Black Sea
From CruisersWiki
There are Port(s) of Entry here
Map of the Black Sea - For details click on a name or an areaThe Black Sea (Greek: Μαύρη Θάλασσα or Εύξινος Πόντος, Turkish: Karadeniz) is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and the Anatolian peninsula Turkey and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas and various straits. The Bosporus Strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and then the long island-bound strait of the Dardanelles connects it to the Aegean Sea region of the Mediterranean. These waters separate eastern Europe and western Asia. The Black Sea also connects to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. The Black Sea has an area of 436,400 km² (168,495 sq mi), and a maximum depth of 2,200 m (7,200 ft).
In his wonderful book Neal Ascherson describes the unusual conditions of the Black Sea. The Black Sea receives the waters of five major rivers: the Kuban, the Don, the Dnieper, the Dniester and above all the Danube. These rivers deposit a tremendous amount of organic matter. Over thousands of years the bacteria feeding on this matter exhausted the oxygen at the lower depths of the Black Sea, creating a condition known as anoxia. In its stead, the oxygen has been replaced by the deadly hydrogen sulfide (H2S). So, today the Black Sea consists of two layers separated by a well-defined boundary called haloclyne or oxyclyne. This boundary is at a depth of about 200 m, below which the water is infused by H2S and is totally devoid of life. Above the oxyclyne however, the surface layer of the Black Sea is teaming with life and fish. This abundance of fish has made the coastal area very wealthy. There are many dolphins in the Black Sea which delight the sailor.
The Black Sea basin was colonized by the Greeks as early as the Bronze age. The legend of the Argonauts in search for the Golden Fleece originates from that period. Mycenaean anchors have been found all along the coast of the Black Sea. Later in the antiquity many Greek coastal colonies had been established around the sea trading with their founding mother cities dried fish and later wheat and timber. The Greek presence in the Black Sea, or the Pontos, continued until the early part of this century.
Recent theories have linked the formation of the Black Sea with the biblical legend of the Flood. According to this theory the Black Sea was originally a fresh water lake. Then, 7,600 years ago, the melting of the glaciers flooded the Mediterranean. This extra water, eventually cut a narrow channel, the Bosphorus, and salt water flowed into the Black Sea at the rate of 10 cubic miles per day for two years. This deluge caused the waters in the Black Sea to rise at the rate of six inches per day and covered all the coastal human habitations. Robert D. Ballard, the discoverer of the Titanic, is leading an expedition, based in Sinop, to investigate this theory. The Institute of Nautical Archaeology, under the leadershp of the pioneering underwater archaeologist George Bass, is also interested in future work in the Black Sea waters.
Charts
- BA
- 2214 The Euxine or Black Sea
- NIMA
- 55100 Western Part of the Black Sea
- 55105 Eastern Part of the Black Sea
- Turkey
- 10A Western Blacksea
- 10B Eastern Blacksea
Weather
The Black Sea has more extremes and is more humid with the most rain than the Mediterranean. The local Turkish saying is that the Black Sea has four good harbors: Samsun, Trabzon, July and August! In addition, since it the Black Sea is a large body of water with very few islands, the waves are more ocean-like than in the Mediterranean, there almost a constant large swell even when there is no wind.
Sources for weather information:
- 3 Maps to choose from - Wind Direction and Speed, Wave Direction and Height, Wave Period.
- This map is produced by the Turkish State Meteorological Service which also produces maps for the whole Black Sea and Mediterranean. Map of Regions
- Navtex Broadcasts
- Weather on Line Detail 7 day forecast charts for the Black Sea
- Wind GURU A surfer's site with worldwide wind forecasts
Currents & Tides
Passages
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Communication
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
The only entry to the Black sea is via the Bosporus Strait for details see Navigation Notes.
Countries, Ports, Anchorages, and Islands
Turkey | Bulgaria | Romania |
Sile | – anchorage |
Ovaköy | – anchorage |
Sütlüce or Gideros | – anchorage |
Caylioglu (Çaylioğlu) | – harbour |
Hamsilos | – anchorage |
Yakakent | – harbour |
Ünye | – anchorage |
Ordu | – anchorage |
|
Sveti Vlas Dinevi Marina | – marina |
Varna Lake (Asparuhvo) | – marina |
|
|
Ukraine | Russia | Georgia |
Massandra | – harbour |
Artek | – harbour |
|
|
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Notes:
- 1NOT a Port of Entry
- 2Rumoured Port of entry
- 3as at July 2011 NOT a Port of Entry
- 4Very little information for this port
- 5Unofficial Port of Entry; Ana Yacht Club marina can arrange for officials to come from Constanta to handle entry or exit
Trans-Europe Canals/Rivers from the Black Sea
Possible cross-Europe transits between the Black Sea and the North Sea
Danube
The Rhine-Main-Danube Canal (German - Rhein-Main-Donau-Kanal), connects the Main and the Danube rivers across the European Watershed. It runs from Bamberg via Nuremberg to Kelheim. The canal connects the North Sea to the Black Sea, providing a navigable artery between the Rhine delta (at Rotterdam in the Netherlands) and the Danube Delta in eastern Romania. The canal was completed in 1992 and is 171 km long.
