Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

11°C

Swell today

Direction SE, height 0.0 metres, period 0.1 seconds, significant wave height of 0.2 metres.

Haven position?

54° 3.450' N, 005° 59.300' W

Where is that position?

At the head of the South Pier at the position of the light Fl W.R. 2s 8m 8M

What is the initial fix?

Half a mile south by east of the harbour entrance, in the middle of the South Pier’s white light sector (313°-017°). From here you can track in to the south pierhead light on the harbours’ recommended approach course of 341°

What is the story here?

Kilkeel is located on the northeastern coast of Ireland three and a half miles northeast of Carlingford Lough’s entrance. It is a small but very busy fishing port that is not set up for pleasure craft particularly so in the evenings when its active fishing vessels return crowding the harbour. Although it is principally a fishing port, pleasure craft are permitted to use the harbour provided berthing space is available.

Kilkeel’s inner basin offers a vessel complete protection with straightforward access. The issue to note on approach is a moving sandbar at the entrance reducing depths to 1.2 metres LWS. During a southwest gale a sand bank builds outside the entrance to Kilkeel reducing the depth to a metre or less. The natural flow of the Kilkeel River clears a shallow channel through this. This takes time and after such conditions it is essential to seek advice as to the degree of silting that has occurred and plan to work the tides accordingly. At half tide you can expect at least three metres over the bank.

Please note a vessel should not approach Kilkeel in any developed conditions from east round to south. Such conditions make the sea likely to break outside the entrance. It also and requires vessels to turn across the sea upon entering harbour making a broach a likely prospect.

Why visit here?

Kilkeel (from the Irish: Cill Chaoil meaning "narrow church") takes its name from the old church that overlooks the town today. It was constructed by a noble Spanish family in 1388 and dedicated to "St Colman Del Mourne’’.

It is the main fishing port on the Down coast and hosts one of the largest fishing fleets in Ireland. Although not set-up for pleasure craft the harbour’s location, being less than an hour from the Carlingford Lough entrance, makes it an ideal location to get set up for entry.

Indeed Kilkeel and its surrounds has a lot to offer the touring boatman itself. Kilkeel was the ancient capital of the Kingdom Of Mourne and is still called the capital. There are many historic sights around the area, from a number of ancient monuments to the church and St Colman's graveyard. The cemetery was used for burials until 1916 and for the victims of a collision between two steamers in Carlingford Lough. A local heritage trail helpfully guides visitors around the various local attractions. Overlooking all of this is the Nautilus Centre, where visitors may dine upon, or purchase, freshly caught sea-food plus enjoy the heritage exhibition there.

The area is surrounded by the Mourne Mountains providing excellent walks. It is approximately four miles from the Silent Valley Reservoir that supplies tap water to Belfast. There is farming in and around this picturesque harbour settlement, but its most important occupation is fishing.

How to get in?

From the Kilkeel initial fix track in on the harbours recommended approach line of bearing 341° to the head of South Pier. If you are having difficulty discerning the pierhead a conspicuous red brick coastguard station with a white flagstaff (approximately 300 metres west-northwest of the South Pier light) will help locate the pier.
At night the navigation Lights are South Pier - Fl WR 2 sec, Meeney's Pier – (North Breakwater) Fl G 3 sec
When closing in to within 100 metres of the South Pier alter course to starboard until the pierhead is on a track of 010° to 015° and inner side of the pier is visible. Enter the outer harbour on this line between the heads of South Pier and Meeney's Pier, a breakwater on the north side.

The harbour consists of a drying outer harbour that is connected to an inner basin by a narrow walled channel. The area behind ‘Meeney's Pier’ or breakwater dries and is rarely used. Once inside proceed to the northwest taking the 13 metre wide channel that leads to ‘Meeney's Dock’, or the ‘Old Dock’.

‘Meeney's Dock’ is a small basin with a slipway at its head that you again continue through to a 12 metre wide opening at the northwest end.

This leads to inner harbour where you will find depths of at least 2 metres LWS with deeper holes. Immediately contact the Harbour Master about berthing possibilities VHF Channel 12 or 14, Tel: +44 28 417 62287. Mobile: +44 77 0257 3879
Normal Working Hours: Mon - Fri 8am to 4.30pm
Sat 8am to 12 noon (Excludes Sundays and Statutory Holidays)

Due to the space constrictions it is recommended that you try contact the harbour master in advance of arrival. Please note a radio watch (vessel to vessel) VHF Channel 12 must be used on entry to or exit from harbour entrance to avoid collision.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Belfast +0010
Today's Belfast tides — High waters: 01:11, 13:24, Low waters: 07:09, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
High Water Dover -0500, Belfast + 10 minutes
Tidal range: Springs 5.3 – 0.7 metres; Neaps 4.4 - 1.9 metres.
The latest monthly Dover and Dublin (North Wall) tides courtesy of the National Environmental Research Council. Printable monthly tides for Dublin, Dunmore, Cobh, Galway, Belfast are available from the ISA.

The national weather forecast, Met Éireann and BBC shipping forecasts, plus a very simplified Ulster tourist outlook. From an Atlantic perspective a 24 hour North Atlantic synoptic chart that you may ‘right click’ and save to your hard disk. Met Éireann’s Eastern Atlantic chart and the BBC’s surface area forecast plus visible satellite images for Ireland and Northeast Atlantic from Met Éireann. Wind observations, XC UK & Ireland, Windguru wind & wave reports, and Windfinder where you can determine a forecast time. Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel) Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth. Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 87, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. Radio broadcasts on RTE 1 (89.1FM) 0603, 1253, 1655 and 2355.

A free tidal range prediction application for windows, a simple tide monitor plus the rule of twelfths are available in inyourfootsteps.com shared ‘experience’.

What facilities are available?

Diesel fuel, fresh water and gas all available at the harbour and most other provisions can be had from the town of Kilkeel (population in excess of 6000) situated three quarters of a mile from the harbour. Showers, café and sea food meals are available at the Nautilus Centre overlooking the harbour. Hotels, pubs and laundry are all available in the immediate vicinity.

Being the major fishing port on this side of the coast all repairs can be undertaken except for sail work. There is a 350 tonnes capacity slip; two patent 150 tonnes capacity slips at the head of the old dock; plus a 10 tonnes crane. Belfast international airport is 96 km away.

What emergency contacts are there?

Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). Operational Area: Northern Ireland/ Irish Republic Border, Lough Foyle to Northern/Irish Republic Border Carlingford Lough. Belfast Coastguard (MRSC) VHF Ch 16, liaises closely with IRCG. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 and 112 and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Police, Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Belfast (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +44 2891 463 933
Kilkeel lifeboat station operates an inshore B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

Other useful contacts in this area:
Kilkeel Harbour Master
VHF Channel 12 or 14
Tel: +44 28 417 62287

Any security concerns?

Kilkeel is a completely open harbour where normal precautions should be attended to.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, SC 44 ‘Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point’ scale of 1:100,000. The key detail chart is British Admiralty 2800 ‘Carlingford Lough’ Scale of 20,000, that provides details of Kilkeel Harbour at a scale of 5,000 and the ‘Entrance of Carlingford Lough’ scale of 12,500; plus ‘Warrenpoint’ scale of 10,000.

Imray chart C62 – ‘Irish Sea’. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Michael Young - Harbour Master Kilkeel and Thomas Cunningham - Harbour Master for ‘Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission’.

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