Tarbert

Size limits

LOA 42m, draught 2.8m

Load line zone

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

Tides

Range HAT +2.38m; LAT -2.18m.

Approach

East Loch Tarbert, on the W side of Loch Fyne is entered between Rubha Loisgte (55°52'N 005°23'W) and Garbhaird, 0.35nm NNW.

Between Rubha Loisgte and Madadh Maol 0.5nm WNW, the S shore is fringed by foul ground, extending in places up to 50m offshore. Red Rock, which dries 1.8m, lies close offshore 100m WNW of Rubha Loisgte; 50m N of Red Rock is another rock with a depth of 4.9m over it. There is a shoal with a least depth of 12.2m over it, lying 170m NNW of Rubha Loisgte.

Madadh Maol is a small promontory on the S shore from which foul ground extends 50m N. A light is exhibited from a column situated on the N end of this foul ground.

Eilean a' Choic, lying in the fairway 50m NW of Madadh Maol (55°52'N 005°24'W), is an island 7.0m in height and is foul on all sides; from the W side of this island a reef, which dries, extends 100m W; Sgeir Bhuidhe lies on this reef 50m W of the island and is a rock 3.0m in height. A green perch exhibiting Q6 marks the foul ground off the S end of the reef W off the S side of Eilean a' Choic and another green perch marks the S end of the reef W of the island. The N side of this reef is marked by a buoy (can; red) and the NW extremity of the reef is marked by a red perch.

On the N side of the loch, the bay between Garbhaird, the N entrance point and Cnocan Sgairbh, a promontory 7.0m in height 220m WSW, is foul. There is a shoal with a depth of 3.4m over it 20m S of Garbhaird and depths of less than 10m extend a short distance farther SE.

Loch Bhuidhe is a promontory on the N side of the loch, 0.05nm N of Eilean a' Choic; a spit extends 25m SW from this promontory and is marked by a buoy (conical; green). Another buoy (can; red) is moored 20m farther W.

Port limits

The port limits extend from Loisgte to Garbhaird.

Anchorages

Temporary anchorage in fine weather may be obtained in the entrance to the port in depths of 18.0-26.0m, mud, 150m SE of the E end of Eilean an Aigeich. Anchoring in the inner harbour, which is heavily congested with mooring buoys, is only permitted in emergencies or by permission of Harbour Master.

Restrictions

The inner harbour entrance narrows at low tide.

Local bye-laws include;

Mooring

There are 42 mooring buoys in the inner harbour.

Charts and publications

BA 2381. Admiralty Pilot NP66A, NP286(1)

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notification of ETA should be sent to the Harbour Master 24 hours prior to arrival.

Communications

VHF: Ch 16, 14, monitored 0800-1700hrs.

Documents

The documents required are current insurance and the ship's registration documents.

Health

UK regulations apply.

Customs and immigration

Local Customs officer will board vessels for random checks.

Notices and regulations

The Inner Harbour has a 3kts speed limit. Local bye-laws rules and regulations can be requested from the Harbour Master.

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.

Repairs

Available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available, fuel oil, Mon-Fri only.

Stores: Available but in small quantities.

Medical

A doctor is available, Tel: +44 1880 820219.

Lochgilphead Hospital (22km), Tel: +44 1546 602323.

Transport

Nearest airport: Machrihanish, 20km.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs. Mon-Fri (office).

Where it is

Tarbert is situated on the W coast of Loch Fyne.

The port

This small port consists of an outer harbour, which serves as a ferry port, with a deep water pier and a sheltered inner harbour. Providing berthing for fishing vessels and small craft.

What are the pilot arrangements at Tarbert?

None available.

What time zone is Tarbert in?

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

Which load line zone is Tarbert 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 Tarbert?

Port State Control at Tarbert: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Tarbert?

The UN/LOCODE of Tarbert is GBTAB.

What crews who called at Tarbert 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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