Durres - General Info
Description:
This is the largest port in Albania and lies on the northern edge of a large, shallow bay. The capital, Tirana, is about 32 kms (20 miles) east of the port.
A full-facility marina is planned for this port (completion date unknown).
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
The bay of Durres is large and very shallow for a long way out. There is a tidal influence here and you may find yourselves anchored a long way out from the beach.
If making a night entry, note that the fairway buoy may be unlit and the channel markers are just posts with very low-intensity lights, very difficult to see against the town and harbour lights. Many of the buoys, which need to be observed, are not showing the light features indicated on the digital charts.
It has been suggested that an easier approach is from due south of the entrance, just west of the commercial boat anchorage. The entrance is easy to identify from a distance as a gap in the very bright harbour lights.
Durres Harbor Master can be reached on VHF Ch. 15.
Several wrecks are located near the entrance channel to the Port so take care on the approach. Follow the marked channel as far as the port entrance and go into the main commercial port.
Position:
41°18′27″N, 19°27′12″E.
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Port Navigation
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Important and interesting changes have been made to the port to accommodate the cruisers; section reserved to cruisers with mooring lines, electricity on dock, water and fuel available by tankers. Very rigid security at the gate making it safe for us and the boats.
You can now leave the boat unattended for days without problem, even with high winds events. We spent 3 days in Tirana and left the boat at the port.
I confirm the prices mentioned by Sailors for Sustainability: Euro 40 for agent, Euro 20 for harbourmaster Euro 10 per calendar day.
We dealt with agent Ilir Gjergji who has been one of the nice highlight of our stay in Dürres. We contact him by WhatsApp on a Sunday PM and replied very quickly and explain clearly the very smooth process for clearance. He does everything for you, don’t even have to bother to leave the boat.
Maybe we should not say it here (he will get too much request 🙂 )… but in a matter of hours, he has been able to have our Turkish and Greek (with special fitting from Rhodes) LPG gas bottles filled.
If going to Dürres port, Ilir is definitely the person to call.
Contact info:
Ilir Gjergji
Mobile :+355 682 036329
e-mail :adetarag@gmail.com
Agent details: Ilir Gjergji
Mobile No. +355682036329
e-mail :adetarag@gmail.com
We sailed from Saranda to Durres and informed our agent, Ilir Gjergjen (details below) of our arrival and intention to visit Tirana. He arranged a berth where we could stay the three nights we were there (same spot as in the photo of Suzette Q above). Upon arrival we informed port control who directed us into the commercial port, where a pilot proceeded to show us where to moor. Friendly port staff helped us with the lines. Our agent was there too and swiftly took care of the paperwork and explained everything we needed to know. Very friendly and helpful. There are no facilities, but it was fine for us. There are no other options around and we were told anchoring yachts (in front of the beach) are requested to leave (during high season). Costs: Euro 40 for agent, Euro 20 for harbourmaster and Euro 10 per calendar day. A bus goes to Tirana, but we rented a car from close to the port (Euro 25 per day all-risk). Swimming pool down the boulevard was nice and clean, although the sauna and jacuzzi were out of order (entry 750 lek). There is now also a new outdoor pool in the same area.
Trip to Tirana and surroundings is highly recommended. Slow food restaurant in Tirana “Mullixhiu” in the big park is excellent and very affordable.
Further Info. from Suzette “Q”:
Cost is apparently now per calendar day, so we paid 10 euros for the day we arrived and 10 euros for the day we were leaving (as opposed to 1 payment of 10 per night). 40 for the agent and 20 for the harbour master, so 80 euros in total.
This is expensive for the 1 night with no facilities, but we look at it as a chance to visit a new country and experience. We felt very safe and it was clean and quiet. Maybe we were just lucky with the coal and shipping movements, not a problem. We will be visiting again in a couple of months time.
We just stayed in Durres port for 1 night and had a great experience. With little information available we were a little worried, but no need. Security was good and the town very lively. We had a lovely dinner and the fuel station was very close. It was very clean.
Although no facilities, we knew this already and were prepared. Used Benn/Ilir for an agent. Very helpful. Will be staying here again.
Suzette “Q “.
We paid the clearance both in Vlore’s and Durres’ harbour 60 euros We also paid 10 euros per night plus the travel agent and the harbour master. People in town are nice, taxi cheap and buses cost nothing.
However, we lost an entire day moving the boat since the port was full and they just didn’t know how to organise the space so we kept moving, listening to all their comments.
we were here in July 2015 and found it very peaceful and much cleaner than previous visits (No coal loading) We used agent “Benni”, Arben Ninja 0035672082061 again and he couldn’t do enough to help us. Cost is Euro50 for entry into Albania and into Durres plus Euro10 per night irrespective of boat length.
The dockyard is very secure- armed security patrolling all the time- with reasonable care no reason not to leave the boat and travel. (Bus to Tirana every hour for less than Euro1.)There are no (usable) toilets etc by the boats but there is a bar in the harbour which is immaculate.
If you need showers to go to the new “marina” (which isn’t open for boats) but there is a great indoor swimming pool upstairs including hydromassage/jacuzzi showers etc for about Euro3.
Posted on behalf of Tony Olin:
On approach keep to the bouy’d Channel as far as the port entrance, this can be confusing as there is a new small craft Marina adjacent to the main port entrance, however, they don’t allow entry into this Marina and it lies empty, it is not yet marked on charts etc.
Go into the main commercial port and tie up where directed by the port agent, we used Arben Ninga, arben.ninga@Kad.al. The cost was €100 to include four nights mooring, no water or electricity, not very secure to leave the boat for any length of time either, oil and dust everywhere, very noisy with cranes working through the night.