Port of Barnstaple

The approach to Barnstaple is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Instow Range Front Lighthouse at 4.8 NM to the W. Other aids include Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses (18.2 NM W), Western Somerset Lighthouses (28.1 NM ENE), Hinkley Point (35.6 NM ENE), Trinity House Lightship 72 Juno (35.9 NM NNE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.

The Port of Barnstaple is located within the English Channel / North Sea corridor — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors connecting the Atlantic to Northern European ports. This strategic position influences vessel traffic density, anchorage availability, and port scheduling.

You can track vessels near Barnstaple (GBBND) in real time using MarineRadar. The platform displays live AIS positions of nearby ships, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page or search for GBBND on the live map.

The Port of Barnstaple is a port in GB. Its UN/LOCODE is GBBND — the five-character code the UNECE assigns to trade and transport locations, and the identifier used on shipping documents and in port calls.

The first two characters, GB, are the ISO country code for GB. The remaining three identify the location within that country. The code is issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and is the international standard for naming ports in trade and transport systems.

The Port of Barnstaple operates in the UTC+0 time zone. Operating hours, VTS schedules, and pilot availability vary — vessel agents should confirm with the port authority in advance, especially for night arrivals or weekend operations.