BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (TORTOLA, VIRGIN GORDA, JOST VAN DYKE, NORMAN ISLAND, SIR FRANCIS DRAKE CHANNEL)

Tortola: boating safety

Last verified: 14 October 2026

Tortola is the main island of the British Virgin Islands and one of the Caribbean's largest yacht-charter bases, with marinas around Road Town and along the south coast. Most cruising is short island-hopping across the sheltered Sir Francis Drake Channel to Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Norman Island and the other islands.

LIFE IN DANGER AT SEA

Call +1 284 499 0911

Call VISAR (volunteer) on +1 284 499 0911. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF 16, or DSC on channel 70.

British Virgin Islands: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →

Harbour and marinas

Nanny Cay Marina, on Tortola's south coast between Road Town and West End, asks arriving boats to call the dockmaster on VHF channel 16 or 68 just before arrival.

Nanny Cay Marina ▾

nannycay.com (2026-10-14): “Just before arriving at Nanny Cay Marina, please contact the Dockmaster on VHF Channel 16 or 68 so our team can be ready to assist with your lines and give you your slip allocation.”

Weather

Marine warnings for the BVI come from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, and the BVI Department of Disaster Management republishes them. A small craft advisory means winds of 21–33 knots, or wind waves or swells of 7 feet or more, are happening or about to.

BVI Department of Disaster Management · BVI Department of Disaster Management ▾

bviddm.com (2026-10-14): “Urgent – Marine Weather Message Small Craft Advisory Antigua and Barbuda Meteorológicarological Services issued a Small craft advisory Friday for the British Virgin Islands.”

bviddm.com (2026-10-14): “A small craft advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and or wind waves and or wind swells of 7 feet or greater are occurring or imminent.”

Local rules

You need a National Parks mooring permit to use the National Parks Trust buoys. Charter companies, dive shops and the Trust's office in Road Town sell them, and foreign boats buy them at Customs when they enter. The buoys are for day use only and must not be used overnight.

National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “Therefore the moorings are for day use only and it is illegal to use them overnight. To use the mooring buoys you are required by law to purchase a National Parks Mooring Permit, either from your charter company, dive shop, or the National Parks Trust office in Road Town.”

The National Parks buoys are colour-coded: orange for non-diving day use, yellow for commercial vessels, white for diving only and blue for dinghies. Each use is limited to 90 minutes, first come, first served.

National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “Orange: non-diving, day use only Yellow: commercial vessels only Large Yellow (35”): commercial vessels between 55 - 80ft White: diving only Blue: dinghy use only There is a 90-minute time limit on all moorings and use is on a first come, first serve basis.”

Hazards

The National Parks Trust warns that its day-use buoys are often in exposed spots with rough seas or close to shallow rocks and reefs. You stay responsible for your boat while it is on a buoy.

National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “NPT mooring buoys are frequently located in exposed sites, where seas are rough and unpredictable; or in the vicinity of shallow rocks and reefs.”

Hospital and medical

Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola provides emergency care around the clock. The Iris O'Neal Health Center on Virgin Gorda is also open 24 hours.

BVI Health Services Authority ▾

bvihsa.vg (2026-10-14): “24/7 Emergency Care – Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola and Iris O’Neal Health Center on Virgin Gorda are open around the clock, with on-call coverage at all other satellite clinics.”

Arriving from abroad

Boats arriving by sea clear in at a port of entry. Road Town and West End are on Tortola, Great Harbour is on Jost Van Dyke, and St. Thomas Bay is on Virgin Gorda. Have your passports and boat registration papers ready. Opening hours differ by office.

BVI Tourism (official) ▾

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “Arriving via the sea allows you access to the following ports of entry: Road Town, Tortola | Hours; 8:30am to 8:00pm (daily) West End, Tortola | Hours; 8:30am to 4:30pm (Monday to Thursday)”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Tortola?

Call VISAR (volunteer) on +1 284 499 0911. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Tortola?

Read before you sail

Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to do Ran aground? What to do Cold water shock and hypothermia: what to do Person overboard: what to do Chartering in British Virgin Islands: licence & rules

Nearby destinations

St. Thomas and St. John 13 nm Fajardo 57 nm Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin 89 nm Antigua — English Harbour 183 nm Guadeloupe — Pointe-à-Pitre 220 nm Martinique — Le Marin 321 nm St Lucia — Rodney Bay 333 nm The Grenadines — Bequia / Union Island 377 nm

Local rules change. Spotted something out of date? support@vesselsos.com