Mouillage

Mouillage de Carteau

3.8FranceCamargue and Gulf of Fos

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Shelter: E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand, mud
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage in the Anse de Carteau on the Golfe de Fos, east of the Rhône delta in Provence.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the south across the Golfe de Fos, keeping clear of the commercial shipping lane serving Fos-sur-Mer and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. Charted depths are unreliable as the sand shifts constantly, and a steep sandbar off the entrance shoals abruptly from around 7 to 2 metres, so round the north cardinal mark well to the north, keep off the beach and watch the sounder, anchoring in 6 to 7 metres or more. Stay clear of the fishing-net buoys and the oyster beds. Sand and mud bottom, good holding, but it chops up in a strong westerly or mistral from the NW. Shelter from E through S to SW.

Practical

Forain anchorage with no facilities. Nearest shelter at Port Olga 2.1 NM W and Carteau 2.2 NM W for water, fuel and provisions.

Ashore

The anchorage sits under the Fos petrochemical and steel works to the north, and when the wind blows off the plants there are odours and even a fine deposit on deck; the outlook is more open to the south. Anse de Carteau oyster and mussel beds line the shore, with shellfish stalls along the Route de Carteau. Plage de Napoléon on the Rhône delta side, 4 km W by road. Reserve naturelle des Coussouls de Crau further inland.