Berthing plan

• All ships are welcome to moor in Ostend free of charge starting Monday, May 19, until Tuesday afternoon, May 28 at the latest. Any potential costs such as mooring fees, lock usage, or electricity charges will be covered by the organization. Your berth will only be confirmed from Thursday morning, May 22. If you arrive earlier or stay longer, the operator of the Mercator Marina will charge a flat rate, payable before you leave the Mercator Lock. All vessels must register using the registration form (see end of brochure).
• Passing through the Mercator Lock is possible daily between 08.00AM and 08.00PM.
• The mooring plan is for information purposes only. The harbour authority or the event organizers may adjust your mooring location at any time.

• Ships with shallow draft, offering visitor cruises at sea, will moor in the Montgomery Dock, near the Visserskaai (between the aquarium and the Vistrap), as well as at the waiting pontoon. Due to limited water depth at low tide (in the corners of the dock it may be as little as 1.50m), mooring is only possible at high tide.
• Ships that are not going to sea will moor in the Mercatordock.
• Ships are open to the public from 10.00AM to noon and 01.30 to 06.00PM. The captain determines the maximum number of people allowed on board at one time.
• The Konterdam bridges are closed to boat traffic during the following hours 08.00 to 09.00AM - 11.30AM to 01.00PM - 04.00 to 06.00PM. During these periods, it is not possible to sail from the Houtdok (rear harbour) to Sluis Demey (lock) or vice versa (important for captains arriving via the Plassendaele–Ostend canal).
• Sluis Demey is operated between 06.00AM and 10.00PM.
• Since all vessels using the canals are already required to have a navigation vignette, the organization will not provide any exemption. The cost of purchasing a vignette will not be covered by the event.
• Permanent residents moored in Mercatordock 1 and participating sailing ships may sail at sea, after consulting with liaison officer Réjane Gyssens. Lock passage must take place before 09.00AM, and return access to the dock is only possible after 06.00PM.
• As the lock and bridge operation of the Mercator Marina is fully automated, please follow the signals carefully to avoid blocking the system or triggering its safety mode.

Since 2025, a construction of sheet piles and tubular piles has been installed on both sides of the entrance to the Montgomerydock.

Please note that:

• The entrance to the Montgomerydock has been narrowed (22 meters wide).
• Increased current may be experienced at the dock entrance.
• Crossing traffic with larger vessels must be avoided at all times.
• During Ostend at Anchor, there will be heavy traffic from both recreational vessels (small and large), government vessels (rescue services, police boats, etc.), and two ferries.

Therefore:

Skippers are requested, before passing the entrance of the Montgomerydock (both incoming and outgoing), to:

• Be aware of the traffic situation via Port Control Ostend on VHF 09.
• Maintain a proper listening watch, also on VHF 09.
• Consult the traffic signals (red and green arrows) installed on the starboard head of the Montgomerydock for outgoing vessels.