Galle - Docking
The facilities for yachts in Galle have improved slightly in the last 2 years with the construction of new quay space (not a marina by western standards) and services such as electricity, pumped water, garbage disposal, shower and canteen facilities.
However, it continues to be dusty, dirty and quite noisy and there is no water available to wash your boat with. Cruisers report that the port, although protected, suffers from surge and it is a long walk around to the main gate of the port and quite a distance into the beautiful old town centre. The cost for the 5-10 minute tuk-tuk-ride, however, is only 1 USD.
Mooring Options
New quay space for visiting yachts is located in the inner harbour, immediately south of the New Pier behind the floating pontoon close to the port gate (photo courtesy of Tango Shipping). In comparison to the plastic pontoons that were in place back in 2014/2015, this new berthing facility is relatively free from cement and noise from the cement trucks’ loading and unloading operations.
That said, however, cruisers report that dirt and filthy harbour water continue to be a problem here.
Currently, about 10-12 yachts can be moored inside “the marina”, stern-to the quay. When it is full, yachts are given spaces alongside vacant piers.
The northern wall suffers greatly from surge and can become untenable. The eastern wall is better, but as tucked into the starboard corner as possible. The western again suffers from surge and because it is higher your lines will chafe. The remaining southerly wall is the best choice with a Med moor. You will be across the wind so make sure that you (and your neighbours) have plenty of chains out.
Mooring is only permitted in the inner harbour (mooring buoys elsewhere have been removed). The Fisheries Quay (in the north of the inner harbour), is restricted to berthing for fisherman only.
Anchoring is possible between Closenburg Pier and the middle pier.
The harbour is open 24/7 but is busiest between 0600-1000 when the fishing boats return, the whale watchers leave and the fish market opens. Repair services available.
Facilities
The authorities have provided a toilet block for yachts. It is not permitted to take water from here by jerry can. If water is required, you should contact your agent who can organise a delivery (there is no water on-site). A minimum of 1 metric ton of water can be organised.
Electricity must be requested via your agent, who can also arrange for extension leads and connection. Note that electricity is expensive. Keep an eye on your meter reading.
A limited amount of fuel can be carried inside the port by jerry can, although this tends to depend on who is on the gate at the time and multiple trips will not be permitted.
Cruisers are expected to pay for rubbish disposal (often called the junkman) when disposing of hazardous items like oil, batteries etc. Your agent can advise on how to organise this.
Port Pedestrian Access
The port is guarded by port security, there is one gate with a checkpoint. A port pass is required for entering and leaving the port (several pages long), received when clearing in. Expect your shopping to be inspected on your return. If you are bringing in too much, expect both security and customs to be “unhelpful”. So shop in small doses.
Taxis/tuk-tuks are not allowed to pass the checkpoint. The tuk-tuk drivers can be very helpful if you are trying to source something.
See General Info for local companies who can assist with travel arrangements, provisioning, laundry, taxi service and local advice.
This report – Galle: Updates from Cruisers – has a lot of useful advice if planning on stopping here.
Mirissa
There are a few rickety pontoons in the outer harbour in Mirissa owned by a catamaran charter company called Sail Lanka. This is the best place to look for docking space. There is a lot of wakes here from the fishing fleet (hundreds of them) and whale watching boats. Being beam onto these wakes is uncomfortable and requires good rendering.
There are very few anchorages around the coast apart from the Watering point, which most people go back to when leaving to clean the bottom of their boat. (You cannot clean it in the harbour and diving anywhere in the harbour area is forbidden).
Not that the lack of anchorages is important as you are unlikely to get permission to go to any. If you do manage to get permission you cannot go ashore. If any officials see you with a dinghy over the side you will be arrested.
Last updated May 2017.
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Feb 23, 2019 04:35 AM
Tango shipping agency got us through customs formalities on a national holiday at 8pm. I was amazed. The price was $325. We were able to go to dinner that same evening.
We had almost 3 weeks of repairs done by Tango. They take their time and do a great job with fibre glass, electric, hydraulic etc.
Clif – SV Lella
01/02/19
I have just spent two weeks in Sri Lanka, it is a tremendous country and well worth the visit, the people are very helpful and friendly and I barely scratched the surface in two weeks, I’ll definitely be back.
Agents: I used Sri Lanka Shipping, details as follows:
Mr Rodney
Sri Lanka Shipping Co Ltd.
P O Box 1125, Robert Senanayake Building.
46/5, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02.Sri Lanka.
Tel: (94) 112336853
Fax: (94) 112437420
E Mail: lankaship@slsc.lk
The service was great, friendly, good communication before arrival and rates were good, I paid $200US all in(port & agent fee’s) would absolutely recommend.
check in: Have a sense of humour and you’ll be fine, it’s a bit of a palaver and Everyman and his dog coming on the boat, but they are all very welcoming, I sailed into the bay at 8 am on a Saturday morning and was all checked in able to go ashore by 11 am.
Galle Harbour: Ita a dirty commercial port, so your boat will get dirty from cement dust etc, no one was mooring stern to when I was there but it was busy, I was out in the main harbour rafted alongside someone else as the “marina” area was full with commercial boats and pleasure craft, there is lots of surge throughout the harbour but use plenty of fenders and protect your mooring lines and you’ll be good to go, fender boards are super useful here, if it’s busy, you will be rafted up. I left the boat here for a week and went touring and it was fine.
