Loviisa (Lovisa)
Lovisa · Loviisa natural harbour
60°27.4'N 26°13.5'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m for excellent holding in soft mud at 2–4m. Full shelter in all conditions — one of the safest anchorages on the eastern Gulf coast.
About This Anchorage
Loviisa (Swedish: Lovisa) is a small, historically significant Finnish coastal town with an extraordinarily well-preserved 18th century street grid. Founded by Swedish King Adolf Fredrik in 1745 as a planned fortified town to replace the lost Hamina (then ceded to Russia), it retains its original grid plan, historic wooden buildings, and the remains of two sea fortresses — Svartholm and Rosen — in the outer archipelago. The harbour is naturally sheltered by the inner archipelago and offers some of the best protection on the Gulf coast. The town is quiet and authentic, without the tourist crowds of Porvoo — an excellent choice for sailors seeking a genuine historic Finnish town experience.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring; marina fee approx €15–20/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Nuclear power plant in outer approaches (Hästholmen) — marked exclusion zone; observe carefully. Sea fortresses (Svartholm) — restricted areas around military heritage sites.
Hazards
- !Nuclear power plant (Hästholmen, Lovisa NPP) in outer approaches — marked exclusion zone; do NOT enter
- !Sea fortress ruins (Svartholm) in outer archipelago — restricted zone
- !Shallow inner approaches — echo sounder essential
- !9mm/year uplift — verify chart depths
Skipper's Tips
- →The Svartholm sea fortress ruins are worth a dinghy visit — one of the best-preserved Baltic fortresses
- →Loviisa's museum of local history is excellent and free to enter
- →The outer nuclear power plant exclusion zone is clearly marked — simply give it a wide berth on the approach
- →Quiet, unvisited town — an excellent contrast to the crowds of Porvoo
Facilities
Small town with café, restaurant, basic provisions. No fuel — Kotka (35nm E) or Helsinki (50nm W).
Nearest provisions: Loviisa town (0.4nm) (0.4nm)
Best Months & Season
Jun, Jul, Aug
June–August. Well-sheltered all-weather anchorage. Quiet historic town — excellent for extended stay. Nuclear plant exclusion zone — navigate carefully on approach.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
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