Bodø
Bodø havn · Bodø Arctic city · Bodø ferry terminal
67°16.8'N 014°24.3'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m in 3–7m on good mud and sand. Actual depths far greater than CD — Norwegian tidal range 1-2m. Shore line recommended. Bodø airport is immediately adjacent — aircraft noise during the day. Saltstraumen: 4nm SE, world's strongest current — ONLY transit at slack, never attempt otherwise.
About This Anchorage
Bodø is the principal city of Nordland county and the largest city in Norway above the Arctic Circle (67°17'N). It serves as the main gateway to the Lofoten Islands — the Hurtigruten coastal express stops here and the frequent car ferry (Bodø–Moskenes) provides the main Lofoten transit route for yachts. Bodø itself was completely destroyed by German bombing in May 1940 (the heaviest air raid on a Norwegian city in WWII) and rebuilt in a utilitarian post-war style. The Norwegian Aviation Museum (Norsk Luftfartsmuseum) near the airport has an extraordinary Cold War collection. Most importantly for sailors, Bodø is the last major provisioning port before Lofoten and the gateway to Saltstraumen — one of the world's most extraordinary natural phenomena — 4nm SE of the city.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
W · NW
Setting Your Anchor in Nordland
Shore lines are mandatory in Nordland fjord arms. Norwegian practice: drop a bow anchor on the shallow nearshore shelf in 3–8m, then run a stern or bow shore line to the nearest fortøyningsbolter (iron ring) set into the cliff face. Use at least 7:1 scope on the anchor rode. Tidal range in Nordland is 1.5–2.5m (increasing northward) — actual depths are far greater than Chart Datum; always verify with your echo sounder. Survival suits (immersion suits) are mandatory for all crew on deck in Nordland: water temperature is 4–12°C year-round and hypothermia can incapacitate in minutes. Midnight sun (May–July) means 24h daylight — maintain a strict watch schedule and set your anchor alarm to 75m before resting. Saltstraumen (4nm SE of Bodø): ONLY transit at slack water — never at any other state of tide.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (anchor out)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Bodø airport approach path overhead — noise. Saltstraumen: transit ONLY at slack water (check tidal tables); never in swell or wind. Guest harbour fee applies. Military zones around Bodø base: maintain clear of marked areas.
Hazards
- !Saltstraumen (4nm SE): 37 knots maximum tidal current — only transit at slack water; capsizing risk for small vessels at any other time
- !W and NW exposure from the Saltfjord: westerly winds produce short steep seas in the approach
- !Airport adjacent: aircraft noise and restricted airspace — no drone flying
- !Survival suit mandatory: Arctic water temperatures 5–10°C year-round; hypothermia risk even in summer
Skipper's Tips
- →Saltstraumen slack water: obtain the official tidal table from Kystverket.no or the local tourist office — you have only ±20 minutes at slack; arriving at the wrong state of tide is genuinely dangerous
- →Stock up completely at Bodø's supermarkets before heading to Lofoten — prices in the islands are significantly higher and selection limited
- →The Norwegian Aviation Museum has Cold War aircraft including U-2 spy plane wreckage from the Francis Gary Powers incident — extraordinary collection
- →Ferry to Lofoten (Bodø–Moskenes): the 3.5-hour crossing in westerly swells can be rough — check conditions before committing your yacht to the Vestfjord crossing
Facilities
Full city facilities: major supermarkets, fuel pontoon, restaurants, chandlery, boat yard, medical facilities. The best-equipped port north of Trondheim. Stock up fully here before Lofoten — provisioning in the islands is expensive and limited.
Nearest provisions: Bodø city centre (multiple supermarkets) (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. Bodø receives midnight sun from 3 June to 10 July. Wind patterns: W and SW sea breezes develop most afternoons. The Vestfjord crossing to Lofoten should be timed for calm morning windows.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
In Arctic Nordland, midnight sun means you can sail 24h — but fatigue and anchor drag are constant risks. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position even while you sleep.
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