Description of the port of arrival: Gibraltar
Exactly one year has passed since our last cruise around Europe, but only now I managed to sort out a huge number of photographs to the end, finally digest my impressions and put them on paper. There were doubts whether it was necessary to write, but then I decided that the places I had seen had not gone away, and it was never too late to talk about them. So …
Our ten-day cruise "Around Europe" was coming to an end, giving us one of the most interesting anchorages in the port of Gibraltar. Why interesting? Yes, because before the cruise my knowledge of this place was very limited, and for the first time I read that it was possible to land in Gibraltar in a review from Irina SPB.
This time, the liner's parking was humane, without early morning rises. Arrived at the port at 10.00, departure at 17.00. Just the right time to make a tourist foray into one of the British Overseas Territories.
Leaving the balcony in the morning, we watched with interest the active movement in the strait. Wherever you look - dozens of merchant and military ships under the flags different countries. Gibraltar appears to be one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. That's just about the fact that this is a strait, more, perhaps, I did not know anything.
So what is Gibraltar - a state, a peninsula, a strait, a city, a rock or a fortress? As it turned out, EVERYTHING that I listed is called in one word - Gibraltar! A tiny country, a long-standing stumbling block between the British and Spaniards, with a size of only 6.5 km2. But, like any country, Gibraltar has its own government, constitution and its own currency - the Gibraltar pound, which is equal to the British one (although the euro is not refused in more than one store).
The cruise newspaper decidedly misjudged the weather, announcing at the end of September only +16 on the peninsula. Literally at the last minute, we decided to leave the jackets in the cabin, which was the right decision. In fact, the weather in Gibraltar was gorgeous, sunny +26, no lower. As a local resident later told us, they have +16 only in the middle of winter (my favorite winter weather)))
The main purpose of our visit was the famous Rock of Gibraltar (the Rock), 426 meters high, which occupies exactly half of the country's area. According to Greek myths, it was this rock in ancient times that was known as one of the Pillars of Hercules, representing a kind of entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. It is believed that the second pillar is located across the strait, from the side North Africa, in Marocco. You can get from the port to the rock by paying a transfer on the ship, or by taking organized tour. We decided to walk, and there were a lot of people like us. It's hard to get lost, follow the crowd of cruisers.
Quarters with modern buildings begin immediately from the seaport. Clean, neat, but nothing remarkable, except that now and then there are monuments, monuments, obelisks. By the way, traffic, unlike Britain, is right-handed here, as in continental Europe.
In about 15 minutes we reached the North Gate of the fort and here the fun began! After passing through the city gates, we found ourselves in the historical territory of old Gibraltar, namely Casemates Square. Immediately on the slope of the cliff, one of the main attractions of Gibraltar attracts attention, an ancient fortification of the 8th century - the Moorish castle, over which the flag of Great Britain is flying. Casemate Square is no less ancient, also formed in the Moorish period. In addition to the first defensive structure, the square once housed soldiers' barracks, but now it is a rather noisy, atmospheric place with many cafes, bars and souvenir shops. The old soldiers' barracks have been converted into an Arts and Crafts Center, we looked into a makeshift glass-blowing workshop, admission is free.
From Casemate Square begins the main pedestrianized street with the uncomplicated name Main street. We were standing in Gibraltar on Saturday, and got into Old city to the end of some city event. Human river from cruisers moved along Main street to the side South Gate and the Rocks (the Rock), and the local population moved in the same stream to reverse side. Real demonstration! But in general, the main street quite nice, with well-groomed facades of houses, clean, shining with shop windows, with many small flower beds and hanging flowerpots. Some of the balconies are very similar to Spanish ones, but the red telephone booths, red column mailboxes, and the famous double decker that we met at the North Gate of the fort remind us that we are in the possessions of Elizabeth II. To be honest, the city is not like any other we have ever seen.
