Harbour

Gravelines

4.6Gravelines, France

Maximum length: 15 m
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 2.5 m

Lock-gated marina of 430 berths at the mouth of the river Aa, on the Opal Coast between Dunkerque and Calais.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach along the buoyed channel of the Chenal de l'Aa from the west cardinal buoy offshore. The lock at Grand Fort-Philippe opens roughly from HW minus 2 h to HW plus 1 h30. VHF channel 9 for the lock and harbour office. Strong tidal streams across the entrance at mid-flood.

Practical

430 berths, around 40 for visitors. Water and electricity on all pontoons. Toilets and showers at the capitainerie. Boatyard with travel lift. Provisioning at the supermarket 1.2 km from the marina.

Ashore

Vauban star-shaped fortifications surround the old town at 1.5 km from the marina, designed in 1680. Sculpture arsenal museum in the powder magazine inside the ramparts. Petit-Fort-Philippe lighthouse and sand beach 1 km to the north along the river.

History

Gravelines was fortified by Vauban from 1680 after Louis XIV took the town in 1658. The ramparts and the wet dock that hosts today's marina are part of the classified military heritage.