Corpach

Size limits

LOA 116.58m, beam 17m, 8,130DWT.

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 springs, 1.3m neaps.

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

Approach

From a position 0.65nm S of McLean Rock (56°49.8'N 005°07'W) the track alters to NNE, passing (with positions from McLean Rock):

WNW of Underwater Centre Ltd Pier (0.62nm SSE), then:

ESE of a shallow spit, with a depth of 8.5m over its extremity (0.32nm S), then:

WNW of a lightbuoy (starboard hand) (0.3nm S) moored 0.05nm W of the entrance to River Lochy. The river passes through the S part of Am Breun Chamas, also known as Lochy Flats which extend from Fort William to the entrance to the Caledonian Canal at Corpach (0.7nm N).

These flats are composed of sand with occasional patches of shingle, on which stands An Caol, a narrow islet, the SW end of which is 1.4m in height. Then:

ESE of the coastal bank, with depths of less than 10m, extending 0.05nm SE from McLean Rock which is marked by a lightbuoy (port hand) on the SE extremity of the bank. McLean Rock lies at the E end of a shoal, with depths of less than 5.0m over it, on the W end of which lies New Rock, which has a depth of 1.5m over it.

From a position 0.15nm NE of McLean Rock the track alters to the N, passing (with positions from McLean Rock):

E of a drying reef which extends 0.02nm E from a grassy islet (0.2nm NNW) which lies 0.07nm E of Rubha Dearg, the NE extremity of the W side of Loch Linnhe, with which it is connected by a narrow tongue of sand and gravel, then:

W of Am Breun Chamas (0.3nm NE) keeping well clear during the out going tidal stream which sets towards this flat from a position off the N side of Rubha Dearg.

From a position 0.27nm ESE of the N extremity of Eilean na Creiche (56°50.3'N 005°07.3'W) the track leads NW then W through a narrow channel towards Corpach and the entrance to the Caledonian Canal, passing (with positions from the N extremity of Eilean na Creiche):

Close NE of a 5.5m depth (0.2nm ESE) which lies near the E end of the bank, depth less than 10.0m, extending E from Eilean na Creiche, a grassy islet which lies near the E end of a drying reef, then:

SW of the coastal bank, depth of less than 10.0m, which extends up to 0.05nm SW from Am Breun Chamas, then:

N of the bank, depth of less than 10.0m, extending 0.07nm N from Eilean na Creiche, which is marked near its NE extremity by a lightbuoy (port hand), then:

Clear of a shoal, with a depth of 7.3m over it (0.15nm NW), which lies close W of the channel, less than 0.1nm SW of the entrance to the canal.

Restrictions

A foul area exists in the deep water 0.2nm SW of the canal entrance at Corpach, vessels are advised not to anchor in this area.

Charts and publications

BA 2372, 1791, 2380. Admiralty Pilot NP66B, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

A min of 48 hours notice required to ensure berthing.

Communications

VHF: Ch 16, 74. Callsign "Corpach Lock".

Customs and immigration

Contact Sea Lock Keeper, for advice on arrival.

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: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available by road tanker or berth.

Stores Not Available.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Fort William Health Centre (3.6km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Oban Airport (45km).

Where it is

Corpach is situated 1nm NNW of Fort William, near entrance to Caledonian Canal, on the W coast of Scotland.

The port

Corpach Port is a key maritime facility serving the West Highlands. It supports cargo handling, marine engineering and timber exports while accommodating a range of vessels, including commercial ships and leisure crafts. The port plays a vital role in the regional economy, benefiting from its strategic location near the Caledonian Canal and Loch Linnhe, which provide access to inland and coastal waterways.

Traffic

Approx 130,000t of cargo handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Corpach?

Pilotage is not compulsory but available on request.

What time zone is Corpach in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Corpach?

The deepest berth listed is at Corpach Terminal: 5.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Corpach?

1025.

Which load line zone is Corpach 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 Corpach?

Port State Control at Corpach: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Corpach?

The UN/LOCODE of Corpach is GBCOR.

What crews who called at Corpach 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 Corpach →