Concarneau

1. Concarneau pilot boarding Pilot boards47°50.5′N 003°56.1′W

Water density

1026.

Tides

Mean spring range 4.2m and mean neap range is 2.0m.

Tidal Streams: Maximum rates at springs are 1kt. In the harbour N-going stream attains a spring rate of 2kts and S-going 2.5kts.

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

Approach

Controlling depths: Over the bar between Le Cochon and Basse du Chenal (0.8nm SW of the harbour entrance) the passage is about 100m wide with a depth 5.5m in the middle of the channel. In Passage de Lanriec between the outer and inner harbours, the channel is cleared of rocks to a depth of 4.0m over a minimum width of 35m.

Directions: Initial position: Pilot boarding place (47°50.7'N 003°56.2'W).

Concarneau Leading Lights: Front: La Croix Light (red and white tower; 12m in height) (47°52.2'N 003°55.0'W).

Rear: Beuzec direction light (2,490m NNE of front light) exhibited from Beuzec-Conq Church (belfry 32m in height).

The alignment (028.5°) of these lights, leads NNE into and through the outer section of the entrance channel to a position 0.35nm SSW of the front light, passing (positions given from front light):

Close ESE of the 5.0m depth contour at the SE extremity (0.9nm SSW) of Basse Lue Vras, a reef, marked by buoy (port hand), then:

Close WNW of Le Cochon (0.75nm SSW), a reef marked by Le Cochon Light Beacon (green tower; 11m in height), and:

Over the bar between Le Cochon and Basse du Chenal (0.8nm SW of the harbour entrance), then:

Close ESE of Basse du Chenal (0.7nm SSW) marked by Basse du Chenal Lightbuoy (port hand), and:

WNW of the 5.0m depth contour in the vicinity of Men Fall (0.45nm SSW), a drying rock marked close NW by Men-Fall Lightbuoy (starboard hand).

Caution: La Croix light may be difficult to see by day. The top of the disused lighthouse of Beuzec (elevation 48m) 0.35nm SSW of Beuzec-Conq Church showing above the surrounding trees helps to indicate the alignment of Concarneau Leading Lights.

Clearing bearing: The 352° limit of the white sector of Le Cochon Light Beacon passes dangers covered by the red sector (positions given from the light) as follows:

0.1nm W of Le Petit Taro (0.4nm SSE), a drying rock marked by Petit Taro Beacon-tower (W cardinal).

Close W of a rock awash (0.2nm SSE) on a detached reef.

Approaching the entrance of the Avant-Port, the line of bearing 069° of Lanriec Light (green rectangle on white gable 8m in height) (0.3nm ESE of La Croix Light) then leads ENE to a position 0.1nm WSW of the light, passing (positions given from Lanriec Light):

Over a depth of 4.2m (0.25nm WSW), and then 0.05nm NNW of the 2.0m depth contour enclosing Kersos (0.25nm SW), a drying reef marked by a beacon tower (starboard hand; 2.5m in height), then:

SSE of the edge (0.15nm W) of Plateau de la Medee that extends 0.15nm W) of Plateau de la Medee that extends 0.125nm SE from the shore on the W side of the entrance and 0.1nm SSW from La Medee Light Beacon (port hand, round tower 16m in height) (0.1nm NW).

Entering Avant-Port: After passing the alignment (approx 007°) of La Medee Light Beacon (port hand) with Passage de Lanriec Light Beacon (red round tower 5m in height) (0.2nm further N) on the S point of La Ville-Close, and entering the white sector (354°-007°) of the latter light, the channel turns NNW, then NNE within the port, passing (positions given from La Medee Light Beacon):

Between La Medee Light Beacon (port hand) and the foreshore 0.05nm E, then: Close E of the head of Mole Peneroff (0.07nm NNW), then:

Close ESE of the wave breaker pontoon extending NNE from the mole head, and: WNW of No1 Light Beacon (green turret, 5.0m in height) 0.1nm NNE, at the W extremity of the foreshore on the E side of the channel.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: Anchorage may be obtained on the line of bearing 345°of La Foret-Fouesnant church, clear of the rocky patches, in depths decreasing from 13m in the entrance to 3.0m near the head of the bay, bottom sand and mud. The bay is sheltered from W through N to E, and S winds never produce a heavy sea.

Anchorages with limited swinging room are situated in the entrance channel in Petite Rade and adjacent to the entrance channel in Ance de Kersos.

Anchor berths: Anse de Kersos: Anchorage, sheltered from N through E to S may be obtained mid-way between Kersos Beacon Tower (starboard hand), 0.3nm SW of Lanriec Light and the foreshore NE. Depth from 3.0-5.0m, bottom sand and mud, good holding; limited swinging room, numerous small craft moorings.

Petite Rade: Anchorage, sheltered from winds between N and SE, may be obtained on or close W of the alignment 028.5° of Concarneau Leading Lights, at the N limit of Lanriec Light. Depth 8.0m sand and mud, swinging room approximately 200m radius between the 5.0m depth contours.

Restrictions

To enter the port of Concarneau vessels must not exceed 115m length and 18m beam, 5.7m draught, reduced to 110m length at night. Oil tankers are limited to 105m length day berthing only and 5.7m draught.

Speed: Between Le Cochon and Men Fall the maximum permitted speed is 5kts and from Men Fall to the Arriere-Port it is 4kts.

Time of arrival: Vessels over 100m in length must arrive at least 1 hour before HW, and entry will not be allowed if the wind is great than force 4.

Merchant vessels must obtain permission to enter harbour from the Capitainerie du Port, who has to check that the berth is clear of fishing vessels before giving approval.

Tugs

Two tugs of 300 and 450bhp respectively.

Charts and publications

BA 2352, 3641. Admiralty Pilot NP22, NP286(1).

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 kinds available at two shipyards. Divers available.

Dry docks

Shiplift capacity 2,000t with refitting area for two vessels each LOA 95m, keel length 76m, beam 14m, draught 5.5m.

Patent slip capacity 350t, LOA 43m, width 8.4m, depth 0.7m below CD, with refitting area for 6 vessels.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available all quays.

Bunkering: MGO only by road tanker to all quays.

Stores: Provisions available.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Centre Hospitalier de Cornouaille Quimper Concarneau (1.5km).

Crew change

Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Quimper–Cornouaille Airport (23km).

Working hours

Normally 0800-1200hrs and 1400-1800hrs.

Where does the pilot board at Concarneau?

The pilot boards at Concarneau pilot boarding, 47°50.5′N 003°56.1′W.

What time zone is Concarneau in?

Local time at Concarneau 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 Concarneau?

1026.

Who carries out Port State Control at Concarneau?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Concarneau?

The UN/LOCODE of Concarneau is FRCOC.

What crews who called at Concarneau 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.

Read and add tips for Concarneau →