Ranofjord (Mo i Rana)
Mo i Rana havn · Ranafjord · Arctic Circle glacier fjord
66°18.8'N 014°08.5'E
Depth
5–20m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m in 5–15m on excellent mud and silt. Actual depths far greater than CD — Norwegian tidal range 1-2m. Shore line to rocks recommended overnight. Do not enter the Svartisen glacier calving zones in Holandsfjord (side arm) — sudden wave hazard from calving ice.
About This Anchorage
The Ranofjord at Mo i Rana is the deepest navigable fjord in Nordland, the gateway to the Arctic Circle (just 4km north of Mo i Rana) and the approach to the Svartisen glacier system. Mo i Rana is a post-WWII industrial town (steelworks built in the 1950s) that has been substantially regenerated with cultural institutions including the extraordinary Rana Museum and the Arctic Circle Raceway (motorsport track on the plateau above). Most importantly for sailors, the Ranofjord provides access to the Svartisen glacier — Norway's second-largest ice field — whose snout calves directly into the Holandsfjord (a side arm of the Svartisen system). The Polarsirkelen (Arctic Circle marker) at 66°33'N is just 4km north of Mo i Rana by road.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW
Exposed To
W · NW
Setting Your Anchor in Nordland
Shore lines are mandatory in Nordland fjord arms. Norwegian practice: drop a bow anchor on the shallow nearshore shelf in 5–20m, then run a stern or bow shore line to the nearest fortøyningsbolter (iron ring) set into the cliff face. Use at least 7:1 scope on the anchor rode. Tidal range in Nordland is 1.5–2.5m (increasing northward) — actual depths are far greater than Chart Datum; always verify with your echo sounder. Survival suits (immersion suits) are mandatory for all crew on deck in Nordland: water temperature is 4–12°C year-round and hypothermia can incapacitate in minutes. Midnight sun (May–July) means 24h daylight — maintain a strict watch schedule and set your anchor alarm to 90m before resting. Saltstraumen (4nm SE of Bodø): ONLY transit at slack water — never at any other state of tide.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (anchor out)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Svartisen glacier calving zones: do not enter — sudden ice falls create waves; keep 200m from the glacier face. Shore lines recommended. Survival suit mandatory.
Hazards
- !Svartisen glacier calving zones: ice falls from the glacier face create waves — never approach within 200m of the glacier snout
- !W and NW exposure in the fjord: westerly weather can be severe in the Ranofjord
- !Survival suit mandatory: Arctic water temperature 4–8°C year-round
- !Industrial fjord traffic: steel industry vessels use the fjord — maintain AIS watch
Skipper's Tips
- →Arctic Circle (Polarsirkelen): the official Arctic Circle marker is 4km north of Mo by road — worth a visit; the planetarium and visitor centre explain Arctic science
- →Svartisen glacier: boat trips from Holandsfjord (side arm, 20nm by sea) take you to within 200m of the glacier face — extraordinary blue ice views
- →Train connections: the Nordlandsbanen railway runs between Mo i Rana and both Trondheim (5h) and Bodø (2h) — useful for crew changes
- →Industrial history: the steelworks story told at Rana Museum is fascinating — how a remote fjord valley became Norway's steel capital in the 1950s
Facilities
Good range: supermarket, fuel pontoon, restaurants, pharmacy, chandlery basics. Mo i Rana is a genuine service city with good provisioning. Train connections to Trondheim and Bodø (Nordlandsbanen railway).
Nearest provisions: Mo i Rana city centre supermarket (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. The Arctic Circle location means midnight sun from approximately 15 June to 30 June. The Svartisen glacier calving is most dramatic in July–August.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
In Arctic Nordland, midnight sun means you can sail 24h — but fatigue and anchor drag are constant risks. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position even while you sleep.
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