 Vlore (Valona Bay) : Profile
Vlore is about 50NM south of Durres and is Albania's second largest port.
Vlore has a well-protected fishing harbour called Triport, now unfortunately badly silted up and impossible to enter by keel boat (advised June 2008). The entrance into nearby Vlore lagoon has also silted up, making access impossible.
Smaller than Durres, Vlore is busy with ferries to and from Italy and affords little shelter.
Call the Port Captain on their working channel of VHF 15 or on 16. They will direct you to a berthing point on the commercial dock for clearing in, and request you come to their office onshore located between the two jetties to deal with formalities.
Note that Vlore harbour is orientated around commerce with large rubber tyres as the harbour fenders. In southerly or wWesterly winds, it would not be a good place to be for too long.
On arrival you will be visited by officials from the Port Captain and the Police who will inspect papers and take the clearance form from the previous port.
Yachts may then proceed to the marina at the south end of the bay, and return to the port to clear out. Clearance is required with Port Captain and Police. Officials do prefer you to use the services of an agent.
Last updated November 2009.
Clearance Agent
Tel:+355 6923 75078
Vladimir has been recommended.
Mooring in Vlore can be difficult due to the steel reinforcement which project from the piers.
The Orikum Marina, in the southeastern part of the bay, is part of a new apartment/hotel complex, and comes recommended by cruisers. The entrance from the north is difficult to visualise as it look as though one is sailing towards a brutish concrete wall, and only a sharp turn to port at the last minute has the marina entrance opening up. It may be advisable to check the entrance out by dinghy first. There is a green flashing light on a pole at the head of the low breakwater and a red flashing light on a red buoy to mark the port side channel limit.
There are restaurants on the beach within walking distance but the small township for any provisioning is about 3km away.
Harbour Master's office
Tel:+355 (0)63 24659., VHF Channel 15, 16
Marina di Orikum
Valona, near Vlore
Tel:+35 (0)56 52 52 040 / +355 6840 93801, VHF Channel 15 or 12
marinaorikum@hotmail.it
Lat 40° 20.539’N Long 19° 28.295’E
Staff are friendly and helpful. Moor stern-to. Toilets and showers, water and electricity. Internet (occasionally). Provisions 1km. Taxi to Vlore 3 euro, local minibus to Vlore 1 Euro. Berthing Fees 2008: 45 foot yacht pays 24 Euro. The entrance channel is dredged to about 2m.
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