Galle
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Galle, Sri Lanka (Port of Entry)
Background
The capital of the southern province is a city with a colourful history. UNESCO declared World Heritage Site the magnificent Dutch fort is the most popular attraction of the town. 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers. The beautiful beach of Unawatuna is just 6km south east of the city centre.
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Radio Nets
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Approach and Check-in facilities
Arriving yachts should anchor outside the harbour entrance waiting for navy clearance or for a suitable berth to be allocated. Anchor near the yellow buoys opposite the entrance and allow room for ships to manoeuvre in and out. Due to the swell in this anchorage, most yachts move to behind Watering Point for a calm and peaceful nights sleep, then move back next morning to be near the harbour entrance in order to enter.
The procedure on arrival is to radio Port Control who will organise for the navy to come and clear you for entering the harbour. Your arrival should be timed for daylight as night entry to the harbour is prohibited. Yachts arriving at dusk or at night should anchor behind Watering Point.
All visiting yachts must appoint an agent and the names of agents will be given to you by the port authority official. The agent appointed will come to the yacht after having been informed by the port authority. Your agent will bring the health officer for the quarantine inspection of the yacht.
- Windsor Yacht Services can be contacted on Channel 69 one hour before arrival to arrange for the boat to be met by an agent.
- GAC Shipping can be contacted on VHF Channel 71, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The fixed fee is $US200 - including 30 days alongside a pontoon.
Clearance must be carried out through your agent, both on arrival and departure. Your agent will ensure that the captain complies with port and immigration regulations, that he has sufficient funds in foreign exchange for the fees and that all port dues and customs duties are settled before departure.
Once in the harbour, a port authority official will come to the yacht during office hours (0800-1200, 1300-1600 Monday to Friday) to fill in an arrival report. Ensure that the following is to hand:
- Yacht details and registration papers
- Clearance certificate from previous port
- Detailed crew list
Inner Harbour
There are two new pontoons in the inner harbour for the use of visiting boats. They are fairly large pontoons and can each take 25-30 yachts.
The north side of the new concrete dock is available for visiting yachts when it is not in use by ships or fishing vessels, and on the inside at all times (shallower here). The pontoons and buoys on the south side of the harbour are still available, but the new berths are preferable as they afford better shelter.
Clearing Agents
- GAC Marine Services, 205-5 Matara Road, Magalle, Galle, Sri Lanka. Tel:+94 91 2234 025 / mob. +94 7777 18014(24hrs), Fax:+94 91 2243 769, VHF 16, 71. Email
Contact Kithsiri Paliskara on arrival for help with clearance. GAC's vehicle is available to collect you (or your laundry/jerry cans/gas bottles etc) from the dock to take you to the harbour security gate. - Windsor Yacht Services, 6 Closenburg Road, Magalle, Galle. Tel:+ 94 914 384 944, Fax:+ 94 914 380737, VHF Channel 69. Email
- Barwil Meridian Navigation. Tel:+94 (074) 517532. Email
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| HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Indian Ocean | South Asia | Sri Lanka | edit/remove | |