CHARTER · GRENADA

Chartering a boat in Grenada: licence, rules and safety

Last verified:

EMERGENCY AT SEACall Grenada Coast Guard on +1 473 444 1931. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Arriving by boat

Clear in at an official port of entry — Port Louis Marina (St George's) or Tyrell Bay Marina (Carriacou) — anchored with the Q flag and Grenada courtesy flag flying until formalities are done.

Grenada Tourism Authority ▾
puregrenada.com (2026-10-14): “All vessels and crew seeking clearance into Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique must do so at the following official Ports of Entry (Camper Nicholson Port Louis Marina, St. George’s; Tyrell Bay Marina, Harvey Vale, Carriacou)”

Season and weather

Hurricane season is 1 June – 30 November.

NOAA National Hurricane Center · UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
nhc.noaa.gov (2026-10-14): “The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of America.”
gov.uk (2026-10-14): “The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. Monitor local news and check the warnings on the US National Hurricane Center.”

Rules on the water

St George's, Grenada: Off St George's, anchoring within 200 m of any beach needs written permission. Boats may anchor north-west of the harbour in 12–23 m; the Lagoon (south basin, 4.9–8.2 m) has a yacht marina.

Grenada Ports Authority · Grenada Ports Authority · Grenada Ports Authority ▾
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “Anchoring is prohibited within 200 metres of any beach without written permission.”
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “Vessels may anchor north-west of the harbour in position 12°3'.2N, 61°45'.8W in depths from 12.0 to 23.0 metres at LAT.”
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “The Lagoon or south basin has depths from 4.9 to 8.2 metres and contains a yacht marina on its west side.”

St George's, Grenada: In Prickly Bay you may anchor inside the bay in 5–15 m (good holding in sand and mud), but not within 200 m of the beach on the northern shore. In Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou, anchoring is prohibited in the inner lagoon.

Grenada Ports Authority · Grenada Ports Authority ▾
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “Anchorage is permitted inside the bay in depths of 5.0 to 15.0 metres with good holding grounds in a mixture of sand and mud. Anchorage within 200 metres of the beach on the northern shore is prohibited.”
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “Anchoring is prohibited in the inner lagoon.”

St George's, Grenada: Bringing organic waste into Grenada is prohibited. Organic waste may only be dumped at least 12 nautical miles offshore (small pieces under 25 mm at least 3 nautical miles).

Grenada Ports Authority ▾
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “It is prohibited to bring organic waste into Grenada. Organic waste may be dumped at least 12 nautical miles offshore. Small organic waste (pieces less than 25 mm) may be dumped at least three nautical miles offshore.”

Hazards and warnings

Kick 'em Jenny, a live submarine volcano about 8 km north of Grenada (12.18° N, 61.38° W), is at alert level YELLOW with a 1.5 km exclusion zone around the crater; check the current level before passage.

The UWI Seismic Research Centre (official volcano monitoring for Grenada) · The UWI Seismic Research Centre (official volcano monitoring for Grenada) ▾
uwiseismic.com (2026-10-14): “Kick-’em-Jenny, located approximately 8 km north of Grenada (12.18°N, 61.38°W), is the only known ‘live’ submarine volcano in the Eastern Caribbean.”
uwiseismic.com (2026-10-14): “The current alert level is YELLOW with a 1.5km exclusion zone around the crater.”

Grenada uses 'red right returning' buoyage: red buoys mark the starboard side when entering.

Grenada Tourism Authority ▾
puregrenada.com (2026-10-14): “Grenada uses the Red Right Returning Rule, which means red buoys mark the starboard side when approaching.”

St George's, Grenada: Approaching Prickly Bay: a reef runs the full length of the eastern shore, there is shoaling just off True Blue Point, and The Porpoises, rocks about half a mile south of Prickly Point, are sometimes awash and hard to spot.

Grenada Ports Authority · Grenada Ports Authority ▾
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “A reef extends the full length of the eastern shore, so yachts should proceed with caution. True Blue Point should be given a wide berth owing to shoaling just offshore.”
grenadaports.com (2026-10-14): “The Porpoises - a group of rocks located about half a mile south of Prickly Point - are sometimes awash and difficult to spot”

Charter bases in Grenada

St George's, Grenada

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for Grenada Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerThunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doRan aground? What to do

Frequently asked

When is the best time to sail in Grenada, and when is storm season?

Hurricane season is 1 June – 30 November.

How do I clear in when arriving in Grenada by boat?

Clear in at an official port of entry — Port Louis Marina (St George's) or Tyrell Bay Marina (Carriacou) — anchored with the Q flag and Grenada courtesy flag flying until formalities are done.

What is the emergency number at sea in Grenada?

Call Grenada Coast Guard on +1 473 444 1931. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Other charter countries

CroatiaGreeceTürkiyeItalySpainFranceMaltaPortugalBritish Virgin IslandsSaint-MartinSint MaartenSt Vincent & the GrenadinesSt LuciaMartiniqueGuadeloupeBahamasThailandMalaysiaSeychellesFrench PolynesiaNew CaledoniaFijiSwedenNorwayDenmark

Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.