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Galle : Profile

Clearance

Arriving yachts should anchor outside the 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 to go ashore. The procedure on arrival is to radio Port Control who will organise for the navy to come and clear you for entering the harbour.

The arrival should be timed for daylight as entering the harbour at night is prohibited. Yachts arriving at dusk or at night should anchor behind Watering Point.

A port authority official will come out to the boat during office hours (0800-1200, 1300-1600 Monday to Friday) to fill in an arrival report (yacht details, crew list, etc.). All foreign yachts are supposed to appoint an agent and names of agents will be given by the port authority official. The agent appointed will come to the yacht after having been informed by the port authority. Usually the agent will bring the health officer for the quarantine inspection.

There is now a choice of agents for yachts clearing into Galle. Windsor Yacht Services can be contacted on Channel 69 one hour before arrival to arrange for the boat to be met by an agent. Previously the Windsors were the only agents but recently GAC Shipping have extended their services to yachts. GAC Shipping can be contacted on VHF Channel 71, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To speed up clearance into Galle yachts can now email the following details to Windsor Yacht Services windsorreef@wow.lk and they can have the Navy Clearance prearranged in order to save a couple of hours waiting at the entrance. Send: Yacht Name, Name of Master, Masters Passport No., Last Port, Departure Date, No. of Crew. You can then call Don Windsor on VHF CH69 one hour out and they will advise on procedure.

Sailing yachts have a fixed clearing fee of US$200 (US$175 with the Windsors), but motor yachts have to clear with GAC, as they are treated as ships by the Port Authority; they also have to pay a US$150 pilotage fee - but don't get a pilot.

The captain can come ashore in an emergency and contact customs and immigration at the gate and inform the port authority of arrival. The captain can appoint an agent whilst ashore. Clearance must be carried out through this agent, both on arrival and departure. The agent is supposed to 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.

Barwil Meridian Navigation
Tel:+94 (074) 517532
sherard.perera@barwil.com
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 Channel 16, 71
ops.galle@gacworld.com
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
windsorreef@wow.lk
A local entrepreneur, Santosh Windsor, runs this yacht service company from his home near Galle harbour. He is the best man to contact in an emergency. His office can also be used for overseas telephone calls, mailing address and to book excursions into the interior. He can arrange most repairs including electronic, engine, and sail repair as well as metal work and welding. He can also supply courtesy flags, fill LPG bottles and arrange for essential spares to be ordered from abroad and airfreighted by courier. More complex engine or electrical repairs may have to be made in Colombo. Windsor Yacht Services also arrange visits into the interior and will also find a reliable person to watch unattended boats.

Docking

Yachts no longer need to anchor in the outer harbour with the completion of two new pontoons in the inner harbour for the use of visiting boats. They are fairly large pontoons and can take each 25-30 yachts. The average cost for all clearance formalities (via an agent) as well as a one month fee for pontoon use (this is the minimum) is $200 for a 36 ft boat.

A new ship-sized concrete dock has been built where most charts show the northern row of yacht buoys. The north side of this is available for yachts, rafted two out, when it is not in use by ships or fishing vessels, and on the inside at all times (depths are shallower here). The pontoons and buoys on the south side of the harbour are still available, but the new alongside berths are preferable as they give more shelter. Do not take the berth nearest the shore as the surge can be dramatic. No water (except by jerrycans from the toilet block) or electricity is available.

At times the Navy may close off the inner harbour, as well as depth-charging the harbour at night to dissuade Tamil Tiger divers.

It is reported as not being a very comfortable harbour in which to moor and it is a long walk into the town.