There are no architectural delights in Gibraltar, however, at the end of Main street you can see quite old and interesting buildings. One of these buildings, the former Franciscan monastery of 1531, which has been the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar (The Convent) for almost 300 years. Surprisingly, in the picture 110 years ago, the building looks exactly the same as it does today. The residence is adjacent to the garrison church - the Royal Chapel (King's Chapel).
An expressive, large and at the same time quite delicate, due to the cream walls of the facade, the ensemble of the Cathedral of St. Mary is interesting. The cathedral was erected on the site of the mosque, immediately after the liberation of Gibraltar from the Moors. Behind the Cathedral Gates turned out to be a very pretty, but not typical for the Catholic Church, Moorish patio with azulejo tiles, from which, in addition to the entrance to the Cathedral, there was a door to a small room with a very unusual icon. In the Cathedral itself, the service began, it was amazing that the locals came to such an event with pets, baby carriages, and this did not surprise anyone and was not forbidden. I can’t even imagine the faces of our grannies, I’ll go to church with a dog on a leash ...
leaving Cathedral, 10 minutes later we were at the South Gate of the old city, built in the 16th century, better known as the wall of Charles V. Behind the wall is a funicular line leading to the top of the Rock, as well as the ancient Trafalgar Cemetery and the Alameda Botanical Garden, founded in 1816 for the rest of the townspeople. If visiting the cemetery was not on our agenda, then take a walk along botanical garden we intended on the way back, alas, did not work out. And we didn’t have a chance to go upstairs on the funicular because of the huge queue. But we did not go without seeing the rock, agreeing to the suggestion of a local driver who traveled with us along the rock for two hours, telling the story of Gibraltar.
locals considered the main attraction of the Rock of macaque macaques, which are declared national treasure Gibraltar and are under the official protection of the British Navy. And I would say that this is rather a nice addition to the Rock. These shaggy aborigines, as owners, walk around wherever their darling wants, and tourists try to capture macaques in the most unthinkable poses. Information is often found on the Internet that Magots are very aggressive, steal and do not shun the opportunity to jump on a tourist. Thank God, on our way all the macaques were exceptionally intelligent, well-fed and calm.
And yet the main attraction of the Rock is that it is a unique natural bastion with an ingenious system underground tunnels, the length of which exceeds FIFTY km. This is almost three times the perimeter of the Rock itself. Only now it came to mind that the rock inside is almost hollow! We visited the upper gallery of the Great Siege Tunnels, created in the 18th century to protect Gibraltar from the Spaniards and French. Now there is a museum with fake dolls that recreate pictures from the life of the military and their way of life. Boys and men who are fond of military history will be interested.
In addition to tunnels, there are more than 100 caves in the Rock of Gibraltar, the largest of which is St. Michael's Cave, where we also visited. The cave consists of several halls located at different depths. There are in the cave and concert hall with excellent natural acoustics, and an underground lake, and even a church. But the most spectacular is the huge stalactites and stalagmites, the most bizarre shapes and sizes, and even illuminated with colorful flowers. Alas, with photography here is the very case when the camera does not convey the surrounding reality. We don't visit places like this often, so it's definitely worth a visit.
Well, the most impressive and causing puppy delight are the views and panoramas that open from the height of the Rock. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, we, at a glance, saw both the Spanish port city of Algeciras and the Spanish city of La Linea, which is connected to Gibraltar by a sandy isthmus with a border post, and we could even see the Moroccan coast.
And the local airport, built on a disputed territory that Madrid still considers illegally occupied, is just unique place! Gibraltar is so small that it doesn't have the ability to have a proper airstrip. The local runway crosses the main Gibraltar highway! While the plane is taking off or landing, cars are waiting at the barrier, it's like crossing railway with barrier on both sides. We have seen how a military aircraft, trying to land, overshot the runway three times, making circle after circle.
This is how it is, the country-city-rock of Gibraltar, a place with incredible energy and attraction, and it has something to surprise the tourist.
Looking at cruises and looking for something new for yourself, you immediately dismiss routes with places where you have already been, but I would love to visit Gibraltar one more time.
