Commercial Ports in Poitou-Charentes

The facts you need to know about all the ports and harbours along the Poitou-Charentes coastline. Berths, visitor facilities and contact details included...

• Information: Ports and Capitaineries (From outside France, dial: +33)

La Rochelle

The La Rochelle-Pallice New Harbour port is one of the most easily accessible from the open sea on the French Atlantic coast and can accommodate vessels with draught up to 14 meters.

Cruise ships can berth quickly (under 45 minutes from taking on a pilot boat to mooring), at any time as there are no tidal constraints and in perfect safety as the Antioche Channel offers a large secure bay sheltered by the islands of Oleron and Re.

The La Rochelle-Pallice New Harbour slogan is: "The Atlantic Call". It is the only deep-sea port on the Atlantic Coast which can berth OverPanamax container ships. 
Note: This harbour is closed to small yachts and pleasure craft.

Some numbers and statistics:

• Biggest ship received in La Pallice: 129882 DWT
  Sill dredged at –14 metres.
  Quay: 2,800 metre rail siding
  Open storage: 400,000 square metres
  Covered storage: 137,515 square metres.
  26 cranes including 4 mobile cranes.

Contact:

• La Rochelle-Pallice New Harbour (Click the flag for the English version of the website)
  At: Chaussée de ceinture Nord, BP 2057, 17010 La Rochelle Cedex
  Tel: 05 46 00 53 60
  Fax: 05 46 43 12 54
  e-mail

La Rochelle Old Harbour port has facilities for all from small craft to large pleasure cruisers as well as dry-dock facilities.

There are three publicly available docks:

• Le Havre d’Échouage: 115 berths with 40 available to visitors for small craft.
• Ancien Bassin de Chalutiers: Can accommodate large pleasure cruisers. Dry-dock facilities
• Le Bassin de Yachts: 90 berths, VHF canal 9

Contact:

• La Rochelle Old Harbour
  At: Quai d’Honneur, 17000 La Rochelle
  Tel: 05 46 41 32 05
  Fax: 05 46 41 38 04
  e-mail

Rochefort

The Port de Commerce de Rochefort has a lock-controlled, tidal basin with 7 berths, linked to the SNCF railways. There is a comprehensive website in English. Click here for Rochefort Port layout and facilities.

Port restrictions are:

• Maximum length 120 metres
  Maximum width 16.50 metres
  Maximum draught 6.50 metres

Contact:

• Port de Commerce de Rochefort
  BP 129, 17036 Rochefort Cedex
  Tel: 05 46 99 58 16
  Fax: 05 46 99 58 73
  e-mail
• Customs
  Tel: 05 46 99 03 90
  Fax: 05 46 87 64 52

The Port of Tonnay-Charente is a tidal river port with 2 waiting berths, 2 quay berths and 2 silo berths. The Rochfort Port website has information in English.

Port restrictions are:

• Maximum length 120 metres
  Maximum width 16.50 metres
  Maximum draught 6.50 metres

Contact:

• Port de Commerce de Tonnay Charente
  At: Capitainerie du Port de Commerce, 42 Quai Libération, 17430 Tonnay Charente
  Tel: 05 46 88 70 67

Further Information

• France Voile see "Ports" (in French)