Aden : Profile

Clearance

Aden Port Control should be contacted on VHF channel 13 or 16 when close to the buoyed channel. The yacht anchorage is west of the customs wharf. Beware of the big mooring buoys in the approach channel and also rocks and submerged cables in the anchorage area.

Formalities are carried out ashore. The dinghy can be left at the ferry dock, where a customs officer will meet the captain and accompany him to the office. Immigration will be visited next, where passports are held until departure and every crew member is issued a shore pass.

A passport photo is required for the shore pass which allows a 7 day stay for no charge. This can be extended, again with no charge.

The last stop is at the Harbour Master's office - Captain Abdul Salaam. In order to visit the capital, Sanaa, a 3-month visa is required. This costs US$35 per person and you will need written permission from the harbourmaster, which he will grant on condition that someone is looking after your yacht while you are away.

There are no check-in or departure fees, but the Port Control office must be visited before leaving.

Last updated September 2010.

Agent Omar
Tel:733 868 127
Provides many helpful services.

Customs and Immigration
At east end of Harbour. Shore pass (for Aden only) is issued by Immigration and they retain passports. Visa is required for visits to Sanaa or Taizz. Police permit is required to travel by land out of Aden. Clearing in - Take your dinghy to the west side of the Prince of Wales quay and go to immigration who are on the east side of the quay. You need three crew lists and they will keep your passport and give you a shore pass. Then go to customs, also on the east side of the quay, where you will be entered into the log and who require a further two crew lists. To clear out you need to go to the Harbourmaster on Ras Marbut where shown on the plan in Indian Ocean Cruising Guide and get a clearance document from him that you take to customs and then to immigration where you hand back the shore passes and get your passports back.

Docking

When you are 10 miles out you need to call Aden Port Control on Channel 16 or 13. The latter is the working channel. You will be asked to call up again when you are off the breakwater. The approach channel is well buoyed and the paper and electronic charts pretty accurate for the approaches and the harbour.

Follow the buoyed channel in and anchor off the Prince of Wales quay. The bottom is mud and clay, but not everywhere good holding. There is also a lot of junk on the sea bottom: old tyres, moorings, bits of pipe and steel-work. The wind generally blows from the east but can swirl around sometimes and there is also a fair amount of tide ripping through the anchorage.

If you want a quiet night, it is recommended that you anchor E of The Sailor's Club!.

The harbour is now reported to be clean. The inner harbour offers reasonable shelter.

Last updated September 2010.

Aden Harbour
Anchorage off the tourist jetty (steps at the end to leave dinghy). Night entry not easy as unlit buoys and dolphins encumber the way to the anchorage.