Nassau - Docking

Before entering Nassau harbour, when within a mile or so, be sure to call Nassau Harbour Control on VHF 16, who will shift to working Ch. 9. This procedure must be followed even if passing through to one of the marinas). They will ask for your last port of call, request details etc. and you will be advised of traffic and given permission to enter. You should also call them before changing location in, or leaving the harbour, for permission to do so, when they will ask for your destination and advise traffic.

Anchoring in Nassau Harbour

It is possible to anchor anywhere in Nassau Harbour outside the main channel, but you must stay clear of commercial shipping areas where freighters manoeuvre and unload. Harbour Control will probably advise you where to go.

Anchoring is possible in front of the Green Parrot restaurant and bar, at 25°04,7’N 077°19,6’W. Mooring buoys are planned. There are a dinghy dock and rubbish bins. Just have a meal or take a beer for this service.

There are two bridges across the harbour, clearance over the main channel is 70ft at high water springs.

There are two other anchorages around New Providence, both good in settled weather: Old Fort Bay just East of the Lyford Cay channel on the North Shore; the other further West at West Bay East of Goulding Cay. Coral Harbour on the South Shore is no longer available to the cruising public and is now the headquarters of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. However, you can gain shelter in extreme conditions.

Dinghy Docks

There is a dinghy dock at Bay Street Marina, in front of the Green Parrot restaurant and bar. Both Texaco fuel docks, one at Harbour Central Marina, west of the bridges, and the other at Texaco Harbour View, east of the bridges, have dinghy docks. They make a small charge and you can take garbage ashore too. You should lock your dinghy and its motor both at anchor and while ashore, but do not impede access to the dinghy dock for others.

Bahamas Air-Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) has a small dinghy dock so, if you come ashore here (and even if you don't), please go in and join this voluntary Association - it's the only rescue service in The Bahamas. Just west of BASRA is Crocodile's Restaurant, where there is a floating dinghy dock alongside the wall, for your use at any time. Please visit the restaurant for a meal and a beer or two. Both places are happy to accommodate visiting yachts but take no responsibility for loss or damage, so be sure to lock your engine and dinghy when you leave it, but do not block the facility for others.