Lautoka Harbour
Lautoka · Lautoka Port · Sugar City
17°36.42'S 177°27.06'E
Depth
5–12m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for good holding on mud and sand in 5–12m. Well-sheltered commercial harbour. Heavy ship traffic — maintain AIS and watch. Mud bottom provides excellent holding. Anchor clear of all commercial shipping lanes.
About This Anchorage
Lautoka is Fiji's second-largest city — known as 'Sugar City' for its massive sugar mill and export terminal. The harbour is one of Fiji's three official customs ports of entry, making it the closest entry point for vessels arriving from Vanuatu, New Caledonia, or the Solomons from the west or northwest. The anchorage south of the commercial wharf is well-protected. Lautoka has reasonable provisioning (supermarkets, market, chandlery), fuel, and full customs facilities. The city is less attractive than Suva but more practical for western-approach arrivals. Port Denarau Marina is just 7nm south — Lautoka and Denarau together form the main entry/provisioning hub for the western Fiji cruising circuit. The Lautoka Municipal Market has good fresh produce. From Lautoka, the Mamanuca Islands are accessible within 20nm to the west.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · E · W
Exposed To
S · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring south of commercial wharf
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Customs and immigration at Lautoka Port Authority. Cruising permit obtained after clearance. Same cruising permit valid for all of Fiji.
Restrictions: Q flag mandatory until cleared. Customs and immigration mandatory on arrival from abroad. Commercial port — give way to all commercial shipping. Speed limit in harbour 5 knots.
Hazards
- !Heavy commercial shipping — bulk carriers and container ships operate frequently; stay clear of main channel
- !Shallow areas east of main anchorage — use chart carefully
- !Sugar cane harvest season (June–December) — increased shipping traffic
Skipper's Tips
- →Lautoka is the preferred entry port for vessels arriving from the west — closer than Suva and with good facilities
- →Customs and immigration at Lautoka Port Authority: call port authority on VHF 16 before entering
- →The Lautoka Market has excellent fresh produce — stock up before heading to the Mamanucas
- →After clearing customs, Port Denarau (7nm S) is the better base for the Mamanuca/Yasawa cruise
- →Lautoka to Port Denarau is the first hop on the western Fiji sailing route
Facilities
Lautoka Municipal Market (good fresh produce), supermarkets, restaurants. Chandlery available. Fuel at commercial wharf by arrangement. Port Denarau Marina (7nm S) has better marina facilities.
Nearest provisions: Lautoka Municipal Market and city supermarkets (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
May–October preferred. Year-round port of entry. Best provisioning stop on the western Viti Levu coast.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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