Sfântu Gheorghe Channel Mouth
St George Channel mouth · Sfântul Gheorghe harbour
44°54.3'N 29°36.0'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m for sheltered delta channel anchorage in excellent mud/silt. Very reliable holding — the Danube delta silts are among the best holding ground in European waters. Minimum scope adequate given the excellent bottom.
About This Anchorage
Sfântu Gheorghe village at the mouth of the southernmost Danube arm is one of the most remote and extraordinary settlements in Romania — accessible only by boat or helicopter, with a population of a few hundred Lipovan fishermen and their families. The Sfântu Gheorghe arm carries only a fraction of the commercial traffic of the Sulina channel; instead it threads through willow galleries, reed beds, and floating islands (plaur) in an almost completely undisturbed natural landscape. At the channel mouth, a wild beach of fine sand stretches for kilometres in both directions — untouched, deserted, and hauntingly beautiful. The village itself is tiny and traditional: wooden houses, fishing nets drying in the sun, pelicans settling on the reed banks. This is one of the great destinations for adventurous sailors — a place where Europe's largest river meets the Black Sea in a landscape unchanged for millennia.
Protected From
N · W · S · SW · NW
Exposed To
E · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Small harbour dues; ARBDD delta permit required
- Permit required
- Yes — ARBDD Delta Permit
- Permit details
- ARBDD delta navigation permit mandatory. Sfântu Gheorghe arm has specific speed limits — 8km/h throughout.
Restrictions: Speed limits strictly enforced. No approach to pelican and cormorant nesting colonies. Stay on marked navigation channels.
Hazards
- !Shallow bar at channel mouth — depths can be 1.5–2m on bar; confirm before entry
- !No fuel available — ensure adequate reserves before entering Sfântu Gheorghe arm
- !Medical emergencies require helicopter evacuation — self-sufficiency essential
Skipper's Tips
- →The beach outside the channel mouth is extraordinary — kilometres of deserted sand with pelicans
- →Lipovan fishing community — some families offer home-cooked meals and basic accommodation
- →Bird watching is exceptional — 350 species in the delta, including thousands of pelicans in summer
- →Take the Sfântu Gheorghe arm from Mahmudia or Murighiol rather than direct from the Black Sea if possible
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Mahmudia or Murighiol (30nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Late May is excellent for bird watching — breeding season at its height. August–September for more settled weather and warm water temperatures.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 55m
In the Danube Delta's river channels, commercial barge wakes and Danube current can disturb a lightly set anchor in soft silt. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously in this extraordinary wilderness.
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