Grytviken

Approach

Buoys: There are 2 regularly maintained UK Admiralty mooring buoys: one at the entrance to King Edward Cove in the vicinity of Hobart Rock, the other in Stromness Bay. They may only be used after consultation with the Marine Officer.

King Edward Cove is free of hidden dangers. Numerous stranded wrecks litter the shore line which include "Louise", lying S of Grytviken, a floating dock, lying close S of Grytviken's S wharf, alongside which lies the wreck of the sealer "Petrel", and two half sunken sealing vessels, "Albatros" and "Dias" alongside the NE face of Grytviken's N wharf. Kelp, which extends as much as 200m from the S shore, marks the shoal areas around the edges of the cove. Both N and S shores of the cove are foul within the kelp line.

The former King Edward Point Light (blue metal framework tower, 3m in height) (54°16.7'S 036°29.7'W) stands close E of the SW extremity of the point. A number of radio masts stand ENE of the point.

Two small beacons (orange with diamond topmarks) are situated on the N shore of the cove.

Grytviken Church, the most S'ly in the world, is surmounted by a spire.

Approach: Two leading lights have been established, the outer light leading through the approaches and the inner light leading within the cove.

Outer leading beacons are situated on the S side of the cove, front (metal pole, orange and white bands, surmounted by orange triangular topmark, point uppermost, 8.5m in height) and rear (orange triangle, point uppermost, set close to ground level, elevation 12.5m) (situated 170m WNW from front) lead bearing 282°.

Inner leading beacons are situated at the head of the cove, front (metal post, orange and white bands, orange topmark, point down, 6m in height) and rear (spire of Grytviken Church, elevation 27m) (situated 230m NW from front) lead bearing 304.5°.

Directions: The recommended track into the cove is to follow the outer transit line, 282°, leading between Hope Point and Hobart Rock, turning to starboard as required to berth at King Edward Point Jetty.

If bound for the wharves at Grytviken, course should be altered S of King Edward Point to follow the inner leading line 304.5°.

Anchorages

Anchorage outside the cove can be found in 30m, 0.3nm ESE of Shackleton Cross, where the bottom is mud with good holding ground. A second anchorage is available 0.5nm NE of Dartmouth Point in 25m. In E'ly winds, ice calved from the Nordenskjold Glacier, at the head of Cumberland East Bay, may prove troublesome to vessels anchored outside the cove. Depending on local conditions, anchorage may also be obtained within King Edward Cove.

A second class mooring buoy is available 0.2nm ENE of Hobart Rock.

Restrictions

It is reported that a heavy chain lies on the bottom around 0.1m WNW of the jetty. Numerous stranded wrecks also litter the shore line which include "Louise", lying S of Grytviken, a floating dock, lying close S of Grytviken's S wharf, alongside which lies the wreck of the sealer "Petrel", and two half sunken sealing vessels, "Albatros" and "Dias" alongside the NE face of Grytviken's N wharf. Kelp, which extends as much as 200m from the S shore, marks the shoal areas around the edges of the cove. Both N and S shores of the cove are foul within the kelp line.

Mooring

Tijuca jetty is in extremely poor condition with timbers deteriorating. Sections of the jetty have been made structurally sound to enable vessels to moor.

Charts and publications

BA 3587, 3596, 3597, 4213. Admiralty Pilot NP9.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Procedures for Merchant Navy vessels, research vessels, cruise ships and yachts:

Vessels intending to visit South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands should make contact with the marine officer at King Edward Point in Cumberland East Bay, as soon as practicable upon entering the Maritime Zone. The Marine Officer at King Edward Point will carry out customs and immigration formalities.

Masters or tour operators on cruise ships, yachts and other vessels carrying visitors to the Island should have completed the visitors' application form and received permission to visit before departing for South Georgia.

The Conservation Guidelines apply to crews of all vessels visiting South Georgia.

Communications

The first place of landing at South Georgia must be King Edward Point or Grytviken where the Marine Officer carries out Immigration and other formalities. Permission may be granted for landings prior to clearance, but only under certain circumstances and after a formal request has been presented to the GSGSSI.

Charges are levied for harbour dues, customs, trans-shipping fees, yachts, buoys and water. Payment may be made to the Marine Officer in pounds sterling in the form of cash, cheque or travellers' cheques; or in United States dollars as cash or travellers' cheques. Payment may also be made via a shipping agent in Stanley, Falkland Islands.

A landing fee is charged for each person named on the passenger list of cruise ships and yachts. This fee is payable by the tour operator to the Marine Officer or by the vessel's agent to the office of the commissioner. No charge is made for members of the crew of a vessel.

The postmaster's representative will stamp passports upon request, although this is not a required procedure.

Note: All vessels are requested to notify the Marine Officer, by radio, of their departure from South Georgia.

Customs and immigration

The Marine Officer will board the vessel on arrival to arrange Customs, port clearance and Immigration formalities and to receive payment for any related services. A copy of the Crew and Passenger List should be available for his/her use.

Notices and regulations

Whaling stations: Visitors are prohibited from entering or approaching within 200m of the former whaling stations at Prince Olav Harbour, Leith Harbour, Stromness and Husvik. They are in a dangerous state of disrepair and wind-blown debris including asbestos dust is a hazard.

During periods of high wind, the whaling station at Grytviken may be closed to visitors. The marine officer will advise during such times.

It is an offence under SGSSI legislation to remove anything at all from the whaling stations.

Repairs

Not available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkering: In an emergency, only a very limited quantity of diesel oil is available at King Edward Point Quay.

Fresh Water: Water is available at King Edward Point Jetty.

Transport

Nearest Airport: A helicopter landing site is available 150m W of Shackleton House. Limited aviation fuel is available.

Road connections: Overland transport is limited to a track, suitable for 4-wheel drive vehicles, connecting King Edward Point settlement with Grytviken along the N shore of the cove.

Working hours

During the summer months there are 44 staff and then in winter there are 12 staff present at the King Edward Point Quay.

What time zone is Grytviken in?

Local time at Grytviken is UTC−2. No summer time.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Grytviken?

The UN/LOCODE of Grytviken is GSGRV.

What crews who called at Grytviken 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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