Being in the very south of Spain, one cannot afford not to go to such a geographically and historically significant place as Gibraltar. Until recently, it was not so easy for Russian citizens to get there. They weren't even allowed in British visa, needed a visa for the overseas territories of the United Kingdom. But from this year, for up to 30 days, they began to let Gibraltar on Schengen multivisas. When we found out, we were unstoppable.
As usual, at first we overslept everything, then we got ready for a long time and eventually arrived at the Gibraltar border by 10 in the morning. We stood in line for another hour and a half, plans for spotting at the Gibraltar airport disappeared. The last normal flight left for the United Kingdom just at the moment when we received the stamps in the passport.
Gibraltar, as a country, as a city, and as a peninsula, is one large rock and an isthmus connecting it to the mainland. Directly across this isthmus, from coast to coast, is the runway of the Gibraltar airport. To get into the country, you must first pass the border, and then cross this lane.
Isthmus connecting the Gibraltar peninsula with mainland Spain. Please note that there are no permanent buildings on the isthmus, and the building density is very different from the main part of Gibraltar. More on that below.
Gibraltar today is overseas territory Great Britain. Gibraltar is a member of the European Union through UK membership. Gibraltar is not covered by the EU common agricultural policy, Schengen agreements, and is not a common customs territory of the EU, so there is no VAT in Gibraltar. Since 2004, residents of Gibraltar have been able to participate in elections to the European Parliament. All ~30 thousand citizens of Gibraltar are citizens of the UK and the EU. Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
The isthmus on which the airport and part of Gibraltar is located is still a disputed territory. The fact is that the Treaty of Utrecht does not contain maps or specific descriptions of the territories received by the British Crown, which allows each of the parties to interpret it in their own way.
Close-up border. View from the cliff. Most people, including tourists, cross the border on foot. It's faster.
The runway crossing at the Gibraltar airport was closed. A private jet is getting ready to take off. In the background is the local bus depot.
The board is gone. Once or twice a day from Gibraltar Airport regular flights performs airlines british airways. Usually it is Airbus A319/A320 or Boeing 737. EasyJet also flies during the season.
The passage was opened. In addition to regular flights, up to ten charter flights per day can be operated during the season. These are Monarch, Thomas Cook, etc.
Spain does not recognize British sovereignty over Gibraltar, believing that the UK owns only the fortified perimeter of the city, and the treaty does not apply to other territories. Thus, from the point of view of Madrid, this area was illegally occupied by Great Britain in 1815, when British barracks began to be erected on the isthmus, which "contradicts the principles of international law." Later, in 1938, while in Spain there was Civil War Britain built on disputed territories the airport. Since Spain considers the Isthmus of Gibraltar illegally occupied, Spanish official documentation always uses the term "barrier" instead of the word "border".
However, the dispute doesn't really get in the way of the neighborhood. Thousands of Spaniards working in Gibraltar cross the border every day. Despite the official English, in Gibraltar the main spoken language is the local dialect of Spanish Andalusian.
The main residential areas and the port are located on west coast peninsulas, here the rock has a gentler slope and the relief of the sea day allows the shore to be washed. On the eastern shore, the rock breaks so abruptly into the sea that in some places even the road did not fit. She goes through the tunnel. However, there are a number of houses there.
First of all, after passing the border, we moved to the very southern point peninsulas, look at the Strait of Gibraltar. Upon arrival, we found out that this place is called "Europa Point" and this is quite a tourist attraction.
Minaret and coastal artillery battery (O'Harra's Battery). View from Europa Point.
On the south side, the rock is not so steep. It has a lot to look at.
Something active, something has long been a museum.
Europa Point has an excellent playground. The child had to be pulled out by the leg.
Europa Point is the only place in Gibraltar where we were able to park our car without any problems. It is difficult to move around Gibraltar without a car, not everywhere there is a pedestrian infrastructure, and the distances are rather big. And parking a car is extremely problematic, no matter how much you are willing to pay.
We spent a huge amount of time looking for parking. To find a free place in paid parking, we had to cross the whole country several times :)
Traveling around Gibraltar. Accelerated 10 times.
