Useful Information CRETE (Island) GREECE - GTP

AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Town) LASSITHI
Location: 35* 11'.6 25*43'.0 (28410) 22312 VHF Ch 6,7,8,12,19
Agios Nikolaos is easily seen as you come from Spinalonga. There is a small island in front of the city with a church on it. The town is built on the hills above the shore. The small harbour in front of Agios Nikolaos is used by tour boats in the summer and the inner harbour (under the bridge) by small fishing boats. The new marina constructed east of Akrotiri Mandraki has full facilities and can accommodate many boats. Approaching from the east the white government buildings above the marina can easily be seen. From the west you pass the old harbour, round Akrotiri Mandraki and the harbour is evident.

Facilities: The new marina provides full services, electricity and water on the quay. Fuel refills are easily arranged. There are Port Police, Customs and Immigration as Agios Nikolaos is a Port of Entry. The city of Agios Nikolaos has a General Hospital, private doctors, dentists, and pharmacies. There are banks, post and telephone offices that offer complete services. Many shops are available for provisions and most repair work can be done here. Agios Nikolaos has many hotels and tavernas. During full season it may be difficult to find a room in town.

Comments: The stern-to, bow-to and alongside moorings in the new marina provide excellent shelter in all weather. The harbour entrance is lit with green on the right and red on the left. The Akrotiri Mandraki also has a flashing red light on the north point.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Harbour.jdp?ID=11 (10 img.)

Agios Nikolaos Port

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://www.yen.gr/ports/Html_Files/m_264.asp

Capt. Yorgos Ioannides WebPage

http://www.navis.gr/portsgrc/ay_nikol.htm

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://egov.yen.gr/Folder.2003-07-23.3654/Folder.2...

Bali anchorage

BALI (Port) RETHYMNO
Location: 35*24'.1 24*47'.1
Bali is a seaside resort about 20km east of Rethimnon. In the bay there are 2 small coves on the west side, in front of the town, that provide safe anchorage for all but northeastern winds.

Facilities: Bali can provide minimal shopping, no repairs and with some effort fuel may be ordered. There are mailing facilities and international telephone calls can be made. There is no Port Police or Customs. The village has a pharmacy. There are hotels and tavernas.

Comments: Safe anchorage is in the 2 small coves on the west side of the bay. The coves provide protection in north and north west winds. There are rocks extending from the west side of the bay seaward. The town is well lit up at night. The shelter is no good in the winter as the waves break over the retaining wall, causing a swell that is dangerous. The anchor holding in the bays is poor.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Harbour.jdp?ID=6 (4 img.)

Chania anchorage

CHANIA (Town) CRETE
Location: 35*31'.2 24*01' (lighthouse light) (28210) 96083, 98888 VHF Ch 12,18,19
The harbour and marina of Chania are on the north side of the city. The entrance to the harbour is easily identifiable by the Venetian lighthouse and bastion at the mouth. Farther in on the quay, the domed mosque and houses of the harbour are evident. The entrance to the inner harbour and marina are to the left immediately after entry.

Facilities: Chania is a Port of Entry therefore Customs and Immigration Offices are on the quay as well as Harbour Police. The new marina has electricity and water facilities on the docks. The city of Chania has repair shops, plenty of stores for provisions. Fuel can be brought to the quay. There is also a General Hospital in Chania as well as private clinics, doctors, dentists, and pharmacies. The Telephone and Post Offices provide all means of communication. There are a great number of tavernas and hotels in the harbour and throughout the city.

Comments: The stern-to and bow-to mooring provide good protection from all types weather. This combined with the new marina and the facilities of the city make Chania a good wintering harbour as well as summer port. The approach to the harbour is difficult in strong winds. There is a man-made breakwater west of the entrance. The lighthouse on the east side of the harbour entrance is lit at night. The breakwater west of the entrance also has a flashing lit buoy. The inner harbour entrance has lights on either side (red on the north, green on the south).

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Harbour.jdp?ID=2 (6 img.)

Chania Port

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://www.yen.gr/ports/Html_Files/m_53.asp

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://egov.yen.gr/Folder.2003-07-23.3654/Folder.2...

Capt. Yorgos Ioannides WebPage

http://www.navis.gr/portsgrc/canea.htm

Harbour

ELOUNDA (Small town) LASSITHI
Elounda has a busy fishing harbour with many fishing boats. Frequent boat trips to Elounda Bay and to Spinalonga start from here.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=19 (4 img.)