The cross-section of the waterway is mainly trapezoidal, with 31 meters width at the bottom, 55 meters wide at the water surface, 4 meters of water depth, and a side gradient of 1:3. The channel is a European Waterway Class Vb; the largest authorised vessels are 190 m in length and 11.45 m wide. The channel in the Kelheim-bound Bamberg lock has a depth of 2.70 m. In the few sections with a rectangular profile, the width is usually 43 m.
The canal is the easy bit of the trip between the North Sea and the Black Sea. The rivers can both be very fast flowing, particularly the Danube which also forms the border between Serbia and Romania and later Bulgaria and Romania. The Bulgaria-Romania border bit should not be a problem as both are EU countries so the free passage of people, goods, services and money is guaranteed by the treaties of Rome and Maastrecht. The Serbian border, on the other hand, might be a bit of a trouble spot. If doing the trip one must follow the inland waterway rules but I would recommend not berthing on the Serbian side of the river.
Given the strength of the flow of the Danube, It is recommended to sail from west to east and return via the Mediterranean.
Anyone making this trip will be required to hold an International Certificate of Competence with a CEVNI endorsement. At a practical level, you should have someone on board who can speak German.
Volga
The Volga-Baltic Waterway or, as it used to be called and is probably better known, the Mariinsk Canal System. (expand this)
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Black Sea at the Wikipedia
- Black Sea at the Wikivoyage
- Islands in the Black Sea at the Wikipedia
- Black Sea - Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- Interactive map of some of the North Sea to Black Sea Inland Routes
- North Sea to Black Sea Books
- Serbian Pirates on Danube
References
Books and Guides
- David Read Barker and Lisa Borre, Black Sea Cruising Guide, RCC Pilotage Foundation, 2011, ISBN 9781846234125
- Doreen and Archie Annan, Cruise the Black Sea, Atakoy Marina, Istanbul Turkey, ISBN Unknown
- Aubrey and Judy Millard, Cruise the Black Sea with Veleda - The CD, 2004, ISBN Unknown
- Rick and Sheila Nelson, Black Sea Cruising Guide, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, June 1995, ISBN 0852881738
- (Out of print as at June 2011)
- Nicky Allardice, Cruising Bulgaria and Romania, Imray Laurie Noris & Wilson, Cambridgeshire (Ist Edition 2006), ISBN 9780852889107
- Rod Heikell, The Danube - A River Guide, Imray Laurie, Norie & Wilson (Last Printed 1991), ISBN 0852881479
- Mariana Koromila, Pontos - Anatolia, Fotographico odiporiko, Brazioti, Athens, ISBN 9607294009
- (in Greek)
- Tim Severin, The Jason Voyage, the Quest for the Golden Fleece, Hutchinson, London, 1985, ISBN 0091618800
Note: The RCC Pilotage Foundation is now involved with both the Black Sea Cruising Guide (David Read Barker and Lisa Borre) & Cruise the Black Sea.
Websites that List Available Guides & Books
- RCC Pilotage Foundation, Passage Planning Map based index to RCC Crusing Guide Books & Passage Planning Guides.
- Imray produce many Cruising Guides for Many areas of the world, [1]
- Conference of Yacht Cruising Clubs (UK), Sailing Directions published by CYCC members
- Ocean Cruising Club, Cruising Areas This website contains information for a large number of cruing areas including brief information about each area and a list of guide books as well as a Google map of the locations in the reports.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- SY Big Sky 2011
- SY Sahula, David, April 2011, Istanbul up the Danube
- SV Gyatso, Cruise of the Black Sea 2010
- SY Gemini, Ron and Susan's 2009 Black Sea Adventure
- SY Jennifer - See 2006 & 2009 Black Sea
- SY Jack Tar - See May to August 2008
- SY Tala Cruising Narrative August 2006
- SY Veleda April 2004 (Aubrey and Judy Millard)
- SY Veleda June 2003 (Aubrey and Judy Millard)
- SY Gladlee of Guernsey 2002 (Julie Smart & Ron Hayton)
- Travels with S/Y Thetis: 1999 Istanbul to Samsun
- Travels with S/Y Thetis: 1999 Trabzon, Sumela, Amasya
- Travels with S/Y Thetis: 1999 Samsun to Istanbul
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Black Sea and this page's details validated:
- August 1999 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
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Contributors to this page
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Names: Lighthouse, Istioploos, Haiqu, Rr7 |