Lebanon - Restrictions
Boats proceeding along the Lebanese coast between the ports of Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon and Sour must sail within the 20 km (12 mile) limit and not closer than 5 kms (3 miles) to the coast. Such movement is restricted to daylight hours between 05:00 and 20:00 local time. When leaving or approaching any of the above ports, a course of 270 or 90 respectively must be steered. The ports of Beirut and Jounieh are open permanently, but Tripoli, Sidon and Sour are only open between 05:00 and 20:00 local time.
Contact port control on VHF Channel 16 when approaching ports for clearance.
No yacht may proceed directly between Israel and Lebanon. Yachts may not intend to sail to Israel as the next port of call after a Lebanese port.
Anchoring along the coast is not permitted in any case.
Currently (November 2010) a boat owner cannot leave his/her boat in Lebanon and go abroad. Authorisation may be given to leave the country to visit Syria for 10 days only.
The following items are prohibited:
- illegal drugs and narcotics
- weapons (and ammunition)
- explosives of any kind (including fireworks)
- knives
- weapons for self-defense
- archaeological pieces
- counterfeit money or goods
- pornographic material (of any kind)
Last updated: 2010 (currently being checked)
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Reported by Italian sailor Giorgio Clerici
of SY Laurora who spent last winter in Lebanon:
Entering (November 2022) it was $300 USD for Customs which issue you 3 months validly permit. This permit can be renewed once, paying again 300 USD .
ATCL marina Lebanon has Customs on-site, but the marina fee in ATCL are around 1000 USD per month for a 13 meter vessel.
Entering the ATCL you meet the Immigration which will charge 50 USD per crew. Yachts can move 4NM south to la Marina Joseph Khoury -Dbaye where the mooring price was 300 USD per month.
To move from one marina to another you have to pay 50 USD to Immigration to clear out from the ATCL and 50 USD to clear in at the next port/marina.
These fees are compulsory every time you leave and enter an harbour inside Lebanese waters.
To clear out of the country (which we did in February 2023) from a Marina, an agent is required who charged us 200 USD.
We were in Lebanon during the winter and the other ports of Lebanon outside the Beirut area were not reccomended in winter. Around Beirut there are some more little private marinas which have berth availability, but negotiations have to be done prior to arrival.
In the summer it would be possible to cruise to the ports of Batrun- Byblo – Sidone, very interesting places. For entering Tripoli or Tyro, a special permit has to be required through the agent . Nice anchorages around the coast, but the police do not permit overnight anchoring. During the daytime you can leave your marina without any check or fee – but you need to be back at your berth before dark.
It’s very important to have cash in USD with you as the local money is not accepted anymore and loses value every day (even more the 10% daily ).
Debit card and credit card don’t work in Lebanon, so it is very important to have your budget in cash. Fuel is cheap and easy to find, but payment only by USD cash. Euro is not available as is has to be converted in to dollars before tuse. The Euros is traded at a very bad exchange rate .
The Country is nice, SAFE and beautiful, even though they are facing a difficult economic crisis.