Tulcea River Quay
Tulcea harbour · Tulcea port anchorage
45°10.9'N 28°48.0'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m for a river port anchorage. Excellent holding — but watch for commercial shipping wake on the main Danube channel. The city waterfront can be busy with ferries and tourist vessels.
About This Anchorage
Tulcea is the gateway to the Danube Delta — the last city before the river breaks into its extraordinary three-armed delta and the landscape transforms from agricultural plain to one of Europe's great wilderness areas. Tulcea has been inhabited since antiquity (the Dacian fortress of Aegyssus stood here) and today is a city of around 60,000, whose entire identity is shaped by the delta at its doorstep. The ARBDD (Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve) is headquartered here — this is where visiting sailors must obtain their delta navigation permits. The Delta Museum (Complexul Muzeal Eco-Turistic Delta Dunării) provides an excellent introduction to the delta's ecology. Tulcea's river waterfront, with its esplanade cafés and views across the broad Danube, makes a pleasant overnight stop, and the city's facilities — fuel, provisions, chandlery, and mechanical services — make it the essential preparation base before delta exploration.
Protected From
N · S · E · W
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina/pontoon fees apply; ARBDD delta permit obtained here
- Permit required
- Yes — ARBDD Delta Permit
- Permit details
- ARBDD permits obtained from delta administration office in Tulcea. Essential before entering delta proper.
Restrictions: Commercial port area — maintain clear of ferry terminal and commercial quays. Report to Port Authority on arrival.
Hazards
- !Commercial Danube traffic — very busy river port with barges and passenger vessels
- !Report to Port Authority on arrival — Tulcea is an official port of entry
Skipper's Tips
- →Obtain ARBDD delta navigation permit here before entering the delta — essential and inspected
- →The Delta Museum is excellent — spend an hour understanding the delta's ecology before exploring
- →Stock up fully on provisions here — supplies in delta villages are minimal
- →Good mechanical services available if any maintenance required before delta passage
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Tulcea city (0nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Accessible year-round but delta navigation best May–September. Tulcea makes an excellent autumn base — October colours in the delta willow forests are spectacular.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
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.
Download Free for iOS