Saint Martin (French part): Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
5 harbours · 1 bridge or lock
Saint Martin (French part): 5 harbours, 1 bridge or lock, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
EU memberEU customs unionCurrency: Euro
Clearing in: French overseas collectivity in the north of the island: EU and EU customs territory, but a historic free port without duties and without VAT, not Schengen. Clearance online as in Martinique, plus, according to sailors, the Marigot port clearance (clairance.portdemarigot.com); according to one reader's report the online certificate was not accepted there. Points agréés Clearance: Anse Marcel (harbour office), Marigot (Marina Fort Louis, ferry terminal in the Baie de la Potence). To the Dutch side (Sint Maarten), separate systems: each side clears on its own, even within Simpson Bay Lagoon.
Ausreise: When leaving for abroad or the high seas, submit the clearance declaration; carry a printout of the certificate, some neighbouring states want a stamp.
Documents: For EU citizens the identity card is enough, a passport is recommended; anyone leaving via Juliana airport (Sint Maarten) needs a passport. Crew from third countries: a Schengen visa is not valid. Boat papers, insurance.
Fees: Clearance at Marigot port 10.50 euros according to sailors. Moorings in the Baie de Marigot per day 9.20 euros up to 12 m, 11.96 euros up to 15 m, 15 euros above, plus 4 % TGCA, multihulls plus 50 %.
Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system B: red to starboard when entering from seaward, the reverse of Europe.
Nature: Réserve naturelle in the north-east (Rocher Créole, Tintamarre, Pinel, Caye Verte): during the day the yellow moorings are free to use (up to 15 t and 50 ft), boats under 10 m may anchor on sand at least 20 m from the shore, never on coral or seagrass; at night only with a permit (at Tintamarre and Rocher Créole, apply at least three days in advance). Feeding animals, cleaning hulls and discharging sewage are prohibited.
Tropical storm season: 1 June to 30 November, peak August to October. Simpson Bay Lagoon (Saint Martin and Sint Maarten) is regarded as a shelter, but 139 wrecks were removed there after Irma in 2017, and about 900 boats were lost in Luis in 1995. Insurers usually restrict cover: check your policy.
Emergency: 196 (maritime emergency from land, free) or 112; CROSS Antilles-Guyane (MRCC Fort-de-France) +596 596 70 92 92, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Sources: Préfecture de la Martinique: points agréés clearance (15.12.2025), Démarches simplifiées: déclaration clearance Antilles, Port de Marigot: mouillage, Réserve naturelle de Saint-Martin: camping et mouillage, Douane: cas particuliers de Saint-Martin et de Saint-Barthélemy, Noonsite: St. Martin, Auswärtiges Amt: France (with the overseas territories), travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Saint-Martin (Marigot, Anse Marcel, Grand Case)
Bridges and locks
Movable bridges
Frequently asked questions
Saint Martin (French part): Do I need to clear in?
French overseas collectivity in the north of the island: EU and EU customs territory, but a historic free port without duties and without VAT, not Schengen. Clearance online as in Martinique, plus, according to sailors, the Marigot port clearance (clairance.portdemarigot.com); according to one reader's report the online certificate was not accepted there. Points agréés Clearance: Anse Marcel (harbour office), Marigot (Marina Fort Louis, ferry terminal in the Baie de la Potence). To the Dutch side (Sint Maarten), separate systems: each side clears on its own, even within Simpson Bay Lagoon.
Saint Martin (French part): Which documents do I need on board?
For EU citizens the identity card is enough, a passport is recommended; anyone leaving via Juliana airport (Sint Maarten) needs a passport. Crew from third countries: a Schengen visa is not valid. Boat papers, insurance.
Saint Martin (French part): What fees apply?
Clearance at Marigot port 10.50 euros according to sailors. Moorings in the Baie de Marigot per day 9.20 euros up to 12 m, 11.96 euros up to 15 m, 15 euros above, plus 4 % TGCA, multihulls plus 50 %.
Saint Martin (French part): What is the emergency number at sea?
196 (maritime emergency from land, free) or 112; CROSS Antilles-Guyane (MRCC Fort-de-France) +596 596 70 92 92, VHF channel 16 and DSC.
Saint Martin (French part): How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 5 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning. Plus 1 bridge or lock with opening times and clearances.