to the waiting areas (see anchorages below).

Vessels carrying dangerous hydrocarbons or dangerous substances must approach within the sector 325° and 037° from Forte de l'Ouest (49°41.0'N 001°39.0'W).

Waiting areas to Passe de l'Ouest: A zone about 1,000m wide orientated 177°-357° limited in the N by the position 49°43.5'N 001°40.1'W leads from the waiting area to a position about 1.0nm NW of Fort be l'Ouest (49°43.5'N 001°40.1'W) where the route joins the 141.25° track through Passe de l'Ouest

Entrance channels: Passe de l'Ouest: Situated between the head of Digue de Querqueville and Fort de l'Ouest, the deepest and most frequently used entrance. It has a swept depth of 11.0m within the limits of the leading lines. Vessels exceeding 1,600GT must use the access channel through this entrance.

An obstruction with a depth of 10.1m over it lies 0.25nm NW of Fort de l'Ouest, on the W limit of the leading lines. The extremity of below water rocks which extend from the W end of Digue Centrale is marked by a lightbuoy.

Directions for Passe de l'Ouest: Leading lights indicate the approach. They consist of 2 front lights disposed horizontally, 63m apart, exhibited from a parapet with two white triangular daymarks, points up, below Fort du Homet and a rear light exhibited from a tower with a white triangular daymark, point up, on the NE side of Gare Maritime (49°38.8'N 001°37'W), 1nm SE. Bring the rear light midway between the 2 front lights, bearing 141.25°, which leads through the entrance, passing approx 0.1nm W of Fort de l'Ouest.

After passing the latter proceed as required for anchoring in Grande Rade or for entering Petite Rade.

Passe de l'Est, between Fort de l'Est and Fort de l'Ile Pelle, is not recommended at night.

Traffic schemes and VTS

A movement reporting system covers the area of the Grande Rade and the port of Cherbourg, and is compulsory for vessels over 1,600GT carrying hydrocarbons or dangerous substances.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: The only area outside the breakwaters in which ships are authorised to anchor are the waiting areas, positions as follows:

North Waiting Area, centred 3.5nm N of Fort de l'Ouest, is reserved for vessels, except those carrying hydrocarbons or dangerous substances, which have requested a deep-sea pilot for passage elsewhere in the Channel.

South Waiting area, centred 2.5nm N of Forte de l'Ouest, is reserved for vessels waiting to embark a pilot for entry to Cherbourg.

There are anchorage areas, sheltered from the prevailing weather, in the W part of Baie de Seine off Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue (49°35.0'N 001°16.0'W). These anchorages are subject to the agreement of the local maritime authorities; permission for anchorage must be received through CROSS Jobourg or Barfluer Signal Station.

Prohibited anchorage: Vessels are prohibited from anchoring in the entrances to Grande Rade and their approaches.

Tugs

Tugs up to 23,000bhp are available. Salvage tug based at Cherbourg.

Charts and publications

BA 1112, 1114. Admiralty Pilot NP27, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Required at 48, 24 and 2 hours prior to arrival. Message to include arrival time, draught, vessel's name and LOA.

Mandatory report by vessels over 1,600GT carrying hydrocarbons, dangerous or polluting cargoes to be sent on VHF to Jobourg or Dover Traffic when entering the English Channel from West or East respectively.

Requests for Deep Sea Pilots to be made at least 48 hours in advance to Cherbourg Pilots.

Communications

There is a coast radio station at Cherbourg.

VHF: Pilots Ch 16, Ch 12.

Homet Coastguard: Ch 16.

VTS: Jobourg Traffic Ch 13.

Pilot Helicopter: Ch 16, 11. Homing signal sent on 410kHz.

Lock: Ch 06 (Hours HW -/+ 45mins).

Notice of readiness

NOR should be tendered in accordance with the Charter Party.

Health

Request for pratique to be made on arrival at the pilot station. Renewal of Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificate possible.

Customs and immigration

Customs allowances: For each crew member 200 cigarettes and 1 bottle of spirits.

New Customs Forms to be completed, for vessels sailing between 2 French ports.

Immigration may require Crew List and valid passports to be shown.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU, Indian Ocean 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

Position: Head of Sea Defense.

Address: 22 Rue Monge, Paris, F-75005, France

Tel: +33 01 40 81 85 30

Fax: +33 01 40 81 70 53

Mob: +33 06 17 15 01 80

Email: [email protected]

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

Repairs

All types of repair to hull and machinery available.

Dry docks

Syncrolift ship elevator available for vessels up to 32m width, platform length 90m and lifting capacity of 4,500t.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at approx 20tph.

Bunkering: By barges or road.

Medical

Centre Hospitalier Louis Pasteur; Hospital des Armees.

Transport

Nearest airport: Cherbourg-Maupertus (12km). Links to Paris and Guernsey.

Nearest railway: Cherbourg.

Working hours

Mon to Sat 0800-2000hrs, overtime by arrangement.

Where it is

Cherbourg is located at the end of the Cotentin Peninsula on the N France coast, at the western end of the English Channel.

The port

The port is lock free and provides easy access for the largest vessels with a min depth of water of 13.0m.

Cherbourg is a modern and efficient port with Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo facilities, large storage facilities and good road and rail connections. Cross channel ferry passengers and Ro-Ro traffic to UK and Ireland is the main trade, also some cruise ship visits. Regular shipments made of armour stone for new port construction at Le Havre.

Traffic

Approx, 1,400,000t of cargo and 600,000 passengers handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Cherbourg?

Compulsory for all commercial vessels carrying dangerous cargoes, or not fitted with VHF, and for all vessels over 50m LOA within a radius of 5nm of Forte de L'Ouest.

What time zone is Cherbourg in?

Local time at Cherbourg is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Cherbourg?

1025.

Which load line zone is Cherbourg 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 Cherbourg?

Port State Control at Cherbourg: Paris MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Cherbourg?

The UN/LOCODE of Cherbourg is FRCER.

What crews who called at Cherbourg 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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