Contributions by Marco Silva

Marina Parque das Nacoes - Lisboa

marina

Marco Silva says:

area

maritime qualities

description

The Parque das Nações Marina, located on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary in Lisbon, presents very particular technical, navigational, and surrounding characteristics:

1. How is the Entrance and Access to the Marina?
Access and Locks: Access to the Inner Basin (the main marina dock) is not free at any time; it is made through a double lock system.

Traffic Direction: Entry is mandatory through the eastern lock (river side) and exit is made through the western side (land side).

Operation and Communication: Before approaching, it is essential to contact the marina reception via VHF Channel 9. Depending on the tide conditions, the sailor is escorted during the mooring process by a support dinghy.

Lock Schedules: The locks operate at defined hours (generally between 08:30 and 19:30/21:00, depending on the season). Vessels arriving outside operational hours must wait outside.

2. Mooring Type and Structures
Floating Pontoons: The entire inner basin is equipped with floating pontoons with fingers (floating catwalks), ensuring constant accommodation regardless of tidal variations.

Mooring Method: Mooring in the inner basin berths is alongside (parallel to the finger or pontoon). There is no need to use anchors or mooring lines to the quay inside the basin.

Outer Quay Pier: For large vessels, megayachts, or cruise ships (up to 230 meters), there is an Outer Quay Pier on the river.

3. Depths, Bottoms, and Drafts
Average Depth: The inner basin maintains a controlled draft of about 2.50 to 3.50 meters, allowing access and stay for most recreational vessels (medium/large sailboats and yachts).

Bottom Conditions: The estuary bottom outside and at the entrance is predominantly silty mud and fine silt with areas of sand/bank.

Attention to Entry Restrictions: The lock system limits the maximum passage width to 9.60 meters and sill depth to 2.40 m at Chart Datum (Zero Hydrographic - ZH). Boats with large draft or excessive beam should previously check tide heights and the tables published by the marina.

4. Areas to Avoid and Locations with Rough Seas
Non-Recommended Areas / Navigation Hazards:

Banco da Cabra / Shallow Areas Around: Outside the marked Tagus navigation channel, near the approach to the Parque das Nações area, there are shallow bottoms and sandbanks which become exposed at low tide.

Outer Quay Pier with Strong Winds: The Outer Quay Pier is exposed to currents and river disturbance.

Areas with Sea Agitation / Currents:

Tidal Crossing at the Entrance: Depending on the tide phase (ebb or flood), a considerable current is created in the access channel to the locks. Maneuvering requires extra caution to prevent the vessel from being dragged sideways when approaching the lock.

Inner Basin: Once past the lock, the inner water plane is extremely calm, protected from waves, currents, and silting.

5. Nearby Anchorage and Bottom Conditions
Anchoring Outside: Anchoring in the immediate vicinity of Parque das Nações Marina is not recommended nor usual due to heavy commercial and river traffic on the Tagus, besides the tidal currents which can reach high speeds.

Bottom Condition for Anchoring (Tagus Estuary): The bottom is dense mud/silt, which offers excellent holding capacity, but requires attention to cleaning the anchoring gear when recovering the anchor and careful calculation of the swing radius due to tide reversal (every 6 hours).

6. The City and Surroundings: What to Discover
The Parque das Nações Marina is located in one of Lisbon’s most modern, cosmopolitan, and pleasant areas:

History and Architecture:

The area resulted from the urban redevelopment for EXPO '98 and stands out for its riverfront gardens, pedestrian walkways, and modern architectural works.

Tourist spots within a few minutes on foot include the Lisbon Oceanarium (one of Europe’s largest aquariums), the Vasco da Gama Tower, the Knowledge Pavilion, and the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

Walks and Leisure:

The entire waterfront features kilometers of flat promenades and bike lanes, ideal for walking, running, or cycling.

To the north is the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve, a bird watching point for migratory species (such as flamingos).

Gastronomy and Dining:

In the direct vicinity of Passeio de Neptuno, Passeio dos Tágides, and Alameda dos Oceanos, there is a wide range of restaurants with terraces, from seafood and traditional Portuguese cuisine to international restaurants (Asian, Italian, steakhouses, and vegetarian options).

Transport and Accessibility:

Just 5 to 10 minutes away is Gare do Oriente (train, metro, and buses), and Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is about 5 to 10 minutes by taxi/public transport.

1 x helpful | written on 1. Oct 2026