Agigea Bay
Agigea anchorage · Canal Agigea approach
44°05.4'N 28°40.1'E
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m radius appropriate for the 3–7m depth range with good sandy holding. Canal vessel wakes may disturb anchor — allow some scope. The bay is relatively sheltered from N and NW but set a solid anchor before nightfall.
About This Anchorage
Agigea Bay sits at the mouth of the Danube–Black Sea Canal, the 105km waterway completed in 1984 that connects Cernavodă on the Danube to the Black Sea at Agigea — effectively creating a shortcut that avoids the full Danube Delta passage. The lock complex is one of the largest in Europe, handling significant commercial barge traffic. For visiting yachts, Agigea offers a convenient overnight stop south of Constanța with a sandy bottom and reasonable shelter from westerly winds. The beach south of the canal structures is relatively undeveloped compared to the resort towns further south. The Agigea Nature Reserve (Rezervația de la Agigea) protects the steppe vegetation and coastal zone immediately south. Constanța's full services are 6nm north — most visiting sailors stop here briefly en route along the coast rather than as a destination.
Protected From
N · NW · W
Exposed To
E · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Keep clear of marked canal approach channel. Commercial vessel traffic in canal lock area. Agigea Nature Reserve — no landing on protected vegetation areas.
Hazards
- !Danube–Black Sea Canal commercial traffic — large barges transit lock regularly
- !Exposed to E and SE swells — can be uncomfortable overnight in NE conditions
- !Nature reserve boundary — check chart for protected areas before anchoring
Skipper's Tips
- →Interesting to watch barges transit the canal lock — the canal handles up to 60 million tonnes per year
- →If transiting the canal yourself, permits and pilot arrangements must be made in advance at Constanța
- →Small beach south of the lock structures is accessible by dinghy — quiet and undeveloped
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Constanța (6nm)
Best Months & Season
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–October season. Canal lock operation provides some windbreak from north — useful in northerly conditions when other coastal anchorages are uncomfortable.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
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