The first thing that rushed after crossing the border was markings and signs. All inscriptions in English, British markings. There is only one difference, in Gibraltar, as in continental Europe, right-hand traffic.
Adjustable pedestrian crossing.
It became clear why there are so many cars with British numbers in the south of Spain. It turns out that most of them are not British, but Gibraltar. Outwardly, they are exactly the same, only the inscription GB is replaced by GBZ.
It turned out that "Europa Point" is not the most the best place to see the Strait of Gibraltar. Firstly, the strait in this place is much wider than in Tarifa, and secondly, it is better to look at the strait from above. However, from there best review to ships in the roadstead and entering the Algeciras / Gibraltar Bay. Both respective ports are located in this bay.
Port of Gibraltar. Everything beyond the “water” is Spain. There on the right is La Linea de la Concepción, on the left is Algeciras.
Let's take a closer look. Independence of the Seas(Royal Caribbean) and MV Horizon (the smaller one, Pullmantur Cruises).
On the other side, in the Spanish city of Algeciras, there is one of the world's largest container terminals.
The container ship is coming from somewhere in the direction of Barcelona, Genoa or Marseille.
The dry docks are busy.
Right after "Europe Point" we went to the city. For about an hour and a half we were spinning around in search of parking, in the end we left the city, climbed a rock and looked at a couple of coastal artillery batteries. On the rock, as in the city, parking a car is also not so easy. All roads are narrow, many of them are one-way because of this. There are several parking lots, but not all of them. interesting places. If you climb the rock for the whole day, then it is better to walk along it. We wanted to be in time for sunset Spanish city tariff. Because of this, we did not visit a single cave, but there are many of them, and mostly tourists climb the rock for them.
The Rock of Gibraltar is a national park and there is an entry fee. Moreover, it is paid not only for the car, but also for each passenger separately. We did not find out how the issue of payment with pedestrians and those climbing the funicular is being solved.
After visiting the cliff, we returned to the city and wound a few more circles in search of parking. As a result, by some miracle we found a free place near the airport. Almost with the same success it was possible to leave the car in front of the border, in Spain.
The city itself did not impress. Nice compact historical town with a lot of forts, nothing more. There is also a modern part of the city in Gibraltar. It is very similar to the fact that it was built on the reclaimed territory. It contains hotels, apartment buildings and a large Morrisons supermarket. It was amazing to see such a big supermarket in such a small country. I won’t be surprised if it occupies 1-2% of the territory of Gibraltar :)
Almost the entire coastline of Gibraltar has been given over to the port. There are few beaches east coast and southwestern coasts of the peninsula. The Strait of Gibraltar is deep, with a strong current. The water in it is always cold. However, resort hotels (resorts) in Gibraltar are enough.
The main street in Gibraltar is pedestrian. That's what it's called, Main street.
Only one can be moored a cruise ship. Sometimes this becomes a cause for frustration caused by having to wait for another ship to leave the dock.
Attractive and practical cruise terminal the port has many amenities, including telephones, a bar/cafeteria, arts and crafts stores, a sales area and tourist office Gibraltar with bulletin board.
Cruise ships moor just one and a half kilometers from the city (about 15 minutes walk).
The port offers both shuttles(most of them are mini-vans, which means that the wait can be long) for $ 2 one way, and Taxi for 3 euros per person per trip.
What to see in Gibraltar on a cruise
At first glance at rock of gibraltar what makes the biggest impression is precisely the stunning height, forcing it to hang alone over the surrounding area. The area, in turn, is a narrow peninsula connected to the Iberian Peninsula by a narrow sandy isthmus. The entire upper part of the Rock of Gibraltar is declared nature reserve called Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
Gibraltar is less than 7 km², so most of it can be explored on foot. However, be aware that some of the roads (especially those leading to Upper Rock) are very steep. Taxis will take care of all the lifts, and taxi drivers seem to know everyone
The port of Gibraltar is equipped with east coast Gibraltar bay. He is major port and a British naval base, as well as an important base for supplying fuel to transit ships traveling through the Strait of Gibraltar in both directions. The port can accept a large number of vessels of any size.
