Stockholm archipelago: boating safety
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The Stockholm archipelago is a maze of some tens of thousands of islands stretching east of the Swedish capital to the open Baltic. It is one of the busiest leisure-boating areas in Northern Europe, with sheltered fjärdar, guest harbours and island anchorages, crossed by fairways used by large passenger ferries and cargo ships bound for Stockholm.
Sweden: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →
Harbour and marinas
Ports of Stockholm runs the city locks and harbour; leisure boats contact its Port and Traffic Control (BTC) on VHF channel 12 or 16, phone +46 8 670 28 10. Ships in the northern fairway report to VTS Stockholm on VHF 73; Stockholm Port Control works VHF 12.
Ports of Stockholm · Ports of Stockholm · Sjöfartsverket (Swedish Maritime Administration) – Guidelines and restrictions, Northern Fairway (2026-06-01) ▾
Weather
SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) issues coastal forecasts for the stretches Söderarm–Sandhamn and Sandhamn–Landsort, which lie in the sea area Norra Östersjön (Northern Baltic).
Local rules
Locks in central Stockholm (between the archipelago and Lake Mälaren) must be booked: request at least 5 hours ahead and confirm 1 hour before passage. Payment by card only.
Ports of Stockholm ▾
Local speed limits are set by the County Administrative Board and marked with buoys/signs. Example: in the sound between Djurönäset and Stora Sandholmen (Värmdö, on the route to Sandhamn) the limit is 7 knots.
Länsstyrelsen Stockholm (01FS 2021:09) ▾
Hospital and medical
Karolinska University Hospital's adult emergency department in Huddinge is open 24 hours; the Solna site has a children's emergency department open 24 hours. For the nearest emergency room or urgent-care clinic, Region Stockholm directs people to call 1177.
Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset · Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset ▾
Frequently asked
Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Stockholm archipelago?
Call 112 and ask for sea rescue. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
How do I contact the harbour in Stockholm archipelago?
Ports of Stockholm runs the city locks and harbour; leisure boats contact its Port and Traffic Control (BTC) on VHF channel 12 or 16, phone +46 8 670 28 10. Ships in the northern fairway report to VTS Stockholm on VHF 73; Stockholm Port Control works VHF 12.
Where do I get the marine forecast for Stockholm archipelago?
SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) issues coastal forecasts for the stretches Söderarm–Sandhamn and Sandhamn–Landsort, which lie in the sea area Norra Östersjön (Northern Baltic).
Read before you sail
Nearby destinations
Local rules change. Spotted something out of date? support@vesselsos.com