Durres
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Durrës, Albania (Port of Entry)
| Durres
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 The Harbour - Click for larger view |
Durrës (Greek: Dyrrhachion - Δυρράχιον; Italian: Durazzo) is the ancient Greek colony Epidamnos which was later renamed by the Romans to Dyrr(h)achium. Today it is one of the largest and most important cities in Albania. It located in the Adriatic Sea, about 33 km west of Tirana and has a population of about 202,000 inhabitants (as of 2009 estimate). The city was founded with the name of Epidamnos in 627 BC by colonists mostly from Corcyra (ancient name for Corfu) and a few from Corinth.
The harbour of Durres, unlike the harbours of Sarandë and Vlorë, is a large, modern and safe commercial harbour, constructed to serve large passenger, cargo, and cruise ships. Also, in a section of the harbour there are large fishing boats, a kind of fish loading zone. The area surrounding the quay is fenced and is strictly guarded. Entrance to this area is restricted. Within this area are all the official buildings: Harbour Master, Customs, Police, Security, Fire Station, etc.
Although large, Durres harbour makes no special provision for yachts, which must find space to moor alongside the high quays, between widely spaced bollards and large black fenders intended for big ships. It is essential to use an agent here, who will direct you where to moor after instruction from the Harbour Master. Yachts usually tie up on the long SW quay, and most frequently near the western-most corner of the harbour, next to the pilot boats (from the harbour entrance follow the quay on your port side about 700m to where it meets the quay running SW-NE).
Charts
See Albania.
Radio Nets
- Albanian Coast Guard - VHF 11
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
Local Weather
See Albania.
Warning: There are shallow waters in the approach from both N and S, but there is a mile-long safe channel designated by buoys. In the approach from N, there are extensive shoals for a mile S of Kepi Durresit and a large shallow patch, the Talbot Shoal, to be avoided. The Talbot Shoal is marked with a S cardinal mark. In the approach from S, note that shallows extend for nearly two miles out into the bay once past Kepi I Lagjit, with isolated shoal patches of as little as 2.0 metres. These shallows are supposedly marked with two W and one N cardinal marks (though not in evidence on a visit in May 2014).
The safe channel begins at a fairway buoy in position Template:Poi coord, from which a yacht should steer a course of 020 degrees between three sets of port and starboard buoys before turning to port at a final starboard buoy to enter the harbour.
Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)
You must normally use an agent to undertake the paperwork for entry and exit from ports in Albania, and Durres is no exception. It is best if, before entering the harbor, especially if this is your first port into Albania, you have arranged an agent and communicated your ETA. One list of possible agents is shown on Noonsite. The Italian Ministry of Finance patrols the Albanian coast looking for smugglers from a base in Durres Harbour and you may find yourself under surveillance by one of their boats.
As you approach the harbour call Durres Port Control on VHF channel 15. If you get no response then call on channel 16. You will then be directed to a working channel (usually 14). You should be met by your agent at the quay to complete the formalities. If you have selected the wrong agent then you may be asked to fill in endless forms by the officials.
Prior to departing from the harbour your agent will communicate with the authorities and provide the departure permission. Expect to give your agent a day's notice of departure. If you select the wrong agent, you may be presented with a substantial bill. A standard charge is likely to be of the order of EUR50 for formalities and EUR10 per night for your stay in the harbour.
Berthing Options
Go where directed by your agent. Yachts usually tie up alongside on the long SW quay, and most frequently near the western-most corner of the harbour, next to the pilot boats (from the harbour entrance follow the quay on your port side about 700m to where it meets the quay running SW-NE). Berthing is alongside high commercial quays with widely-spaced bollards designed for big ships and the odd rusty mooring staple. It can be difficult to find suitable mooring points if you don't select your position carefully. Because of the high quays, chafe protection is usually essential and it can be useful to have a couple of lengths of chain with which to terminate your mooring lines. There are no facilities whatsoever on the quays. Shelter in the harbour is good, although there is an uncomfortable slop in fresh to strong S winds.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None. The only marina in Albania is Orikum.
Yacht Repairs and Services
None.