The port is bounded by the South and North breakwaters and the Detached breakwater. The port has two inputs with a width of about 1 kb each. Depths in the northern entrance are 10-12 m, and in the southern entrance 11-16 m.
Berths are equipped near the inner walls of the Southern and Northern breakwaters and the breakwater. In the middle part of the port, three L-shaped piers protrude from the coast, forming small shallow harbors of Kormorant,
Auxiliary and Boat. There are moorings on the outer side of these piers. To the south of the harbors, warehouses and workshops of a military port and a shipyard stretch along the coast. The main embankment with moorings was built here.
Mooring barrels intended for warships and seaplanes are exhibited in the port.
Depths in most of the port 9 -- 12.8 m; only in harbors and near the shore in the north-eastern part of the port are they less than 5 m. The port is regularly dredged.
Noteworthy points. The best reference when approaching the port of Gibraltar is the opening from long distance, especially from the east, the Gibraltar peninsula, on which the peak of Mount El Hacho, 413 m high, and Mount La Altura de Europa, 416 m high, stand out, rising respectively 2 miles and 9 kbt to N from Cape Europe. When approaching the port, a signal station becomes noticeable, located at an altitude of 395 m, 4 kbt N from Cape Europe. You can clearly see the clock tower, located on the south side of the port, 1.8 kbt to N from the northern entrance cape of Rosiya bay, the white building of the Rock Hotel, located 4 kbt to NNO from the clock tower, and also other buildings and structures in the port and city of Gibraltar. At night, the clock face on the tower is brightly lit and serves as an excellent reference point. A good guide is the radio masts, standing 2.3 miles N from Cape Europe. Obstruction aviation lights are lit on these radio masts at night. During the day, the English flag is hoisted on a flagpole next to the radio masts.
currents. Seaward of the port of Gibraltar, tidal currents are approximately parallel to the Detached breakwater. The tidal current is in a northerly direction, and the ebb current is in a southerly direction.
At 3 kbt to W from the tip of the South Mole, the tidal current begins 5 hours before the moment of full water in the port of Gibraltar, and the ebb current begins 1 hour 10 minutes after this moment. In syzygy, the speed of these currents on the surface is 0.8 knots.
Seaward of the port of Gibraltar, there is also a constant current that goes south at a speed of 0.2 knots.
East winds cause a northerly current, westerly winds cause a southerly current. With strong winds, the speed of these currents can reach 1.5 knots or more (in exceptional cases, up to 4-5 knots).
With strong westerly winds in syzygy, the total current continuously goes to southbound, its speed becomes the highest (2 knots) 4 hours and 15 minutes after the moment of high water in the port of Gibraltar and the lowest (0.5 kt) 2 hours before the moment of high water in the same port.
With strong easterly winds, the total current almost all the time goes in a northerly direction; its speed becomes the highest (1.5 knots) 2 hours before the moment of full water in the port of Gibraltar. 4 hours and 15 minutes after the moment of full water in the same port, the current is absent for some time or goes southward at a very low speed.
The current directed to N enters the port through the southern entrance and leaves it through the northern entrance and under the viaduct at the Northern Pier. The current directed to S enters the port through the northern entrance and under the viaduct and leaves it through the southern entrance. In the southern entrance and directly seaward, its course runs approximately along the line connecting the ends of the pier and the breakwater.
At the northern entrance, the current runs almost perpendicular to the line connecting the ends of the pier and the breakwater. The directions of currents indicated above can change under the influence of whirlpools, which are formed near the ends of the breakwaters and the breakwater.
In the port of Gibraltar, the currents are weak and unstable in direction. Most often, their direction coincides with the direction of the current outside the port. From time to time in the northern and southern parts of the port there is a circular current going counterclockwise.
Submarine cables are laid across the southern and northern entrances to the port of Gibraltar, as well as in its southern part.
The no-anchoring area extends to the W of the runway. The boundaries of the region are shown on the maps.
