Port of Preston

The approach to Preston is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Lytham-St.-Anne's Lighthouse at 8.8 NM to the W. Other aids include Blackpool Tower (11.5 NM WNW), Cockersands High (Plover Scar Range Rear) (14 NM NNW), Formby (17.5 NM SW), Heysham South Breakwater (17.5 NM NNW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.

The Port of Preston 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 Preston (GBPRE) 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 GBPRE on the live map.

The Port of Preston is a port in GB. Its UN/LOCODE is GBPRE — 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 Preston 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.