Jacmel (HTJAK)

Jacmel is a small port made up of a pier which protrudes S from the coastline. It is the closest Haitian port to the Dominican Republic and as a result, bagged cement is shipped from the Dominican Republic. Cargo traffic is moved through the port sporadically due to the fact that storage facilities are limited.

North Atlantic Seasonal tropical. Tropical: Nov 1 to Jul 15. Summer: Jul 16 to Oct 31.

The town of Jacmel, Sud-Est Department is located on the S coast of Haiti and the port is located inside the Baie de Jacmel.

Max LOA 97.36m, beam 18.51m, draught 5m and 5,350DWT.

Except for the very narrow coastal bank, Baie de Jacmel is too deep for anchoring. An area off the town has depths 7.3-37m, because of limited space, when more than one vessel is present, the use of a kedge anchor is required, to prevent fouling at the times of change of land and sea breezes. A favourable location for anchoring is off an old fort with the church bearing about 025°, however due to the steepness of the bank vessels may anchor immediately on getting into anchorage depths. It has been noted, that a larger vessel anchored with the church bearing 021° and Cap de Marechaux bearing 129°, in a depth of 9.1m, mud bottom. Due to the heavy swells in the bay, a vessel mooring should arrange to head about 155° in order to lie head-on to the swell.

Three stranded wrecks mark the inner port area. From the vicinity of 18°10.0'N 072°29.0'W the route leads generally NW, passing NE of the coastal reef near Baie Barquette, (1.5nm NNW of Cap Jacmel Light), towards the vicinity of a position 200°, 1.25nm from the pier then on the line bearing, approx 020°, of the Roman Catholic Church, towards the anchorage.

Fenders and bollards in place on the Jacmel Terminal pier.

Available, but vessels must remain 0.5nm offshore until pratique is granted.

A vessel entering harbour should not cross the line of bearing 270° of the N white cliff until the church bears more than 018°. The final heading of a vessel intending to moor should be approx 155°, so as to lie head-on to the swell which usually rolls into the harbour. Three stranded wrecks mark the inner port area and must approach with caution. Due to the nearby river mouth, sand banks will shift and can be seen on the approach to the port. Caution must be taken due to the fact that the hydrography shown on the plan of the bay is from older surveys. It has been adjusted to conform to the shoreline.

Tugs are available.

The bay is exposed and as a result the port may experience heavy swells.