Djibouti - Docking
The Djibouti Navy operates on VHF Channel 16. Port Control operates on VHF Channel 12 and are efficient.
There is plenty of space. Just be careful of the wrecks on the south side of the area (some are partially above the water). Local boats will sometimes race through the anchorage at high speed.
Cruisers report a lot of flies here in the port. It is advisable to remain at anchor and either dinghy to shore, or, use your agent to assist with a water taxi service.
Anchoring Options (from visiting cruisers)
Position: 11° 36.03’N, 43° 7.86’E – 8 meters mud and sand with good holding.
Position: 11°35.954’N 43°7.954’E – easy anchorage 4 meters on sand with plenty of room. The Dinghy Dock is at the small harbor just in front, for which you pay a small fee (US$50/ week), but it’s safe and easy.
The eastern side of the bay is away from all the container ship activity and close to the marina area for tying up the dinghy when going ashore.
Alternatively, you may be directed to anchor between the old “Yacht Club” building and the Port de Peche. The Yacht Club of Djibouti is now closed and the building is used by the Guard Nationale.
There is a charge to anchor here, not just for the port area, payable on clearing out (see Fees).
Cruisers report that the anchorage water is clean enough to swim in and use the watermaker.
See this report for good anchorages outside Djibouti port.
Getting Ashore – Dinghy Access
When entering the small harbour keep to port side and continue all the way to the back. Tie up on the long pontoon closest to shore. You will be approached by locals who will offer to watch your dinghy for between US$5 to US$10 – every time you go ashore.
Visiting cruisers report paying US$50 for one week’s access which (they say) may be a bit high but saved the daily price negotiations.
The fishing harbor is conveniently close to the shopping mall.
Last updated: August 2023.
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Port Navigation
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Apr 17, 2019 07:00 AM
We spent 9 months at Djibouti. Djibouti is not dirtier than some Asian or African countries and can be a very good stopover for refueling. A very large French super market is a 5 minute walk from the jetty to the Bawadi Mall where we find lots of very good products and an ATM that provides in dollars or Djiboutian francs. At the exit of the fishing port while continuing towards the city, we also find a new department store with products like tools, plumbing, paint or epoxy impossible to find elsewhere in Djibouti.
The entrance formalites are really simple. On arrival, you drop anchor in the port, between the old marina, which no longer exists, and the fishing port on the right, then you take your dinghy to join the harbor master’s office and complete your visa formalities. The price of visas has fallen sharply and there is now a transit visa for up to 15 days ($ 10 to $ 20). The port fees are paid per period of 3 days, a month costs is around $ 120. The anchoring is done by 3 to 5 meters with is of very good behavior.
To go to town, leave your dinghy to the pontoon of the coastguard, otherwise someone will automatically ask you a backshich to keep it. A taxi to the city center costs 500 francs or 30 minutes on foot. Djibouti is a very safe city and the sailboat will not risk anything to leave it several months and enjoy it to visit the country. We left our sailboat more than a month and a half.
Useful information
– ATM in town center or Bawadi Mall
– Diesel : By ordering more than 1000 liters, we bought diesel at a price of around $ 0.60 / L which is half the price at the pump. For this, you have to ask for a paper at the captaincy then go to town – near “le cafe de la Gare” – in order to pay his diesel and return with receipts. Once did, you will be allowed to come to the dock fill your tank.
– Postoffice : We have repeatedly tested the post that works very well and we paied only the reception fees depending on the size of the package around 2 to 7 euros but never paied taxes. Attention, if you go through DHL or Fedex, taxes will be added and you will pick up the parcel at the airport and not at the post office. Count a month for delivery.
– Shipyard : in Djibouti, there is no real shipyard for sailboat but only for tanker or cargo, but you can still lift your boat if it is less than 10 tons at DSE (near Kempinsky) which has a crane. Do not go to shipyard of port they charge the slipway and the docks as cargo price and prices tend to double once on site.
Djiboutian are very smiling, relax and nice people but it is very difficult to count on them… Be patient.
Les Siamois
Feb 11, 2019 10:55 AM
Visa costs changed recently. Now it’s 30 USD for 30 days. You can extend the visa twice up to 90 days at all with no further costs.
The anchorage costs 40 USD for the first 3 days, every additional 3 days are 10 USD
Moustique had some trouble with the coast guard. He is a nice guy, but the only official agent is Mohamed Ali +253 77 88 00 07 // https://www.facebook.com/qinxaalibara.mohamed
Fair winds
SV Mango one