Pilot service. When entering and leaving the port of Gibraltar, pilotage is obligatory for all vessels. The pilot meets a ship arriving from the sea seaward from the southern entrance to the port. Together with the pilot, representatives of the port authority and sanitary supervision usually board the vessel. The pilot will escort the ship to the North Pier or to the place indicated by the port authorities.
Port facilities and equipment. The Port of Gibraltar has modern facilities for servicing warships and merchant ships. There are tugs and a large number of barges. On the embankments and piers there are warehouses, laid railways and installed many cranes. Two powerful cranes are located at docks No. 2 and 3, three cranes are on the north side of Kormorant harbor and four coal loading cranes are on the West Pier. The port also has two small floating cranes, several truck cranes and a rescue tug.
Repair. The port of Gibraltar hosts a large ship repair yard with four dry docks operated by the naval authorities. Dry docks *No. 1--3 are located on the south side of the port, and dock No. 4 is 5 kbt N from Kormorant harbor; the dimensions of the largest of the docks - dock No. 1 are given in the reference department. There are eight slipways for ships with a displacement of up to 400 tons.
Supply. The port of Gibraltar has large reserves of coal and liquid fuels. Liquid fuel can be obtained from the West Breakwater, Detached Breakwater, Piers No. I, 2, 3 and the North Breakwater. The fuel supply rate through pipelines is 300 t/h. Fresh water is delivered to ships moored at the Northern Pier and the breakwater by aquarians. Warships moored at the South Pier and at the berths built near the shore receive water from the water supply. Vessels anchored in the Bay of Gibraltar are supplied with fresh water by barges.
The water reserves in the port of Gibraltar depend on the amount of precipitation. In case of prolonged lack of precipitation, water supply may be limited. Food and ship supplies can be purchased in the city of Gibraltar.
Sanitary and quarantine service. Vessels entering the port between sunset and sunrise are required to carry a red light above the white one at a distance of not more than 1.8 m before obtaining a permit for free practice.
Only certificates of exemption from deratization are issued in the port. Vessels moored at the berths must have shields on each mooring line given ashore. If this requirement is not met, the captain of the vessel will be fined £25.
Stations and signals. There are several signal stations in the port of Gibraltar, where signals are raised to regulate the movement of ships, storm and other signals. Signals regulating the movement of ships are raised at the ends of the South and North breakwaters and on the Dockyard Tower.
Storm signals are raised on the Dockyard Tower and in the northern part of the port near the Port Authority located on the Old Pier.
Storm signals
The functions of Lloyd's signal station are performed by the naval signal station, located 4 kbt N from Cape Europe.
Rescue Service. The rescue station is located at Cape Europe. She has a rescue bot and a linethrower.
Import and export. The main items of import to the port of Gibraltar are coal and all types of liquid fuels, manufactured goods, tobacco. They export wine, canned fish.
Message and communication. The Port of Gibraltar has sea and air links with all parts of the world. Regular maritime traffic is maintained with the port of Algeciras-La Linea and Moroccan ports.
There is a VHF radio station operating around the clock on channel 16.
The port rules are given together with the Rules for navigation in the Admiralty waters of the colony of Gibraltar.
Warnings:
- 1. Any vessel proceeding past the port of Gibraltar must in all cases pass at a considerable distance from its entrances.
- 2. Due to the fact that the ground in the port of Gibraltar is rocky, it does not hold anchors well, anchoring here is not allowed. Vessels stand only on mooring barrels or moorings.
- 3. With easterly winds in the area of the Northern and Old Moles, squalls break from the shore.
- 4 In the area of the port of Gibraltar, submarine exercises, bombing and other types of combat training of the British Navy are sometimes held. Therefore, caution should be exercised when swimming in this area.
External raid located seaward of the port of Gibraltar. It consists of two parts: southern and northern, separated by an area prohibited for anchorage. This area extends 1.1 miles W of the runway. southern part of the outer road is located directly to the W from the South Pier and the Detached breakwater and is intended for the anchorage of warships. Usually the ships stay here at depths less than 100 m, since the seaward isobaths of 100 m depth increase sharply.
