French Subantarctic Territory - Clearance

To visit any of the islands or to anchor in the territorial seas around the islands of Crozet, Kerguelen and St. Paul and Amsterdam, the recreational craft must apply to the prefect, Senior Administrator of TAAF, email activites.antarctiques@taaf.fr.

Any U.K. yachts planning to visit Antartica can apply to the U.K. Foreign Office. Yachts with at least one British national on board are able to apply. This can also be done even if the yacht is not U.K. flagged.

See www.gov.uk/visits-to-antarctica-how-to-apply-for-a-permit for more information as well as useful data about sailing in Antartica. The forms are now tailored to expeditions by smaller yachts.

(Note: this information moved to a new website address in May 2013 and many links from elsewhere are out of date.)

Docking

MOORING AREAS:

Crozet Islands:

Only two anchorage areas are authorized and regulated by order of the Prefect of Reunion, government delegate to the state action at sea:

• Within a circle of radius, 240 meters centered on the point 46° 25.55'S, 51° 52.79' E
• Within a circle of radius, 80 meters centered on the point 46° 25.45'S, 51° 52.5'E.

Kerguelen Island:

Use the Sailing Directions (volume L9: Islands of the Indian Ocean (southern part) - Adelie Land) for descriptions and recommended mooring areas.

Mined areas are not recommended at anchor:

• Entry is Détroit de Tucker: 49° 06'S, 69° 19 E
• Bassin de la Gazelle: 49° 18'S, 69° 42 E.
• Port des Îles: 49° 28.7'S, 70° 03.7 E
• Passe du Prince Albert: 49 ° 34 S - 70 ° 01 E.

There are mooring buoys that are maintained by the TAAF, provided for vessels of 42 tons (used primarily by TAAF ships):

• Port-aux-French: 49° 21.232' S, 070° 13.277'E
• Port Bizet (île Longue), 49° 30.90'S, 069° 53.9'E.
• Armor (baie d'Hurley), 49° 26.9'S, 069° 55.6'E
• Port des Belliers (île aux modules), 49°24,8'S, 069°57,3'E.

Iles Saint-Paul and Amsterdam:

The moorings are described by the Sailing Directions mentioned above. Anchoring inside the crater of the island of St. Paul is prohibited.

Landing: 

On Amsterdam Island, the landing is only possible at The Wedge (37° 47.718'S, 077° 34.394'E). In St., Paul, one landing zone, after prior authorization, is possible at the landing represented by a large rock with a mooring dolphin, located at the north end of the basin (38° 42.855'S, 077° 31.872'E).

For more information about the island see www.institut-polaire.fr

Last updated:  May 2018.