Puerto Williams - General Info
Where is Puerto Williams?
Puerto Williams, Chile’s (and the world’s) most southern city, is a common jumping-off point for Antarctica. It is situated on Navarino Island in the Beagle Channel.
Spares and marine supplies are sparse; Ushuaia is better supplied. It is possible to adequately provision and fuel in Puerto Williams for extended voyaging.
Entrance Notes and Cautions for Puerto Williams:
Yachts entering the Beagle Channel area should contact the Chilean Navy (Armada) on VHF CH16 (Puerto Williams Radio). Puerto Williams is a naval base, but yachts are warmly welcomed.
The port captain of Puerto William requires any yacht whose registration papers state their gross weight is in excess of 50 tonnes, to use a harbor pilot.
Cruising boats are usually told to anchor near the airport, but north of the red mooring buoy if a quarantine may be required, or to proceed directly into the small western basin (Seno Lauta), south of the airport.
This port can be closed in really bad weather.
Puerto Williams Position:
54° 55’55″S, 67° 36’28″W
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Port Navigation
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The new 35 Tonne Travelift lifted its first yacht is December 2017. Not cheap but when you need to do important underwater work – the first yacht was replacing a saildrive – it is a very handy resource.
When we departed for and returned from the Falkands in October 2017 there was no mention of us requiring permission from the Argentine government. That said it would be a good thing to have if you ever plan to take your yacht to Argentina in the future.
One thing they are always keen on seeing is your ‘Light Dues’ certificate which is valid for one year.
Upon returning we were not visited by any officials but given a time to present ourselves at the Capitánia.
It is possible to store in Williams for an extended voyage. Anything you can’t find in any of the small ‘supermercados’ can be ordered in from Punta Arenas on the next weekly ferry and delivered to Micalvi. The Lider website http://www.lider.cl gives a good idea of what can be purchased in Punta Arenas
Diesel is of a high quality and is about the same price as in Puerto Montt.
Propane cylinders can be filled at very reasonable – mainland – rates and there is no problem with US/Canadian/NZ/ Australian fittings.
Frank Holden
Westerly Serenade.
Last in Pto Williams Sept 2018.
Our thanks to Henk Boersma for these updates.
Puerto Williams Update:
Recently the “SAG” (these are the people responsible for avoiding alien flora and fauna arriving on Chilean soil) started implementing a law that no fresh fruit, vegetables or meat can be brought into the country. All will be confiscated and destroyed.
Threats with fines for not complying are in the air. For years this has been the rule in the rest of the country, however now PW is included as well which doesn’t make sense. Maybe it will blow over.
For the charter boats that do their shopping in Ushuaia (Argentina), this new rule forces a change of plan… The problem is of course, that there are no reliable supplies in Puerto Williams!
Ushuaia Update:
All is quiet on the customs front, apart from some issues which involved Argentine sailors with foreign flagged boats. They are still fussy about arriving or going to the Falklands without a permit.
Cruising the Beagle Channel
For cruising the Beagle Channel as far as Staten Island, no zarpe is required for trips to Lapataia and Islas Bridges but the Prefecture must be notified before you leave with the details of your trip. Anywhere further out, and you must pay a visit to the Prefecture for a zarpe.
Fees: The Port Captain follows the guidelines that any vessel over 50 tons requires a pilot. The pilotage fee is based on tonnage. Cost for our 69-ton vessel is only US $121.
We were not required to use an agent. Lighthouse fees charged in 2015 (each time you enter/leave any port) for vessels over 25 tons: US $51. So, Puerto Williams fees are not too bad–certainly less than Ushuaia across the channel! The charge for a large mooring ball is around $10/day.
Ann Evans
m/y Ithaka