Morocco: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
14 harbours
Morocco: 14 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Dirham
Clearing in: Moor only at a port of entry, according to pilot books e.g. Saïdia, Nador (Marchica), Al Hoceima, Marina Smir, Tangier (Tanja Marina Bay), Rabat (Bouregreg), Mohammedia, Casablanca or Agadir. The crew stays on board until police, customs and the Gendarmerie Royale have cleared the boat; within 24 hours the skipper receives the temporary import certificate (admission temporaire) from customs. The boat may stay up to six months per calendar year, or up to 18 months if it is in a marina. At every further harbour, police and gendarmerie expect you to check in and out. Germans need no visa for up to 90 days. This site does not plan south of Agadir (Western Sahara).
Documents: Passport, valid for at least six months on entry (identity cards are not accepted), boat papers, insurance, crew list, temporary import certificate. Do not bring drones: their import is prohibited and customs will confiscate them.
Fees: Clearance free of charge except for overtime; harbour dues in the marinas.
Fairway: Strait of Gibraltar with Levante and Poniente, eastbound surface current and traffic separation. On the Atlantic coast swell and surf; the bar off Rabat and Mohammedia is closed in swell; in summer north-east trade wind with coastal fog.
Nature: Al Hoceima National Park with a marine protected area; Nador lagoon (Marchica) with protection zones.
Emergency: 19 (police), 177 (gendarmerie), 15 (ambulance); MRCC Rabat, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Sources: Moroccan customs (ADII): entry and exit of pleasure craft, Moroccan customs (ADII): circular 6568/311 of 30 May 2024, Auswärtiges Amt: Morocco, travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Local winds
- Levante: easterly, funnelled and strengthened in the Strait of Gibraltar (often Bft 7 to 8 off Tarifa while it blows only moderately further east); humid air with low cloud over the Rock, short, steep seas against the east-going current
- Poniente: westerly, strengthened in the Strait of Gibraltar and often lasting several days in the Alborán Sea
Harbours by cruising area
Atlantic Morocco (Asilah, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Agadir)
- Bouregreg Marina
- Imsouane
- Medha
- Port d'Essaouira
- Port de Plaisance (Agadir)
- Port de pêche (Agadir)
- Port de pêche (Agadir)
Mediterranean Morocco (Tangier, Marina Smir, Al Hoceima, Nador, Saïdia)
Frequently asked questions
Morocco: Do I need to clear in?
Moor only at a port of entry, according to pilot books e.g. Saïdia, Nador (Marchica), Al Hoceima, Marina Smir, Tangier (Tanja Marina Bay), Rabat (Bouregreg), Mohammedia, Casablanca or Agadir. The crew stays on board until police, customs and the Gendarmerie Royale have cleared the boat; within 24 hours the skipper receives the temporary import certificate (admission temporaire) from customs. The boat may stay up to six months per calendar year, or up to 18 months if it is in a marina. At every further harbour, police and gendarmerie expect you to check in and out. Germans need no visa for up to 90 days. This site does not plan south of Agadir (Western Sahara).
Morocco: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport, valid for at least six months on entry (identity cards are not accepted), boat papers, insurance, crew list, temporary import certificate. Do not bring drones: their import is prohibited and customs will confiscate them.
Morocco: What fees apply?
Clearance free of charge except for overtime; harbour dues in the marinas.
Morocco: What is the emergency number at sea?
19 (police), 177 (gendarmerie), 15 (ambulance); MRCC Rabat, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Morocco: Which local winds blow there?
Levante, Poniente.
Morocco: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 14 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.