Karlskrona
Karlskrona Naval Base · Stumholmen · Karlskrona UNESCO
56°09.7'N 15°35.2'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for mud/clay in 3–5m. Excellent holding — anchor sets deeply in the soft bottom. Naval base operations mean anchoring is limited to designated areas — do not drift or drag into restricted zones. Keep VHF Ch 16 monitored at all times.
About This Anchorage
Karlskrona is Sweden's primary naval base and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1998) — recognised for its exceptional example of a late 17th-century Baroque naval town planned from scratch by King Karl XI in 1680. The entire naval base layout, dockyards, and townscape are preserved to an extraordinary degree. The Naval Museum (Marinmuseum) on Stumholmen is one of Scandinavia's finest maritime museums, with the intact 18th-century warship Blekinges and displays covering 350 years of Swedish naval history. Karlskrona is also an excellent provisioning stop with full marine facilities, customs clearance for non-EU vessels, and straightforward access to the Baltic.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · W · SW
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (Allemansrätten) in designated civilian anchorage
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Military restricted zones (förbjudet område) throughout Karlskrona archipelago — marked on charts. Anchor ONLY in civilian-designated areas. Military vessels have absolute priority. Non-EU flag vessels must clear customs at Karlskrona Tullverket.
Hazards
- !Military restricted zones throughout archipelago — only use marked civilian fairways
- !Military vessel traffic — give absolute right of way
- !Shallow approach channels in outer archipelago — follow marked fairway precisely
- !S and SE exposure in outer anchorage — southerly Baltic swell can enter
Skipper's Tips
- →Marinmuseum (Naval Museum) is outstanding — the 18th-century warship Blekinges alone is worth the visit
- →Non-EU vessels: Tullverket customs office is at the main harbour — call ahead on +46 771 520 520
- →Fuel at Fisktorget marina is competitively priced — good stop for Baltic passage provisioning
- →The UNESCO World Heritage walking tour of the Baroque naval town takes 2 hours — maps at tourist office
- →Admiralty Church (Admiralitetskyrkan) and Ulrica Pia wooden church are remarkable historic monuments
- →Karlskrona is one of the best-connected cities in south Sweden — excellent transport for crew changes
Facilities
Extensive restaurants in city centre; excellent fish restaurants near harbour
Nearest provisions: Karlskrona city centre (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
Year-round city. Best visited June–August for full facilities and sailing conditions. Excellent autumn provisioning stop before Baltic passages south. Customs available year-round.
Recommended Anchor Types
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
In Blekinge's shallow anchorages, Baltic storm surges can change water levels by 0.5m overnight. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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