Galway

1. Galway boarding — Inner Pilot boards53°14.7′N 009°03.5′W

Size limits

Draught 7.0m, LOA 114.6m, 7,559DWT

Water density

1012

Load line zone

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

Tides

Spring: MHWS 5.1m, MLWS 0.6m

Neap: MHWN 3.9m, MLWN 2.0m

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

Approach

The white sector (324.75°-325.25°) of the direction light (red diamond, yellow diagonal stripes on a mast) at the inner end of New Pier leads through the dredged channel with Leverets Light bearing 145°, astern, and at night, in the white sector (143.5-146.5°) of the light. The line leads between Rinmore Point and Nimmo's Pier, and then across the entrances to the River Corrib and Lough Atalia, to New Pier and the dock gates.

Nimmos Pier Light is in position 53°16.0'N 009°02.8'W, character Fl Y 2s, range 7.2nm.

Caution: On a falling tide, particularly at springs, or after prolonged rainfall, there may be a strong E set out of the River Corrib across the mouth of the docks.

The channel from the roadstead to the dock is 1,183m in length and has a bottom width of 79m.

The depth in the channel at MLW is 3.6m and the neap rise of 3.6m gives a depth of 7.3m at HW neap tides.

The spring rise of 5.1m gives a depth of 8.7m at HW springs.

The dock gates are 19.8m in width and the depth over the sill corresponds to the depth in the approach channel given above.

Port limits

Galway Harbour is defined as the Port and Harbour of Galway and all the waters, with the bed and foreshore thereof, lying within an imaginary line drawn by Barna Cliff (53°15'N 009°07'W) and then Kilcolgan Point.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Call Harbour Office on VHF for information.

Anchorages

In good weather vessels can anchor in position 205° x 0.5nm from Mutton Island Port Hand Lateral Mark to await the pilot.

During SW'ly gales, vessels can anchor in depths of 11.0m to 13.0m with Gleninagh Castle bearing 148° and Black Head bearing 277° 53°09.0'N 009°13.1'W.

Restrictions

Dock gates open 2 hours before HW to HW. Vessels arriving outside these times should anchor and await the pilot.

Tugs

There are no tugs available at Galway. Vessels over 6,000DWT require tugs which can be arranged through the local agent. At least 72 hours notice is required as tugs come from Shannon Estuary. There is a 360hp harbour tug which can assist vessels in docking. This vessel also acts as the pilot vessel "Loc Lurgain II".

Charts and publications

BA 1904. Irish Coast Pilot No 40, Admiralty Pilot NP40, NP286(1),

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Advise agent or Harbour Office of ETA 24 hours before arrival.

Communications

VHF: Ch 16, 14, 12 and 06. Galway Harbour Radio, Ch 16 and Ch 12 monitored from 2.5 hours before HW until HW. Watch kept on Ch 16 and Ch12, Mon-Fri 0900-1700hrs and from 2.5 hours before HW every tide. Coastguard monitors Galway Bay on Ch 04.

Telephone: +353 (0)91 562329, Fax: +353(0)91 563738

Email: [email protected]

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered when vessel is alongside.

Health

Pratique granted on arrival. Ship Sanitation Control Certificate required.

Customs and immigration

Officers will board on arrival. A Crew List is required.

Flags

Republic of Ireland flag to be flown.

Notices and regulations

Handed to vessels on arrival. Local notice to mariners. Firefighting and emergency plans required for tankers.

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

Available, (mechanical, electrical and electronic).

Dry docks

Not available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at all quays at 20tph.

Bunkering: Two direct feed lines bunkering berths are available at Folan Quay and Dun Aengus North from Irish Shell Ltd and Stat Oil Ltd and also by road tanker from various suppliers.

Stores: Available.

Medical

University College Hospital, Merlin and Bon Secours.

Crew change

Arranged by agent.

Transport

Nearest airport: Galway Airport, 10km (3 flights daily to Dublin); Shannon International Airport, 90km.

Airport facilities: Internal flights from Galway Airport; international flights from Shannon, 90km.

Nearest railway: Approx 0.8km.

Working hours

Normally, Mon-Fri 0800-1300hrs, 1400-1700hrs. Sat 0800-1300hrs.

Where it is

Galway is situated on the River Corrib in a sheltered position at the innermost eastern end of Galway Bay, on the W coast of Ireland.

The port

The total length of the quay is 1,044m allowing approx nine vessels to berth in the inner dock at any one time.

Imports: Petroleum products, bitumen, dry bulk chemicals, fish, petcoke, baled timber, heavy lift machinery, coal lignite and manufactured steel

Exports: Scrap metal and a small amount of aggregate for the Aran Islands

Traffic

Approx 500,000t of cargo and 175 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Galway?

The pilot boards at Galway boarding — Inner, 53°14.7′N 009°03.5′W.

What time zone is Galway in?

Local time at Galway 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 Galway?

1012

Which load line zone is Galway 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 Galway?

Port State Control at Galway: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Galway?

The UN/LOCODE of Galway is IEGWY.

What crews who called at Galway 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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