PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Jacmel
Pilot
updated May 2010Available, but vessels must remain 0.5nm offshore until pratique is granted.
Key data
updated Sep 2023Size limits
Max LOA 97.36m, beam 18.51m, draught 5m and 5,350DWT.
Load line zone
North Atlantic Seasonal tropical. Tropical: Nov 1 to Jul 15.
Summer: Jul 16 to Oct 31.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacmel Terminal | 5.00 m | 97 m | 2 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Sep 2023Approach
Three stranded wrecks mark the inner port area. From the vicinity of 18°10.0'N 072°29.0'W the route leads generally NW, passing NE of the coastal reef near Baie Barquette, (1.5nm NNW of Cap Jacmel Light), towards the vicinity of a position 200°, 1.25nm from the pier then on the line bearing, approx 020°, of the Roman Catholic Church, towards the anchorage.
Anchorages
Except for the very narrow coastal bank, Baie de Jacmel is too deep for anchoring.
An area off the town has depths 7.3-37m, because of limited space, when more than one vessel is present, the use of a kedge anchor is required, to prevent fouling at the times of change of land and sea breezes.
A favourable location for anchoring is off an old fort with the church bearing about 025°, however due to the steepness of the bank vessels may anchor immediately on getting into anchorage depths. It has been noted, that a larger vessel anchored with the church bearing 021° and Cap de Marechaux bearing 129°, in a depth of 9.1m, mud bottom. Due to the heavy swells in the bay, a vessel mooring should arrange to head about 155° in order to lie head-on to the swell.
Restrictions
A vessel entering harbour should not cross the line of bearing 270° of the N white cliff until the church bears more than 018°.
The final heading of a vessel intending to moor should be approx 155°, so as to lie head-on to the swell which usually rolls into the harbour. Three stranded wrecks mark the inner port area and must approach with caution.
Due to the nearby river mouth, sand banks will shift and can be seen on the approach to the port.
Caution must be taken due to the fact that the hydrography shown on the plan of the bay is from older surveys. It has been adjusted to conform to the shoreline.
Tugs
Tugs are available.
Mooring
Fenders and bollards in place on the Jacmel Terminal pier.
Inspections
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Autorite Portuaire Nationale.
Position:Safety Director.
Address: PO Box 616, Boulevard La Saline, Port au Prince, Haiti
Tel: +509 298 4074
Fax: +509 298 3479
Mob: +509 402 0258
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.
Port services
updated Sep 2023Bunkers, water and stores
Stores: Available, but limited.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Centre Hospitalier Christian Martinez (0.3km), Saint Michel Hospital (0.9km) and Centre Medical CCH (medical centre1.6km).
Transport
Nearest airport: Aeroport de Jacmel (1.92km) and Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture (45.7km).
Nearest highway: Port has access to National Road 4. National Road 4 travels N and merges into National Road 2 to Port-au-Prince.
About Jacmel
updated Sep 2023Where it is
The town of Jacmel, Sud-Est Department is located on the S coast of Haiti and the port is located inside the Baie de Jacmel.
The port
Jacmel is a small port made up of a pier which protrudes S from the coastline. It is the closest Haitian port to the Dominican Republic and as a result, bagged cement is shipped from the Dominican Republic. Cargo traffic is moved through the port sporadically due to the fact that storage facilities are limited.
Questions about Jacmel
What are the pilot arrangements at Jacmel?
Available, but vessels must remain 0.5nm offshore until pratique is granted.
What time zone is Jacmel in?
Local time at Jacmel is UTC−5. Clocks go to UTC−4 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−5 on 7 Nov 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Jacmel?
The deepest berth listed is at Jacmel Terminal: 5.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Jacmel in?
North Atlantic Seasonal tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Jacmel?
The UN/LOCODE of Jacmel is HTJAK.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Jacmel 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.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.