Israel: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
8 harbours
Israel: 8 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: New shekel
Clearing in: 25 to 50 nautical miles off the coast, call the Israeli Navy on VHF channel 16 and follow all instructions; a patrol boat often inspects you at sea. Clear in only at a port of entry, on the Mediterranean Haifa, Herzliya and Ashkelon, on the Red Sea Eilat (Marina Eilat), with a security interview, search of the boat, customs and immigration, preferably during office hours. Germans need the electronic travel authorisation ETA-IL in advance. As of September 2026 Israel is formally in a state of war: the German Federal Foreign Office advises against travel, urgently for the north and the area around Gaza.
Ausreise: Clear out before every passage to Egypt or Jordan: Eilat, Taba and Aqaba are only a few kilometres apart.
Documents: Passport (an identity card is not enough; with ETA-IL valid for three months beyond the trip), ETA-IL, boat papers, insurance, crew list.
Fees: Harbour dues in the marinas (Haifa, Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Ashkelon).
Fairway: Straight coast with few harbours; in westerly gales in winter, seas break in the harbour entrances. Off Gaza an Israeli naval blockade applies: keep well clear. A passage directly to Lebanon is not possible.
Nature: Marine protected areas on the north coast (Rosh Hanikra, Achziv) with bans on navigation and anchoring.
Emergency: 112 or 100 (police); RCC Haifa, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Sources: Auswärtiges Amt: Israel, travel and safety advice, Israel: ETA-IL, electronic travel authorisation, World Cruising and Sailing Wiki: Israel (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Israel (Haifa, Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon)
- Ashdod Marina
- Ashkelon Marina
- Fisherman's Port (Jisr az-Zarqa)
- Herzliya Marina
- Shavit
- Tel Aviv Marina
- The Marina and Fishing Port (Port of Acre)
Israel: Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba)
Frequently asked questions
Israel: Do I need to clear in?
25 to 50 nautical miles off the coast, call the Israeli Navy on VHF channel 16 and follow all instructions; a patrol boat often inspects you at sea. Clear in only at a port of entry, on the Mediterranean Haifa, Herzliya and Ashkelon, on the Red Sea Eilat (Marina Eilat), with a security interview, search of the boat, customs and immigration, preferably during office hours. Germans need the electronic travel authorisation ETA-IL in advance. As of September 2026 Israel is formally in a state of war: the German Federal Foreign Office advises against travel, urgently for the north and the area around Gaza.
Israel: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport (an identity card is not enough; with ETA-IL valid for three months beyond the trip), ETA-IL, boat papers, insurance, crew list.
Israel: What fees apply?
Harbour dues in the marinas (Haifa, Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Ashkelon).
Israel: What is the emergency number at sea?
112 or 100 (police); RCC Haifa, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Israel: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 8 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.