For March’s CAptain’s Mate of the Month we head to Antwerp, where you will find an excellent choice of marinas and a wide range of mooring and facilities. The Willemdok is an attractive, environment-friendly marina in an inner basin with some 300 berths, with the Linkeroever marina, which is greener and quieter, on the left bank of the Scheldt opposite.
Shoreside there is everything you need, from showers and pump out to restaurants, with both marinas in walking distance of the historic Antwerp city centre. The CAptain’s Mate overview tab provides information on access and bridge opening times, along with the mandatory requirement for an FD (Financiële Dienstnummer) number. Skippers also need an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) inland.
CA member Machiel Lambooij visited in summer 2022 and shares updates on the new arrival protocols:
"Since spring, there is a completely new system for reporting in the Antwerp Harbour, with new VHF channels. Upon entry through the Rijn-Scheldekanaal you have to check in with your FD number at the Noordlandbridge. They ask where you are, where you intend to go and your FD number. The same applies if you enter the Harbour area through one of the locks or from the Albertcanal. This is for admin purposes and obligatory. You have to report to the first sector you are entering.
"Apart from the obligation to have a VHF radio (and have it switched on, on the correct VTS channel), there is now also the obligation for all pleasure craft transiting the Antwerp Harbour area to have active AIS on board, switched on, and operating as it should."
Head to CAptain’s Mate for more information and read other reports on Antwerp by Machiel, which give further details on arrival notification requirements, bridge access and contact details, along with information on the new diesel pump and chandlery.
European Inland Waterways Seminar - open to all
If you are planning to discover canal and river cruising in Europe, why not come to the CA European Inland Waterways 1-day Spring Seminar at CA House on Saturday 4 March 2023. Members can download free of charge the new and updated 2023 EIWS Cruising Guides and Mooring Guides and non-members can buy copies from the CA shop.
About CAptain’s Mate
CAptain’s Mate was voted as the ‘Equipment Innovation of the Year’ at the 2022 British Yachting Awards, a fantastic accolade to win amongst a strong line-up of leading marine products and services.
CAptain’s Mate app provides an unrivalled breadth of information and cruising reports covering 7,500+ locations in 100+ countries around the world, providing you with up to date, accurate and trusted location data on anchorages, marinas, ports, harbours, boatyards along with their facilities and amenities. Available on iOS, Android and web, CAptain’s Mate is exclusive to members. Discover more about CAptain's Mate.
CAptain’s Mate of the Month locations
Each month we feature a CAptain’s Mate location to inspire your cruising adventures and display the vast depth of information accessible on the app. Last year we introduced Finike - Turkey, Grimsby - UK, Lagos - Portugal, Lézardrieux, France, Santiago de Cuba - Cuba, Kuressaare - Estonia, Sarande - Albania, Cala Gavetta - Sardinia, Lewisporte - Canada, Grand Turk - Turks and Caicos Islands, Tayvallich - Scotland and Preko - Croatia. 2023 launched with Visby - Sweden in January and Seville, Spain in February.
2 March 2023