Anchoring and clearance in Punta Arenas

Where yachts anchor on the Strait of Magellan, what the commercial wharf offers, and the clearance steps for Chile and Antarctica.

Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.

Anchoring

Anchorages in the Strait of Magellan

Directemar lists these anchorages as suitable for vessels of all types. It marks every one as suitable for vessels over 150 m, under 150 m and under 100 m. The Punta Arenas roadstead is number 7.

Anchorage	Position	Chart
Bahía Borja	53° 31.83' S, 072° 29.76' W	11311
Bahía Fortescue	53° 42' S, 072° 00' W	11312
Bahía Cordes	53° 43.48' S, 071° 55.71' W	11312
Bahía Wood	53° 49.1' S, 071° 38.1' W	11432
Bahía San Nicolás	53° 50.4' S, 071° 06.76' W	11431
Puerto San Juan de la Posesión	53° 38.21' S, 070° 55.61' W	11431
Punta Arenas	53° 10' S, 070° 53' W	11410
Bahía Felipe	52° 44.34' S, 070° 05.89' W	11500

Directemar, Strait of Magellan page (undated). Directemar says the anchorages shown on charts are a recommendation based on past experience, and the master picks the anchorage for the size and draught of the vessel.

Commercial wharf

Commercial wharf: Terminal Arturo Prat

This is a commercial wharf run by Empresa Portuaria Austral. These are the figures on its own page.

StructureA pier on piles, 18 m wide and 373 m long, at right angles to the coast.

DraughtThe maximum authorised draught is 9 m.

TendersTwo landing platforms for tenders.

AshoreA passenger hall and Antarctic centre of 1,000 m2.

Berth lengthsThe maximum authorised length is 258.6 m on the south berth and 217 m on the north berth.

Empresa Portuaria Austral, Terminal Arturo Prat page.

Bahía Catalina

Anchoring at Bahía Catalina

The Punta Arenas port captain's office issued an operation resolution for Bahía Catalina on 6 November 2025.

Anchor pointsThe resolution lists 4 anchor points, at 53° 06' 44" S 070° 51' 16" W, 53° 06' 44" S 070° 50' 28" W, 53° 07' 08" S 070° 50' 10" W and 53° 07' 08" S 070° 50' 52" W.

LimitsIt says there is no length or draught limit at these points.

RequestIt says the local maritime authority authorises the anchor points, which must be requested 24 hours ahead by email to opercppta@directemar.cl and by VHF channel 16 or 14.

ElsewhereIt prohibits anchoring at any other point in the bay, except in an emergency or with express authorisation from the Punta Arenas port captain.

Capitanía de Puerto de Punta Arenas, resolution 12600/395, 6 November 2025.

Clearance

Clearance and Antarctic authorisation

Port of entry

Noonsite (last updated October 2014) says Punta Arenas is a port of entry. It says the captain goes ashore for clearance and that it is best to tell the Port Captain on arrival by VHF. Check the rules for your passport.

Reports

Directemar says vessels in the Strait of Magellan report their position to the national maritime authority by the CHILREP procedure at 08:00 and 20:00 local time, and report entering or leaving the Strait to the traffic control station abeam of them, including Punta Arenas. It says to keep a watch on VHF channels 16 and 70. The same Noonsite page (2014) says yachts should tell the authorities their intended route while in Chilean waters. Check the rules for your passport.

Antarctica

IAATO says all Antarctica-bound yacht expeditions must be authorised by the operator's own country or the vessel's flag state. It says an Argentine or Chilean exit permit, or zarpe, is not a suitable authorisation by itself. Check the rules for your passport.

Noonsite, Punta Arenas clearance page, 2014. Directemar, Strait of Magellan page (undated). IAATO, information for yachts (undated).

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