Villefranche

1. Villefranche-sur-Mer – imbarco pilota (circa 1-2 M a SW di Cap Ferrat) Pilot boards43°39.4′N 007°18.8′E

Size limits

LOA 60m, draught 4.0m, 35,000DWT.

Load line zone

Summer.

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

Approach

Approaches: The E side of Rade de Villefranche is rugged and moderately elevated. Cap Ferrat Light struture, a white eight sided tower with a green band, 32m in height, stands 0.05nm N of the extremity of Pointe Malalongue; a large hotel, prominent from seaward, stands 0.2nm farther E.

Roch Voet, marked by a beacon (black over white; two black cones points together, topmark) lies 0.15nm NW of the light structure, close seaward of a battery.

Anchorages

Good anchorage is available in Baie de Villefranche, 43°41.5'N 007°18.8'E in a depth of 20.0-25.0m.

Vessels usually anchor off the W side of the bay, from abreast Mole de la Darse to abreast the N end of the town; the bottom is soft mud covered with weed. Winds from S send a swell into the head of the bay, causing vessels to roll, but it does not strain the cable.

Anse de l'Espalmador, entered S of Pointe du Rube, affords shelter from E winds. The head of Mole de la Darse bearing more than 286° clears the bank off Pointe du Rube. A good anchor berth is in depths of 12.0 to 15.0m, soft mud and weed, off Anse de Passable, situated in the SE corner of Anse de l'Espalmador. This berth is not tenable during SW winds.

Mooring buoys: A mooring buoy for vessels of up to 10,000t is moored 0.2nm SE of the head of Mole de la Sante; a mooring buoy for vessels of up to 35,000t is moored 0.35nm SE of the head of Mole de la Darse.

Prohibited anchorage: Anchoring is prohibited in an area, marked on the chart, surrounding the two mooring buoys, due to the presence of an historic wreck. This prohibition does not apply to vessels using the mooring buoys, however anchors must not be used in a zone with length of 450m and width of 200m, lying between the two buoys.

Anchoring and fishing are prohibited in an area extending 1.25nm W and 1.5nm S from Cap Ferrat peninsula. Two areas in which anchoring, fishing and diving are prohibited are situated within a radius of 200m off Pointe des Sans Culottes and of Roch Voet. These areas are indicated on the chart; the restrictions are due to the presence of submarine cables.

Charts and publications

BA 149, 2167, 2245, 2246. Admiralty Pilot NP46, NP286(3).

Port State Control here: Paris MOU, Indian Ocean 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

Position: Head of Sea Defense.

Address: 22 Rue Monge, Paris, F-75005, France

Tel: +33 01 40 81 85 30

Fax: +33 01 40 81 70 53

Mob: +33 06 17 15 01 80

Email: [email protected]

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

Dry docks

Drydock able to accommodate vessels up to approximately 150t available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkering: Fuel available.

Fresh water: Available. Water can be supplied by lighter to ships at anchor.

Stores: Provisions available.

Medical

Nice Hospital, 5.3km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Nice International Airport, located at Nice, 12.5km.

Railway Station : Gare SNCF Nice Requier, 5.1km.

Where it is

Villefranche is situated 1.25nm NNE of Pointe des Sans Culottes.

The port

The port consists of two harbours, one on either side of the citadel. Darse Sud, to the S of the citadel, is sheltered from the E by Mole de la Darse, which projects 0.2nm E and NE, and is marked at its head by a light structure consisting of a white building 8m in height.

Where does the pilot board at Villefranche?

The pilot boards at Villefranche-sur-Mer – imbarco pilota (circa 1-2 M a SW di Cap Ferrat), 43°39.4′N 007°18.8′E.

What time zone is Villefranche in?

Local time at Villefranche is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

Which load line zone is Villefranche in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Villefranche?

Port State Control at Villefranche: Paris MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Villefranche?

The UN/LOCODE of Villefranche is FRVFM.

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