When anchoring in this part of the road, it should be taken into account that 6.5 kbt to WSW from the northern end of the breakwater at a depth of 106 m there is an area of unclean soil; in this place at the bottom lie the anchor and the anchor chain. The soil in the southern part of the raid is sand, gravel and shell.
The northern part of the outer roadstead is located off the northeastern coast of the Bay of Gibraltar to the north of the area prohibited for anchorage. This part of the raid is usually used by merchant ships. When approaching the northern part of the outer roadstead, care must be taken, since the tidal currents here move at high speed.
The runway extends from O to W along the isthmus of the Gibraltar Peninsula and extends beyond it into the Bay of Gibraltar for more than 600 m. Near the western end of the runway on its northern side there is a platform with a weather vane. Depths in the area of the runway are less than 5 m.
The air beacon is located 9.4 kbt OSO from the western end of the runway.
The floating light is set at 7.6 kbt W from the western end of the runway.
The South mole stretches from the shore 7 kbt to the northwest, 2 kbt NW from the northern entrance cape of Rossiya Bay. Many coal warehouses were built on the pier and railway lines were laid. A mooring wall 1067 m long has been equipped on the northeastern side of the South Pier; depth at the wall from 5.8 to 10.6 m.
A luminous sign is installed at the end of the South Pier. With a luminous sign, there is a sound signal installation.
The breakwater Detached, located between the ends of the South and North breakwaters, stretches for 4.5 kbt in the direction of NNW - SSO. The breakwater berths are intended for merchant ships.
On the eastern side of the breakwater, a mooring wall 792 m long is equipped; depth along it from 5.8 to 10.6 m.
Glowing signs. At the southern and northern extremities of the breakwater, one luminous sign was installed.
The Old Mole, built back in 1618, protrudes 2 kbt from the coast to the NW near the northern outskirts of the city of Gibraltar. Offices are located on the pier trading port, customs warehouses, as well as railway tracks. From the southwest, the harbor adjoins the Old Mole; the depth in the harbor is about 1.5 m. There are slipways directly to S from this harbor.
The alignment of luminous signs, the front one of which is installed on the Old Pier near the Port Authority, and the rear one 3.5 kbt from the front one, leads to the northern part of the outer roadstead of the port of Gibraltar.
The Passenger mole extends 1.3 kbt to WNW from the tip of the Old Pier. The south side of the Passenger Pier is used for parking auxiliary vessels.
There are berths and pools for small ships and boats to NO from the Passenger Mole.
The North mole, which is a continuation of the Old Mole to the west, is connected to it by means of a viaduct, under which there is a passage 1 m wide. The North mole consists of three bends. The first leg stretches from the viaduct 1 kbt to WNW, the second - 2.7 kbt to W, and the third, called the Western Pier, 2.6 kbt to S. Railway tracks are laid along the first knee of the pier.
Five piers protrude parallel to each other from the southern wall of the second knee of the Northern Pier to the south, numbered from 1 to 5, counting from west to east; the length of piers No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 is 0.5 kbt, and that of pier No. 3 is 2 kbt. At the Western pier and piers No. 1-3, coal is loaded onto ships. There are four cranes on the Western Pier. The piers are used for anchoring British warships. Pipelines for supplying liquid fuel were laid along the first, second and third bends of the pier and along pier No. 3. Near the tip of the Western Mole there are two tanks with liquid fuel.
A luminous sign is installed at the tip of the Northern Pier.
A luminous sign is installed at the tip of the Western Pier.
The fire is lit at the tip of Pier 3.
Buoys, Two buoys are set 2.5 kbt N from the northwest corner of the North Pier.
Cormorant Harbor is located 5.5 kbt SO from the northern end of Detached Mole. It is formed by an L-shaped pier, the outer part of which is called the island of Coling Island (Coaling Island). Railroad tracks are laid along the pier. A pier is equipped at the western wall of the pier; depth at the berth 6.8--7.4 m.
