Eritrea - Facts

Eritrea FAQs

The coastline of Eritrea remains a sensitive area. Since the borders closed due to COVID-19 in 2020, there had been no reports of yachts successfully clearing in until February 2026, when a number of boats visited Massawa. Crews reported a warm welcome and an efficient clearance process without the need for an agent.

Pre-Arrival Boat: Official advice is to enter and depart Eritrean waters via the North and South Massawa channels, with no stops along the way. "Massawa Port Control" should be contacted by radio VHF Ch. 16, approx. 1NM before approaching port. See Clearance for further details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: Visas in advance are not required - all crew can get a 30-day visa on arrival or a 48 hour shore pass. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? Assab is a port of entry in the south, closest to the Djibouti border, but is closed for yachts except in emergencies. Massawa is the only port of entry for visiting yachts, located to the north. It used to be easy to clear in at one port of entry, cruise the coast and then clear out at the other, however that is no longer possible.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There are no clearance fees unless a visa is purchased. See Fees for details.
What security concerns should I know about? Cruisers report feeling safe in the port/city area of Massawa. There have been reports in the past of harassment and boardings by the Eritrean Coast Guard, who can easily be confused with pirates or thieves based on their boats and rough uniforms. See Security for more info.

Eritrea Facts for Sailors

• Eritrea is located in eastern Africa on the Red Sea, bordered by Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south, and Djibouti to the southeast. The country has a long coastline along the Red Sea and includes numerous offshore islands, most notably the Dahlak Archipelago. Its geography ranges from arid coastal plains and deserts to temperate highland plateaus, with the capital, Asmara, situated in the central highlands.
• Eritrea has an estimated population of about 6–6.3 million people. The population consists of several ethnic groups, the largest being Tigrinya and Tigre. There is no single official language, but the main working languages are Tigrinya (most widely spoken), Arabic and English.
• The currency is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN). For specifics see General Info. - Money.
• Eritrea uses East Africa Time (EAT). For more information see General Info – Time Zones.
• Eritrea’s climate varies with elevation and geography, but coastal areas are very hot and humid, particularly June to September. See Weather for more details.
• Massawa is the largest natural deep-water harbor on the Red Sea. Within it lies the Dhalak Archipelago, a group of hundreds of islands and islets, which is a protected Marine Park. This area offers beautiful winter cruising, however, unfortunately, the islands are "out of bounds" currently to foreign yachts. An interesting side trip for those stopping in Massawa is to the inland capital of Asmara.
• Harmil is a military outpost and should not be visited by yachts. It is recommended not to venture too close to the coast where there are military installations.
• Full marine services are limited here. Basic repairs may be possible in Massawa and there is a shipyard with a crane. There is a lack of navigation aids along the Eritrean coast so night sailing close to shore is not recommended. For more details see Yachting Essentials.