Barbados: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
6 harbours
Barbados: 6 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Barbados dollar
Clearing in: Independent state, outside the EU and Schengen. Only two ports of entry: Deep Water Harbour in Bridgetown and Port St. Charles in the north-west; do not go to Carlisle Bay before. When approaching, call the Deep Water Harbour signal station on VHF channel 12 (8PB, +1 246 434 6102). Customs, health and immigration at the Bridgetown passenger terminal daily 6:00 to 22:00 without surcharge. Bring: three C61 customs forms, clearance from the last port, crew lists, all passports, health report. Anyone wanting to cruise or anchor along the coast needs permission from the customs boarding officer (+1 246 430 2355 or VHF channel 16) and the harbour master. Advance notice via SailClear, and for every person the online entry form beforehand.
Ausreise: Clear out before departure (Barbados Port Inc., customs, immigration; BBD 100): the clearance is valid for 24 hours, from the Deep Water Harbour straight out to sea.
Documents: Passport valid for six months; Germans need no visa for up to 90 days. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, sausage and plants may not be imported. Weapons including flare pistols only with an import permit, pets with a permit, microchip and rabies vaccination.
Fees: Clearance BBD 100 (USD 50), payable on clearing out. Anchoring in Carlisle Bay: under 50 m a flat BBD 110, above BBD 412.50 for the first two days, then BBD 110 per 24 hours.
Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system B: red to starboard when entering from seaward, the reverse of Europe. Foreign yachts anchor in Carlisle Bay north of the Bandstand near the Boat Yard; there is no sheltered bay.
Nature: Folkestone Marine Reserve on the west coast: do not anchor on the reef, not at all in the Scientific Zone (fines from BBD 5,000).
Tropical storm season: 1 June to 30 November, peak August to October; no hurricane hole, the anchorages are open roadsteads. Insurers usually restrict cover during the season: check your policy.
Emergency: Barbados Coast Guard VHF channel 16, +1 246 430 4782; MRSC Barbados +1 246 536 2948.
Sources: Barbados Port Inc.: Yacht Masters Guide, Noonsite: Barbados, SARcontacts: Barbados, Folkestone Marine Park, Auswärtiges Amt: Barbados, travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Barbados (Bridgetown, Port St. Charles)
Frequently asked questions
Barbados: Do I need to clear in?
Independent state, outside the EU and Schengen. Only two ports of entry: Deep Water Harbour in Bridgetown and Port St. Charles in the north-west; do not go to Carlisle Bay before. When approaching, call the Deep Water Harbour signal station on VHF channel 12 (8PB, +1 246 434 6102). Customs, health and immigration at the Bridgetown passenger terminal daily 6:00 to 22:00 without surcharge. Bring: three C61 customs forms, clearance from the last port, crew lists, all passports, health report. Anyone wanting to cruise or anchor along the coast needs permission from the customs boarding officer (+1 246 430 2355 or VHF channel 16) and the harbour master. Advance notice via SailClear, and for every person the online entry form beforehand.
Barbados: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport valid for six months; Germans need no visa for up to 90 days. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, sausage and plants may not be imported. Weapons including flare pistols only with an import permit, pets with a permit, microchip and rabies vaccination.
Barbados: What fees apply?
Clearance BBD 100 (USD 50), payable on clearing out. Anchoring in Carlisle Bay: under 50 m a flat BBD 110, above BBD 412.50 for the first two days, then BBD 110 per 24 hours.
Barbados: What is the emergency number at sea?
Barbados Coast Guard VHF channel 16, +1 246 430 4782; MRSC Barbados +1 246 536 2948.
Barbados: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 6 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.