Depths in the harbor of Kormorant are 2.7-4.9 m, but its walls are bordered by a narrow shallow.
At 60 m to the N from the harbor of Kormorant there is an entrance to dry dock No. 4, to which the fairway leads, fenced with bushes of piles and deepened to Zl.
The auxiliary harbor (Auxiliary camber), located immediately south of Cormorant Harbor, is formed by a narrow breakwater consisting of three bends. Depths in the harbor are 3-4 m.
In the southeast corner of the Auxiliary Harbor, near the waterfront, there is a Ragged Staff boat dock, which has a depth of 2.7 m.
The Boat camber, located immediately south of the Auxiliary Harbor, is protected by a wide L-shaped pier, along which railroad tracks are laid. Berths are equipped near the northern and western walls of the pier; Depths at the berths are 3-9.4 m. Depths in the outer part of the harbor are 5-7 m. In the southern part of the harbor on the embankment there are boat slipways.
The Main Wharf stretches from the Boat Harbor for 2.5 kb to the SSO. It is equipped with berths, the depths of which are 8.8-10.4 m. Railway tracks are laid along the embankment.
Offices, warehouses and workshops are also located here. naval base. At the northern end of the embankment stands the prominent Dockyard Tower.
To SW from the southern end of the Main Quay there are dry docks No. 1, 2 and 3, near which there is a shipyard.
The city of Gibraltar is located on the western coast of the Gibraltar Peninsula. The population of the city is mainly employed in enterprises serving warships and civilian ships, in tobacco factories and a fish cannery. Immediately north of the city in the eastern part of the no man's land is an 80 m high mast; at night on the mast, aviation obstruction lights are lit.
Anchor places. Merchant ships may anchor anywhere in the northern part of the outer road against the neutral zone north of the no-anchoring area, being careful of the wreck lying 8 kbt NW of the northwest corner of the North Pier. With strong easterly winds, there are neither squalls nor whirlpools observed south of this region. There is usually a steady breeze here. Thanks to this phenomenon, the southern border of the neutral zone was called the “squall line”.
In view of the fact that the Bay of Gibraltar is open to south-westerly winds, which breed considerable waves in it, in winter, when such a wind approaches, it is necessary either to immediately weigh anchor and seek shelter in an anchorage located in the western part of the bay against the mouth of the Palmones River, or to give a second anchor and, in case the ship drifts, keep the machines ready.
English warships anchor at 6.6 kbt W from the end of the South Pier along a bearing of 120° to the end of the Pier in Rossiya Bay.
A good anchorage used for anchoring warships is located 3 kbt W from the end of the South Pier on the alignment line of the northern end of the Detached breakwater with a luminous sign on the northwest corner of the North Pier; alignment direction 192°--12°. Depth at anchorage 45 m,
A warning. It should be borne in mind that almost the entire northern part of the outer roadstead of the port of Gibraltar is located within the port of Algeciras La Linea, therefore anchoring here is possible only with the permission of the Spanish authorities.
Instructions for entering the port of Gibraltar. Vessels heading to the middle or northern part of the port of Gibraltar must enter it through the northern entrance. Before entering the port, you need to get off at a point located 5 kbt NW from the northwestern corner of the North Pier, and then turn onto SO.
In strong winds, large vessels should enter the port only if a tug is available to assist with mooring or berthing.
It is necessary to enter the port through both the northern and southern entrances with great caution, given that there are strong
currents. The direction of the current can be approximately determined by the direction in which ships anchored on the outer
When maneuvering in reverse during barreling
exposed in port against the breakwater Detached, it should be taken into account that
the ship's stern will always drift towards the breakwater. This circumstance is especially important to take into account when other vessels are moored to the breakwater.
In cases where the ship has to stay on the barrels in the port for a long time, it is recommended to put two cables on each barrel. In stormy weather, when significant waves penetrate through the southern entrance to the port and sometimes strong squally winds blow from the SW, it is recommended to make additional mooring lines from plant cables when mooring to the breakwater and piers protruding from the Northern Pier.
