Bringing your boat from the sea
Many people choose to visit the Broads from overseas or other parts of the UK every year.
If you're planning to do this, you can access the waterways from Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft.
Declaring your entry
Pleasure craft users who travel in their vessel into the UK from other countries must comply with the UK Government's customs and immigration reporting procedure.
This include owners, operators and those authorised to sail the pleasure craft as well as commercial vessels.
You must tell HMRC if your pleasure craft is arriving in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from anywhere outside Great Britain including the Channel Islands, but excluding Northern Ireland. Civil penalties can be issued for non-compliance with the customs reporting procedures.
Visit the Government website for further guidance on reporting your entry and how to tell Border Force and HMRC you are sailing to or from the UK in a pleasure craft.
Entering via Great Yarmouth
All vessels entering or leaving should contact Port Operations on VHF Channel 12 with call sign 'Yarmouth Radio'. Keep to the starboard side of the channel unless advised otherwise.
Small craft must comply with the Port Traffic Signals displayed at the entrance. Entry to the Outer Harbour is strictly prohibited.
For full information for small craft entering and transiting through Great Yarmouth Port please visit the Peel Ports website.
Small vessels should not anchor in the port area except in an emergency. Moorings are on Hall Quay, south of Haven Bridge, on the east side.
There are two bridges in Great Yarmouth, in order from the sea they are Herring Bridge and Haven Bridge. Inside the Broads Navigation area on Breydon Water there is a third lifting bridge, Breydon Bridge, which is also operated by Peel Ports.
Vessels wishing to enter the northern Broads are restricted by the low bridges at the mouth of the River Bure. For information on all bridges in the Broads navigation area please see our bridge heights and openings webpage.
The two Great Yarmouth Bridges
For vessels entering the Broads from the sea, through Great Yarmouth, the information giving estimated bridge air draughts to Chart Datum is provided on the Peel Ports website. See section 4 of this downloadable Great Yarmouth Bridges document (PDF).
The values in the table of Section 4 of the linked document give the approximate clearances (in metres) at the height of tide indicated. Tide tables are available on the Peel Ports Great Yarmouth website (times and heights used by Peel Ports refer to the mouth of the River Yare).
Haven Bridge
Haven Bridge is a double bascule lifting bridge located in Great Yarmouth, with an opening span width of 26.8m.
Vessels will be grouped together on lifts whenever possible. When craft are to transit the bridge in opposite directions, those vessels going ‘with the tide’ will be given priority.
Lifts for weekends should be booked by 16:00 on Friday or on the previous working day in the case of Public Holidays.
To arrange passage phone the bookings line on 01493 335522, email greatyarmouthoperations@peelports.com or use call sign “Haven Bridge” on VHF Channel 12.
The Bridge is only manned ten minutes before a lift and vessels waiting for a lift should seek advice from the Bridge Master if in any doubt.
Herring Bridge
Herring Bridge (also known as 'Third River Crossing') is a newly-built bascule bridge which crosses the River Yare in Great Yarmouth. It is outside of our executive area but large vessels wishing to visit the Broads from the sea will need to pass through it.
The location of Herring Bridge is between Breydon Water and the North Sea, near William Adams Way. It connects Harfrey’s Roundabout (A47) on the west side of the River Yare to the peninsula of Great Yarmouth on the east side, at South Denes Road (A1243).
For information on the bridge and arranging passage see the Norfolk County Council website.
Entering via Lowestoft
The bridges between Lowestoft and Oulton Broad all open, allowing access for larger vessels and those with masts, although to access the Broads you need to transit Mutford Lock. For full information on Mutford Lock see our bridge heights and openings webpage.
Whether entering or leaving the harbour, please radio Port Control on VHF Channel 14. All vessels must observe the international port traffic signals located on the South Pier, and in the Yacht Basin, details of which can be found on the ABP Lowestoft website. The website also details the procedures and timings for any required bridge lifts.
Vessels over 24m in length
There is a General Direction in place restricting vessels over 24m overall length from entering the Broads without the prior permission from the Broads Authority. Vessels over 24m wishing to enter the Broads must submit a completed Application Form at least 42 working days in advance of their intended passage.
Further information, including the relevant forms, can be found on the General Direction webpage.
Tolls
If you are coming to the Broads for a short stay – or even for a day – you will need a short visit toll. Every vessel kept in the Broads area for more than 28 days must be registered with the Broads Authority. Registration is free.
Insurance
Visiting vessels require third party insurance with a minimum cover of £2 million except unpowered craft with a block area less than 6m2. You will be asked to sign an insurance declaration when buying your short visit toll.
Safety
If you are visiting the Broads it is important to remember safety is important. We have safety information to ensure you and your crew stay safe!