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
Durres' Roman Amphitheater which is the largest in the Balkans is located in the city 500 metres N from the harbour (at the end of the section of surviving walls) and is well worth a visit, although there is very little of the original stonework left, most of it being used by the Byzantines and Venetians to construct the defensive walls. A Venetian tower at the SW corner of the walls remains intact and houses a pleasant cafe with a rooftop terrace (see photo of promenade for the view). On a sunny day, it is a pleasant walk along the promenade to the futuristic, modern pier for a coffee in the cafe at the end. Tirana, the capital city of Albania is about 40km from Durres and can be reached by bus, train or taxi. The bus and train stations are adjacent to one another about 20 minutes walk along the waterfront going E.
Grocery & Supply Stores
- Supermarket (Extra Market) 200 metres E from port exit along the main road (opposite the quaintly named Kastrati petrol station). Has frozen meats rather than just a deli counter.
- A large shopping centre is about 600m along the main street (look for the large building with a bright red curved roof).
- Kastrati fuel station is located about 200m E from the port exit along the main road.
- Numerous other shops along the main street leading from the port.
Eateries
- Numerous cafes, fast food outlets and banks along Commercial Street (the wide street going N from the Venetian Tower).
- Piazza Restaurant (200 metres W from port exit) is a good, high class but inexpensive option.
- Ali Pasha grill house (on E side of road leading N from the Venetian Tower) is a good value eatery with an English-speaking chef.
Internet/WiFi
There is no WiFi in the area of the harbour where yachts are usually tied up. There are cafes with WiFi available close to the harbour.
Laundry
There is one laundry a few hundred metres from the harbour entrance along the main street. There may be others.
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Several outlets in the town. Your agent can advise.
Garbage Disposal
Small green or blue skip bins are provided by the port authority within easy reach of the yacht mooring quay.
Transportation
International transportation:
- Durres harbour is a major port for ferries to/from Italy.
- Tirana International Airport is 30km from Durres
Local:
- From Durres there are regular coaches and a train to Tirana (and other destinations). The Durres bus station and train station are co-located about 1.2km from the port entrances near the yacht mooring area.
41°19.0705′N, 19°27.221′E.
Routes/Passages To/From
- Most yachts coming from S arrive here from Orikum, a distance of around 64 miles. From N, yachts often sail direct from Bar in Montenegro, a distance of 54 miles, or from the fishing port of Shengjin, 35 miles NNE of Durres.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Wikipedia - Durrës at the Wikipedia
- Roman Amphitheater
See also Albania.
References & Publications
See Albania.
Personal Notes
- In May 2013 we used Arben ('Ben') Minga (mobile +355 67 208 2061) as an agent. He was efficient and charged the fee we had expected (EUR50 plus EUR10 per night we were in the harbour). On arrival we were directed to the area just south of the western-most corner of the harbour. In this area the ship fenders in place are large truck tyres. There are large bollards at wide spacing, plus various bits of metal (mostly steel reinforcing rod and some chain usually attached to the old truck tyres) to which lines might be attached. Early the following morning we were asked to move at short notice as a ship was berthing where we were moored. We moved to the area just north-east of the western-most corner. Here there are the large, relatively new rubber fenders suitable for ships (about 2m wide, 1m high and 1m thick) at a spacing of about 10m. Other than the large ship bollards there are few other line attachments. The harbour was quite dusty (stirred up by trucks driving past) until rain settled that down. – Yachtbillabong
- In May 2014 we rode out a series of SW then NE/NW gales here for five days. In spite of some slop in the N winds, the harbour was very secure (with extra lines out and chafe protection) and our agent (Ilir Gjergji mobile: +355 6820 36329; email: [email protected]) and friendly port staff were on hand every day to make sure our yacht was safe. We did have to move three times to create space for big ships arriving in port, but there were always port staff around to help with taking lines. It is a good idea to take your mobile with you if leaving the boat as you may be called on to move it at any time (but not at night!). – Athene of Lymington
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- July 2007 – FANEROMENI
- May 2013 – Yachtbillabong
- May 2014 – Athene of Lymington
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 Contributors to this page |
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Names: Lighthouse, FANEROMENI, Yachtbillabong, Athene of Lymington |
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