Falassarna anchorage

FALASSARNA (Beach) CHANIA
Location: The anchorage point of Falasarna and the ancient city of Falasarna's ruins is on the west coast of Crete. The small fishing harbour is south of the large white sandy beach. The location of the ancient city is near the large land mass in the north of the bay.

Facilities: The anchorage point of Falasarna and the ancient city of Falasarna's ruins are on the west coast of Crete. The small fishing harbour is south of the large white sandy beach. The location of the ancient city is near the large land mass in the north of the bay. Anchorage in this bay is good in east winds.

Comments: The harbour has only stern-to and bow-to mooring for 1 or 2 small boats. The anchorage of the ancient city is for calm weather only. This area is subject to sudden and violent north and west winds. If travelling from one side of Crete to the other it is best to stay 10km off shore.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=1017 (1 img.)

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Harbour.jdp?ID=20 (3 img.)

Gavdos Anchorage

GAVDOS (Port) CRETE
Location: 34*50' 24*05' (28230) 41101
The island of Gavdos is 45km south of Hora Sfakion, Crete. There is a small harbour on the southeast side of the island. The ferry boat from Hora Sfakion and Paleohora dock here.

Facilities: There is a Health Centre in Kastri. Telephone and postal services are also available. There are minimal provisions at the harbour, being supplied by a few tavernas. In Kastri, there is more adequate shopping and rooms to rent. There are weekly boats, (depending on weather) to Hora Sfakion and Paleohora, Crete. First Aid: (28230) 42 195

Comments: The docking facilities are minimal and the wind in the area can be very strong.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Harbour.jdp?ID=23 (4 img.)

Iraklion anchorage

HERAKLIO (Town) CRETE
Location: 35*21'.2 25*09'.4 (2810) 244956, 244934, 226073 VHF Ch 12,19
The large harbour of Iraklion is easily seen in front of the city. It is a very busy harbour and the cranes and ferries are apparent from a distance. The International Airport is just east of the city and there are also large white oil tanks to the west. The inner harbour and new marina are at the far west end. The Venetian fort (Koules) marks its entrance.

Facilities: Iraklion is the largest city in Crete. All possible facilities are here. There is a new marina in the inner harbour that has electricity and water facilities on the quay. Fuel refilling may be arranged. Iraklion is a Port of Entry. Customs and Immigration Officials as well as Harbour Police have offices in the port. The city is within walking distance of the harbour. There are 2 General Hospitals, in addition to private clinics, doctors, and dentists. Pharmacies are throughout the city. The shopping and repair services are the best on Crete. There is a ramp in the new marina.

Comments: The stern-to, bow-to and alongside mooring (in the outer harbour) provide good shelter in all weather conditions. With the new marina facilities, wintering here is possible. The harbour's entrance is marked at night by a green flashing light on the outer north wall and a green one on the Koules. There is a red flashing light on the left, opposite the Koules. Two large quays on the south side have red lights. The harbour is very busy and care must be taken with the constant coming and going of ferryboats. In strong northerly winds there is a swell at the main harbour's entrance.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.

Crete TOURnet WebPage

http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Harbour.jdp?ID=7 (6 img.)

Heraklio Port

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://www.yen.gr/ports/Html_Files/m_237.asp

Capt. Yorgos Ioannides WebPage

http://www.navis.gr/portsgrc/iraklion.htm

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://egov.yen.gr/Folder.2003-07-23.3654/Folder.2...

Ierapetra Port

IERAPETRA (Town) LASSITHI

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://www.yen.gr/ports/Html_Files/m_263.asp

Ministry of Merchant Marine WebPage

http://egov.yen.gr/Folder.2003-07-23.3654/Folder.2...

Kali Limenes anchorage

KALI LIMENES (Port) MIRES
Location: 34*55'.7 24*48'.0 (28920) 42188 VHF Ch 12
Kali Limenes is located on the south coast of Crete on the east side of the Akrotiri Lithinon. There are large white oil storage tanks on the small island of Agios Pavlos and on the west side, the larger island of Megalonissi.

Facilities: There are few facilities in Kali Limenes outside a few tavernas and rent rooms. There are however Port Police and Customs.

Comments: Kali Limenes is one of the 2 safest and best anchorages on the south coast of Crete, there is very good protection in west and north winds. Small boats can find additional shelter from southwest and north winds on the land side of Megalonissi. Many tankers also find shelter here.

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.

Crete TOURnet WebPage