Ashkelon Marina

About This Anchorage

Ashkelon Marina is the southernmost sailing facility in Israel on the Mediterranean coast — a modern marina opened in 1995 that hosts national and international sailing regattas. The city of Ashkelon (ancient Ashqelon) is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a National Park protecting Philistine, Canaanite, and Roman remains directly adjacent to the beach. The marina has restaurants, cafes, and a cinema — a lively local scene. However, Ashkelon's geography is critical: the marina sits approximately 12km north of the Gaza Strip border. Gaza exclusion zones (naval blockade enforcement areas) extend immediately south and southwest of Ashkelon. These boundaries change dynamically with the security situation. Always consult current NAVTEX and Israeli Navy VHF broadcasts before approaching Ashkelon from the south, and absolutely do not transit south of Ashkelon without explicit current authorisation from the Israeli Navy.

Hazards

• !CRITICAL: Gaza exclusion zone begins immediately south of marina — DO NOT approach from south without Israeli Navy clearance
• !Southernmost Israeli Mediterranean marina — complex security environment; check current NAVTEX before all transits
• !More exposed to westerly swell than Herzliya or Ashdod — NW winter storms can be rough
• !Security screening mandatory — plan weekday 09:00–16:00 arrival
• !Offshore gas infrastructure west of marina — 500m exclusion zones; monitor AIS

Skipper's Tips

• →Contact Israeli Navy on VHF 16 at 25nm offshore regardless of prior clearance when approaching from the south
• →Ashkelon National Park (ancient Philistine city) is immediately adjacent — remarkable archaeology
• →VHF 11 for marina — call ahead for visitor berth; marina hosts major regattas (check calendar for space)
• →The security situation south of Ashkelon can change rapidly — always get latest information before departure
• →Ashkelon has excellent supermarkets and provisioning — stock up here if heading north to Cyprus

Nearby Anchorages