KINSALE HARBOUR AND CORK HARBOUR (CROSSHAVEN, COBH, ROCHES POINT), SOUTH COAST OF COUNTY CORK

Kinsale and Cork Harbour: boating safety

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Kinsale and Cork Harbour are neighbouring yachting harbours on Ireland's south coast. Kinsale is a small harbour run by Cork County Council; Cork Harbour is a busy commercial port managed by the Port of Cork, shared by ships, ferries and leisure craft.

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

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

Harbour and marinas

Kinsale Harbour Master's Office is on the Main Pier, Kinsale (+353 21 477 25 03; VHF channel 14, office hours only). In Cork Harbour, port operations are 'Cork Harbour Radio' on VHF channel 12 or tel 0214811380, 24/7.

Cork County Council – Marine Emergencies, Harbour Masters and General Enquiries · Port of Cork – Notice to Mariners No. 4 of 2025 ▾
corkcoco.ie (2026-10-14): “Kinsale Harbour Harbour Master's Office, Main Pier, Kinsale, Co. Cork, P17 H364. Tel: +353 21 477 25 03 VHF, Ch. 14 (office hours only)”
portofcork.ie (2026-10-14): “Port Operations: 'Cork Harbour Radio' on VHF Ch 12 or tel: 0214811380 (24/7)”

Weather

Irish Coast Guard radio stations announce Met Éireann forecasts on VHF channel 16, then broadcast them on a working channel; Sea Area Forecasts are broadcast every 3 hours. From April to September, Small Craft Warnings are issued for Force 6 or more up to 10 miles offshore.

Department of Transport (gov.ie) – MET forecasts for Irish coastal waters · Department of Transport (gov.ie) – MET forecasts for Irish coastal waters ▾
gov.ie (2026-10-14): “Irish Coast Radio Stations make a prior announcement of weather forecasts on Marine VHF Radio Ch16 and then broadcast the forecast on the named relevant VHF Radio working channel.”
gov.ie (2026-10-14): “Small Craft Warnings are issued (April-September inclusive) if winds of Beaufort Force 6 (min. mean of 22 knots) are expected up to 10 Nautical miles offshore.”

Local rules

In Kinsale the speed limit is 5 knots with no wake between James Fort/Summer Cove and the bridge. Everyone on a boat under 7 m must wear a lifejacket or PFD.

Cork County Council – Notice to Mariners No. 10 of 2026 (Port of Kinsale) · Cork County Council – Notice to Mariners No. 10 of 2026 (Port of Kinsale) ▾
corkcoco.ie (2026-10-14): “Speed Limit in Kinsale is 5 knots with "No Wake" Between James Fort/Summer Cove and the bridge.”
corkcoco.ie (2026-10-14): “All Persons on board a vessel less than 7m in length must wear a personal floatation device (PFD) or life-jacket.”

In Cork Harbour, a 6-knot limit applies in the upper harbour from Blackrock Castle to the City Quays. Jet skis and fast power craft are limited to 5 knots within 100 m of beaches, piers and slipways.

Port of Cork – Information Manual 2023 · Port of Cork – Notice to Mariners No. 4 of 2025 ▾
portofcork.ie (2026-10-14): “A speed limit of 6 knots is imposed in the upper harbour from Blackrock Castle to the City Quays.”
portofcork.ie (2026-10-14): “Jet Skis or fast power craft shall observe a speed restriction of 5 knots when operating, from the water line to 100m seaward on all Beaches, Piers and Slipways”

Hazards

Cork is a busy commercial port: large ships cannot leave the navigation channels, so leisure craft should keep out of them where possible. Pleasure craft give way to commercial vessels approaching or leaving berths.

Port of Cork – Notice to Mariners No. 4 of 2025 · Port of Cork – Information Manual 2023 ▾
portofcork.ie (2026-10-14): “large vessels cannot deviate from the navigation channels and should not be impeded by marine leisure craft”
portofcork.ie (2026-10-14): “Pleasure craft will give way to all commercial vessels approaching or departing berths.”

Hospital and medical

Emergency department for the Cork area: Cork University Hospital, Wilton Road, Cork (HSE).

HSE – Cork University Hospital · HSE South West ▾
www2.hse.ie (2026-10-14): “Wilton Road, Wilton, Cork, T12 DC4A”
about.hse.ie (2026-10-14): “Anyone with an urgent or emergency care need should attend the Emergency Department”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Kinsale and Cork Harbour?

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

How do I contact the harbour in Kinsale and Cork Harbour?

Kinsale Harbour Master's Office is on the Main Pier, Kinsale (+353 21 477 25 03; VHF channel 14, office hours only). In Cork Harbour, port operations are 'Cork Harbour Radio' on VHF channel 12 or tel 0214811380, 24/7.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Kinsale and Cork Harbour?

Irish Coast Guard radio stations announce Met Éireann forecasts on VHF channel 16, then broadcast them on a working channel; Sea Area Forecasts are broadcast every 3 hours. From April to September, Small Craft Warnings are issued for Force 6 or more up to 10 miles offshore.

Read before you sail

Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doRan aground? What to doCold water shock and hypothermia: what to doPerson overboard: what to do

Nearby destinations

Falmouth, Cornwall 161 nmPlymouth 184 nmChannel Islands (St Peter Port and St Helier) 266 nmThe Solent 276 nmOban 303 nmLa Trinité-sur-Mer and the Gulf of Morbihan 328 nmIJsselmeer (Enkhuizen and Lelystad) 512 nmHarlingen and the Wadden Sea 515 nm

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