Harbour

La Seyne sur Mer

4.1La Seyne sur Mer, FranceVar

Maximum length: 45 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 11 ft

Marina of 300 berths in the inner part of the bay of Toulon, on the western shore known as the Petite Rade.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach through the main pass of Toulon between Saint-Mandrier and the Grosse Tour, then head northwest across the Petite Rade. No tidal constraints. Watch for French Navy movements and the Saint-Mandrier ferry. Call on VHF 9 and a marinero comes out by boat to guide boats in and take the lines. The visitor berth is a gated, secure floating pontoon in the town centre, well sheltered from the mistral; when it is full the first night may fall on the quay wall, which bristles with chains and rings, so rig plenty of fenders.

Practical

300 berths, maximum draught 3.5 m, water and shore power on the pontoons; the connectors are reversed, so carry a male-to-male water fitting and a power adapter, though the office lends some. Clean sanitary block by the harbour office, which closes around 17:00 and can be hard to raise by VHF or phone from deep in the rade, so book and confirm ahead. Being a city harbour it is noisy at night from the quayside road and gatherings on the front. Town centre next to the harbour with shops and market. Ponton Tamaris 1.1 NM to the southeast, Le Lazaret 1.5 NM in the same direction.

Ashore

A sea bus crosses to central Toulon every half hour, 2 euros one way or about 1 euro with a book of ten from the tabac. Fresh fruit and vegetable market most mornings except Monday, a bakery opposite the port, an Auchan supermarket and an Indian restaurant close by. Les Sablettes beach is a short bus ride away.

History

La Seyne-sur-Mer grew around the Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, a shipyard active from 1856 to 1989 that built liners and warships. The Pont Levant, a 1917 transporter bridge restored at the harbour entrance, is a listed industrial monument.