Melilla
Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla · Mlilya
35°17.4'N 02°56.3'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m in sheltered marina — alarm as safety net. The harbour provides excellent Levante shelter. Duty-free fuel worth taking on here for passages east or return to Spain.
About This Anchorage
Melilla is Spain's second North African exclave — a Spanish city of 85,000 on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, just 12nm east of Nador. Like Ceuta, it is EU/Schengen territory with duty-free status. The marina is excellent — smaller than Ceuta's but well-equipped, with good Levante shelter. Melilla's old walled town (Medina Sidonia, a Renaissance fortification) is a UNESCO World Heritage candidate and contains some extraordinary Spanish colonial and Art Nouveau architecture — the latter a surprise in North Africa. The Spanish Modernist influence (Enrique Nieto, a Gaudí disciple, worked here from 1909–1954) produced 70+ buildings of extraordinary quality. The border with Morocco is 2km from the marina — easy taxi access to Nador for Moroccan provisioning or Mar Chica exploration. Ferries to Almeria and Malaga make crew changes easy.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW · S · E
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina fees apply (Spanish rates); duty-free provisions
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Spanish sovereign territory — EU/Schengen rules; customs on arrival from non-EU; ferry traffic in port approaches — maintain VHF watch.
Hazards
- !Levante (ENE) — harbour approach exposed; get inside marina before conditions develop
- !Ferry traffic in port approaches (Almeria/Malaga routes) — maintain strict AIS and radar watch
- !Border zone surveillance — numerous Spanish and Moroccan vessels monitoring the border area
- !Chergui (Saharan wind) reduces visibility and increases heat sharply
- !Eastbound approach from Melilla towards Algeria — Levante risk increases further east
Skipper's Tips
- →Duty-free diesel in Melilla — fill all tanks before heading west or east along the Moroccan coast
- →Melilla Modernist architecture tour (2 hours) is exceptional — Nieto buildings on Avenida Juan Carlos I are extraordinary
- →Walled old town (La Ciudad Vieja) five-pointed Renaissance fortress — walk the complete circuit
- →Ferry schedule to Almeria and Malaga for crew change if needed — Spanish Acciona ferries, daily
- →Nador and Mar Chica (12nm W) is the best nearby Levante refuge — know the route before conditions develop
Facilities
Full Spanish city facilities. Duty-free fuel and provisions. Spanish supermarkets plus Moroccan market near the border crossing. Ferry connections to Almeria and Malaga for crew changes.
Nearest provisions: Melilla city centre (duty-free) (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Year-round access (sheltered marina). Best April–June and September–October. Summer heat (July–August) can be intense. Levante risk November–March is highest. Excellent base for waiting out Levante before proceeding east or west along the Moroccan Med.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
On Morocco's Mediterranean coast, the Levante can develop overnight and turn a calm anchorage into a dangerous situation. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — wake up before you drag, not after.
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