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Port of Harwich

GBHRW🇬🇧United Kingdom

Port Location

About Port of Harwich

This harbor on England's East Coast is a sheltered port. It historically served as a Royal Navy dockyard, important for ship repair and refitting.

Background
Harwich Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard at Harwich in Essex, active in the 17th and early 18th century. Owing to its position on the East Coast of England, the yard was of strategic importance during the Anglo-Dutch Wars; however, due to a lack of deep-water access and the difficulty of setting off from Harwich against an easterly wind, its usefulness was somewhat limited and its facilities remained small-scale compared to the other Royal Dockyards over the same period. Nonetheless, it remained actively involved in repairing and refitting the nation's warships, as well as building them: of the eighty ships built for the Royal Navy in Britain between 1660 and 1688, fourteen were built at Harwich Dockyard..

Current Conditions

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Vessel Limits

Channel Depth
13ft
Tidal Range
3ft
Elevation
1m

Operations & Services

Port of Entry
Yes
Pilotage Compulsory
Yes
Tug Assistance
Yes
Cranes
Fixed, Mobile
Drydock
U
Repair Code
C

References & Identifiers

WPI No.
31530 →
GeoNames ID
7116094 →
Wikidata
Q27957417 →
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Seamark Type
mooring

Identification

UN/LOCODE
GBHRW
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Time Zone
UTC+0
Feature Type
HBR (Harbor)

Classification

Type
Port
Harbor Type
River natural
Shelter
Fair

Region

Subdivision
GB-ESS
Area
UK Coast & Atlantic
Sub-area
North Sea
Latitude
51.9447°
Longitude
1.2799°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I navigate the approach to the Port of Harwich?+
The approach to Harwich is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Tendring District (Harwich Area) Lighthouses Lighthouse at 0.2 NM to the NE. Other aids include Trinity House Lightship 87 Haven Ports (3.1 NM N), Trinity House Lightship 16 Colne Light (13.6 NM WSW), Southwold Lighthouse (13.7 NM NE), Trinity House Lightship 15 Trinity (19.3 NM SW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.
What major shipping routes pass near the Port of Harwich?+
The Port of Harwich 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.
How do I track vessels arriving at or departing from the Port of Harwich?+
You can track vessels near Harwich (GBHRW) 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 GBHRW on the live map.
What are the operating hours and time zone for the Port of Harwich?+
The Port of Harwich 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.