Melnragė Roadstead

About This Anchorage

Melnragė Roadstead lies immediately north of the Klaipėda Port entrance, in the outer approaches where the Baltic coast transitions to the Klaipėda Strait. The suburb of Melnragė is a residential extension of Klaipėda city with a beach popular with locals, and the roadstead anchorage in 5–11m on sand and mud serves primarily as a staging area for port approaches or a temporary holding position while monitoring VHF for port entry clearance. The Klaipėda north breakwater is visible to the south, and the busy ferry terminal activity is constant — DFDS ferries to Kiel and Stena Line to Karlshamn move through these approaches on schedule. The anchorage is exposed to western and northern swells but partially sheltered by the port's breakwater structure from southerly directions. This is primarily a practical, functional anchorage rather than a scenic destination. The city of Klaipėda — Lithuania's third largest city and its historic German-era old town (Memel) — is accessible by dinghy or water taxi from the port waterfront. The old town's half-timbered architecture and the outstanding sculpture park are worth visiting.

Hazards

• !Heavy ferry and commercial shipping traffic in Klaipėda approaches
• !Open to W, NW, and N Baltic swells
• !Port entry lanes nearby — strict clearance required before approaching
• !Strong currents during wind-driven Baltic conditions

Skipper's Tips

• →Contact Klaipėda Port Control on VHF Ch 09 for port entry instructions
• →Klaipėda old town (Memel historic quarter) is excellent — half-timbered German architecture
• →The Curonian Lagoon is 2nm away through the strait — far better overnight anchorage
• →Use Melnragė only as a brief waiting anchorage — not suitable for extended stays

Nearby Anchorages