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Luganville : Profile

Clearance

On entering the harbour, one should fly the Q flag and call customs or Santo Port Control on Channel 16 or working Channel 12. They may not answer outside of office hours. If conditions are too rough to anchor by the old black quarantine buoy, one may pick up a mooring off Aore Resort on the southern side of the Segond Channel and make one's way to the customs, quarantine and immigration offices on the main wharf. It is not recommended to tie up to the quarantine buoy or the main wharf.

The anchorage at Beachfront Resort is another alternative to the Q-buoy anchorage, although the Q-buoy is preferred.

The immigration office is on Rue Higginson (main street) at the east end of Luganville, but outside the commercial port. The customs office is inside the commerical port, first building on the right. Customs will contact Quarantine, and in general, both Customs and Quarantine agents will want to visit the yacht to collect fresh fruits, vegetables, and garbage. A fee of 3000 Vatu is charged by Quarantine. Animals onboard yachts are not permitted to land, but can be kept onboard the yacht while in Vanuatu waters.

A cruising permit is required for all yachts transitting between clearance ports in Vanuatu. Obtain the permit (no fee) from the Customs office before leaving Luganville. You must name the islands at which you intend to call.

Customs and Immigration
Tel:+678 7736225
Santo Customs are open Monday to Friday, 07:30-11:30 and 13:15-16:30. If they are needed outside these times contacts are: Reuben Lini 44118 and Graeme Waute 54049.

Docking

There is no marina in Luganville. Three anchorages are convenient to town:

BP Wharf/ Q-buoy - Yachts can anchor on either side of the BP wharf although the anchorage is fairly open to the east and the bottom is foul in many spots.

Beachfront Resort - This anchorage along a white-sand beach just west of the Sarakata River is the preferred yacht anchorage on the Luganville side of the Segond Channel. Holding is good in 5-15 metres, sand. The anchorage is relatively open to the east, and especially at high-tide in the afternoon the anchorage can be choppy. Dinghies may be landed on the beach at the Beachfront Resort.

Palikulo Bay - The anchorage at Palikulo Bay is well-protected and quite beautiful, but it's about a 30-minute ride from town. Buses, trucks, and taxis pass along the east-coast road nearby, although traffic is light. The entrance depth is approximately 2.6m at high tide, but once inside there is plenty of space and excellent holding.

Oyster Island at the Northern end of Palikulo Bay welcomes visiting yachts and is very cruiser friendly. This anchorage comes recommended by cruisers as a great stopover or a safe place to leave your yacht for a trip away from the boat. Directions for entry into the bay are in the Vanuatu or Mis Mae cruising guides, or the Island monitors VHF Ch. 16 and they will escort you through the entrance into the harbour if you are unsure.

Aore Resort
Aore island, across Segond Channel from Luganville
Tel:+678 7736444, VHF Channel 68
12 moorings in location 15°32.269 S, 167° 10.790 E. Water very deep for anchoring (28 metres). Ferry across to Luganville.

Beachfront Resort
1.6km West of Luganville
Tel:+678 7736881, VHF Channel 16
Dinghies may be landed on the beach at the Resort.

Yacht Clubs

There are no yacht clubs, per se, in Luganville although both the Beachfront Resort and Aore Resort welcome visiting sailors and offer various services that sailors can appreciate (showers, laundry, water, bar and restaurant).