Port St. Charles

Navigation

There are two ports of entry to Barbados, Bridgetown Harbour and the new Port St. Charles about ten miles north of Bridgetown on the west coast. Clearance is easier up in Port St. Charles as it not a commercial port. However, customs have a strange rule that you have to clear out of the same customs station you clear into. So if you decide to go clear in at Port St. Charles, you will have to return there when you want to leave.

Click to view a PDF file of the approach chart to the Port St Charles Marina

In either case you must proceed directly to the port of clearance and contact them for directions of where to berth. You may not anchor and dinghy in. (See also Carlisle Bay and Port St. Charles sections.) Once berthed you will need to visit Customs, Immigration, Port Authority and Health officials. When berthing in Bridgetown Harbour, lay out lots of fenders and take care, as at some states of the tide their big fenders will be at your lifeline height.

Anchoring regulations

Over 50% of the shallow waters around the island have coral reefs. These are vital to the tourist industry and yacht anchors are seen as a major threat. Anchoring (collecting or otherwise damaging) coral is forbidden. Penalties of US$25,000 and possible imprisonment are in place for anchoring on a coral reef. In a recent case a mega-yacht was given a huge fine and compelled to leave it’s anchor on the reef (so raising it would not cause further damage).

Buoyed anchoring areas may be in place in the future; in the meantime you are responsible for making sure you anchor in sand not on coral. All areas not clearly visible as sand bottoms should be considered as coral reefs. You must also get permission from customs and port authority.