BARCELONA AND THE COSTA BRAVA (MEDES ISLANDS, CAP DE CREUS)

Barcelona and the Costa Brava: boating safety

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Barcelona has several marinas inside and next to its commercial port. Many trips head north along the Costa Brava to the Medes Islands and the Cap de Creus natural park.

LIFE IN DANGER AT SEA
Call 112
Call 112 and ask for Salvamento Marítimo. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF 16, or DSC on channel 70.

Spain: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →

Harbour and marinas

Barcelona Port Control works on VHF channel 14. Boats with VHF must keep a continuous watch on it while under way or at anchor in port waters.

Port of Barcelona traffic ordinance (BOE-A-2023-6719) · Port of Barcelona traffic ordinance (BOE-A-2023-6719) ▾
boe.es (2026-10-14): “Se establece en el Puerto de Barcelona como canal principal de trabajo para el servicio de ordenación y control del tráfico marítimo el canal 14”
boe.es (2026-10-14): “durante su navegación, o fondeo, en aguas portuarias, deberá permanecer a la escucha continua en el canal de trabajo VHF”

Marina Vela, at the port's north entrance, listens on VHF channel 9. Port Fòrum listens on VHF channel 73.

Marina Vela Barcelona · Port Fòrum Sant Adrià ▾
marinavela.com (2026-10-14): “Pg. Joan de Borbó, nº 103 08039, Barcelona (España) +34 931 166 616 VHF Canal 9”
portforum.es (2026-10-14): “info@portforum.com +34 933 562 720 VHF 73”

Weather

Salvamento Marítimo's Barcelona centre broadcasts the coastal weather bulletin on VHF channel 10, announced on channel 16, at 06:00, 09:00, 15:00 and 20:00 UTC. The Barcelona (channel 60) and Bagur (channel 23) coast stations broadcast at 09:10, 14:10 and 21:10 UTC.

AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency) · AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency) · AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency) ▾
aemet.es (2026-10-14): “CRCS Barcelona ch 16-10 0600 - 0900 - 1500 - 2000”
aemet.es (2026-10-14): “Barcelona 60 0910-1410-2110”
aemet.es (2026-10-14): “Bagur 23 0910-1410-2110”

Local rules

Inside the port of Barcelona, leisure boats may only use the North area, going directly in or out. Leisure boats are generally not allowed to anchor in port waters.

Port of Barcelona traffic ordinance (BOE-A-2023-6719) · Port of Barcelona traffic ordinance (BOE-A-2023-6719) ▾
boe.es (2026-10-14): “la navegación de todos los buques y embarcaciones de recreo y de la flota pesquera en la zona I de servicio de las aguas del Puerto de Barcelona queda limitada al área Norte”
boe.es (2026-10-14): “como regla general no se permitirá el fondeo de buques y embarcaciones de recreo y de pesca.”

The speed limit inside the port of Barcelona is 6 knots.

Port of Barcelona traffic ordinance (BOE-A-2023-6719) ▾
boe.es (2026-10-14): “En los espacios de agua interiores (Zona I) del Puerto de Barcelona el límite de velocidad máxima se establece en seis (6) nudos”

In the Cap de Creus natural park the speed limit is 12 knots, and 5 knots within 300 m of the coast. Navigation is allowed everywhere except the S'Encalladora integral reserve.

Parc Natural de Cap de Creus (Generalitat de Catalunya) · Parc Natural de Cap de Creus (Generalitat de Catalunya) ▾
parcsnaturals.gencat.cat (2026-10-14): “Velocitat màxima general : 12 nusos Velocitat màxima a menys de 300 m de la costa : 5 nusos”
parcsnaturals.gencat.cat (2026-10-14): “Es pot navegar arreu del Parc excepte a la Reserva Natural Integral de S’Encalladora.”

Cap de Creus has no-anchoring sectors at Cala Murtra, Cala Jugadora and Cala Galladera.

Parc Natural de Cap de Creus (Generalitat de Catalunya) ▾
parcsnaturals.gencat.cat (2026-10-14): “Els sectors de no fondeig se situen a Cala Murtra, Cala Jugadora i Cala Galladera”

In the strictly protected zone of the Medes Islands, the park lists mooring at pre-set places and sailing at up to 3 knots as allowed; dropping anchor is listed as prohibited.

Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter (Generalitat de Catalunya) · Parc Natural del Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter (Generalitat de Catalunya) ▾
parcsnaturals.gencat.cat (2026-10-14): “Amarrar embarcaciones en los lugares preestablecidos Navegar hasta 3 nudos de velocidad”
parcsnaturals.gencat.cat (2026-10-14): “Tirar el ancla para fondear”

Hospital and medical

Hospital del Mar, Passeig Marítim 25-29, close to the Barcelona waterfront marinas, has an emergency department. Patients are seen in order of severity, not arrival.

Hospital del Mar · Hospital del Mar ▾
hospitaldelmar.cat (2026-10-14): “Els pacients són atesos segons la gravetat i no per ordre d'arribada”
hospitaldelmar.cat (2026-10-14): “Passeig Marítim 25-29 Barcelona 08003”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Barcelona and the Costa Brava?

Call 112 and ask for Salvamento Marítimo. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

How do I contact the harbour in Barcelona and the Costa Brava?

Barcelona Port Control works on VHF channel 14. Boats with VHF must keep a continuous watch on it while under way or at anchor in port waters.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Barcelona and the Costa Brava?

Salvamento Marítimo's Barcelona centre broadcasts the coastal weather bulletin on VHF channel 10, announced on channel 16, at 06:00, 09:00, 15:00 and 20:00 UTC. The Barcelona (channel 60) and Bagur (channel 23) coast stations broadcast at 09:10, 14:10 and 21:10 UTC.

Read before you sail

Person overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerChartering in Spain: licence & rules

Nearby destinations

Palma de Mallorca 111 nmMenorca 132 nmIbiza 153 nmCôte d'Azur (Antibes / Cannes) 252 nmAjaccio / Bonifacio 296 nmOlbia / Costa Smeralda 335 nmElba / Tuscan Archipelago 373 nmLa Trinité-sur-Mer and the Gulf of Morbihan 433 nm

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