There is only one toilet block with two toilets and one shower, not the cleanest place in the world but better than nothing.
SIM cards and stuff: there are tuk-tuk Guys outside the gate who can help you with laundry, SIM cards and anything else that you need, and just like everywhere else you’ll pay for it, but if you can’t be arsed doing your own laundry or indeed need anything else, one of those guys will help you out, I used a chap called Ekka, his number is 0723371116, friendly and reliable, the laundry was quick and efficient.
All in all, a great country and totally worth the stop, I’ll definitely be back
Sri Lanka is an awesome country with breathtaking nature and unbelievably NICE and FRIENDLY people. Staying in the harbour of Galle is the worst thing here. Its a dangerous for your boat, dirty and stupidly ruled spot. Keeping the boat safe is a mission here. We had the Tango Agency. The check-in was pretty quick with all the administrative and militaries brought on board one by one within 2-3 hours. But the recommendations can be hard given. The prices for agency services must be concretely and strictly approved by both sides on paper with signatures before you get service, otherwise, you can be kind of surprised if afterwards.
Galle is a nice city to get known with. To make your life easier in Galle and to get a good, fast, qualified service for provision, sightseeing, advice for spare parts, land and sea tours, you should go to local, very helpful, understanding guys. We had the pleasure to work, to make friends, to travel, to share food and time with 3 great men ( they look like boys but that ae real man)) Batu, Pahan and Ekka.
If you estimate proper fulfilment of your demands, if you care about your time safe and ready to get total help without being ripped off then get these guys. None drop of bad we got from them. Pahan is a perfect tuk-tuk driver, responsible, helpful wing and master of welcomeness (his phone 0777545535). Ekka is a master of knowing and managing. Batu can arrange you the tour around Sri Lanka satisfying your demands you don’t even announce, Batu is a man of trust (phone # 776312002. Amazing and professional people they are and very reliable money and timewise. If you believe you can find better, you are wrong. You will find millions of reasons to be grateful to these people and to this country.
Posted on behalf of John Cheng
I have seen some comments in noonsite regarding the local Agents in Galle, Sri Lanka. I have been in Galle with my sailing vessel Andrano and appointed Agent “Windsor”. On the VHF I heard one of my friends in Galle and try to contact Windsor Yacht Agency and due to some failure of their mailing connection, he could not contact them and appointed another Agency for an agent.
Just a few hours later he contacted me and informed me that the agent was so expensive and bad service. I explained how you will get excellent services, friendly and low cost, quality services. Please appoint Windsor and their contact details as below for your reference. Their charges will not change and Fixed rates US.$. 225.00 for including all Inward and Outward Customs Charges, Agency fee, Harbor Dues.
Contact Details: windsorreef@dialognet.lk / windsorreef@yahoo.com (You can email now its working email addresses.)
Phone: 0094912248804
That the owner of the Windsor Yacht Agency Mr.Windsor past away and his two sons operate this company very well.
Thank you
John Cheng SV. Andrano
Agreed with you Maurice, and No ones doing service like WINDSOR and everyone recommended, Their the agents in Galle also when my fathers time in 1985 and Good quality services, Clear fuels, water and reasonable Price. Everything can be discussed and office nearby to the main Gate approximately 10m. Windsor Helpful people and Staff are also nice.
John Cheng
1. The marina is average in terms of the environment. There are a lot of floating rubbish manly plastic bottles on the sea. Galle is a pleasant city and relaxing. We like it very much.
2. We used Tango as an agent. The service is good. They help to arrange repairs to our refrigerator, sail and varnishing. Ask the prices before confirming the service as I considered that they should cheap but turned out to be not as cheap as I thought though still acceptable.
The owner (Chatura) and staff of the Tango are honest people. We met some in the previous ports in the Middle East that we suffered a lot in terms of time and costs. Much more expensive than sailing in the Mediterranean in terms of port charges or agents’ fee.
I have been in Galle in 2016 with a Jeanneau 57, Tango agent, good price, professional, nice family. I have been before with bigger boats and paid 5 times for the same service. I had some problems with refuelling, but because I didn’t know the rules of the port – so ask before doing anything.
We used Tango Shipping Agency, they provided a good service and catered for all our needs on time. The agency fee is fair and they helped fill the gas bottles, discard the junk and arrange a good round tour to the rapids for kayaking. The staff is very cooperative and they provide timely service.
1) The New Marina is fairly good. Situations have improved over the past years. But still, the Marina needs a shower facility and more mooring options.
2) We used Tango as our agent during our stay. Chatura and the staff were very cooperative and helpful from the very beginning. They helped us with a good engine repair which the company mechanic could not fulfil. They do really provide a cost-worthy service. VHF 68 is their channel
Posted on behalf of Maurice Wainwright – New Marina
1. At last a marina is under construction in Galle. It is located immediately south of the New Pier behind the floating pontoon. The concrete piers are being built and eventually, the entrance will be excavated into the harbour. It is scheduled to open in April 2015. Whether this happens remains to be seen, but at least a start has been made!
2. At the risk of promoting one agent over another, I would recommend yachts to use Windsor Reef. Firstly they are probably the most organised and knowledgeable and secondly their offices are not more than 100 metres from the harbour entrance. The other agents tend to be in town which can be a long hike in the heat and humidity of the island. Windsor is no more expensive than the others. Yachts should be wary of agents’ boats coming out to sea to meet them to sell their services. Windsor can be reached on VHF Ch 69.