Q&A about our Mediterranean dry port

Publication date: 17/01/2025 – Updated: 05/02/2026

What are the advantages of our marina ashore compared to other ports in the Mediterranean?

Port Maritima, Port Navy Services, Port du Gapeau, Port Pin Rolland, Chantier Naval de Provence… there are many other infrastructures and dry ports in the Mediterranean. But none offer the quality of infrastructure and services of Port Napoléon – the Mediterranean dry port of the Port Adhoc group.

In our port, the large dock can comfortably accommodate ships, and the handling and storage facilities have been selected to suit the biggest and most beautiful boats.

The ships are parked on very high quality berths: rigid, very strong and stable. They are made of steel up to 10 mm thick, compared with 3 or 4 mm for the berths generally used in dry ports. They enable rapid handling and optimum positioning of the boat: once the vessel has been secured, the cradle and ship are transported by hydraulic trailers with a capacity of 30 to 80 tonnes. Of course, they also guarantee the safety of the ships, even in strong Mistral winds.

When a boat is parked in a dry port, boat insurance only applies in so-called ‘normal’ conditions – weather events and gales aside. So the quality of the bowsers is an essential factor to take into account!

For boaters who want to keep their boats dry and under cover, Port Napoléon has the largest boat storage shed on the French Mediterranean coast: 10,000 m² dedicated to preserving boats!

As our port is a mixed port, it is a dry port as well as a wet port. So when your vessel is launched, you can park it afloat for a preparatory stopover or for trials. Everyone knows how stressful it can be to have to leave in a hurry, without having had time to check that your engine is working properly, that your hull passes are watertight, that your sails are rigged or that you have checked your mooring…

What types of boats are accepted in our marina ashore in the Mediterranean?

Our dry port in the Mediterranean welcomes all powerboats, monohulls and multihulls. Owners wishing to store their vessel at Port Napoléon must ensure that the size of their boat does not exceed the capacity of our port (see below).

How can you access our marina in the Mediterranean?

• From land: Our dry port is located in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, 1 hour’s drive from Marseille and Nîmes, 1 hour 20 minutes from Avignon and 1 hour 40 minutes from Montpellier. The nearest SNCF station is Fos-sur-Mer, 30 kilometres away. Once in Fos-sur-Mer, the Ulysse bus network provides a connection to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. We have negotiated preferential rates with local taxis: don’t hesitate to ask us!
• From the sea: Port Napoléon is located at the end of the Canal Saint Antoine – a 4-metre-deep marked access channel leading into the Gulf of Fos Sur Mer.

How do you park your car at our Mediterranean marina ashore?

For daily and short-term parking, it is possible to park along the quay or near the boats on land. Vehicles must not obstruct the manoeuvres of the handling equipment.

For longer-term parking, Port Napoléon has an outdoor car park dedicated to accommodating light vehicles. It is accessible all year round and without any time limit.

What are the maximum dimensions and weights for storing your boat on dry land in Port Napoléon?

To store a boat in this ashore marina in the Mediterranean, certain dimensions and weight limits must be respected. Firstly, to navigate the channel and move within the port by motorboat or sailing boat, your vessel must have a draught of less than 4 metres.

The port’s equipment can handle boats with a maximum length of 25 metres and a total weight of 65 tonnes. The basin measures 6.95 metres in width.

Port Napoléon – Handling capacities

What handling equipment does the port have?

Port Napoléon is one of the best-equipped dry ports in the Mediterranean. It has a wide range of handling equipment to accommodate almost every type of boat.

Among the equipment available at our Mediterranean dry port:

• A 65-tonne capacity travelift
• Several trailers – 30, 45, 65 and 80 tonnes
• A 65-tonne trailer for transporting catamarans of up to 20 metres in length
• A 50-tonne capacity crane with a 38-metre jib
• A 26-metre gondola

Port Napoléon’s equipment is regularly overhauled and always operated by professional, experienced port agents.

How are boats stored in the Mediterranean marina ashore?

Open to the Mediterranean, Port Napoléon offers a prepared outdoor hardstanding suitable for accommodating motorboats and sailing boats. Vessels are placed on cradles safely by specialised teams.

What is the storage capacity of the Mediterranean marina ashore?

Port Napoléon is one of the largest marina ashore in the Mediterranean. With a usable area of 13 hectares, it offers 1,000 premium dry storage spaces outdoors.

The spaces are accessible and convenient: they allow easy handling of boats, secure storage, and the carrying out of maintenance, servicing, and repair activities.

How are boats protected from the weather?

On the outdoor hardstanding, boats entrusted to the Mediterranean port at Port Napoléon are positioned on very high-quality cradles. They are aligned with the wind and deliberately placed close together to minimise wind exposure as much as possible.

What services are offered at our Mediterranean port?

The multitude of services offered at Port Napoléon helps to make our port the best dry port in the Mediterranean.

At Port Napoléon, for example, you’ll find all the facilities, skills and assistance you need to wash, maintain, careen, repair or winterize your boat.

Fittings professional, broker, shipyard, painter, saddler, sailmaker, mechanic, air conditioning professional, electrician, boilermaker, rigger… on site, technicians and specialists from all the nautical trades will be able to advise and assist you.

Wi-Fi, water and electricity points, a restaurant and fuel delivery are also available.

What careening and maintenance options are available in this marina ashore?

In the Mediterranean, the dry port of Port Napoléon enables all types of boat to be careened and maintained. Port facilities include a careening area, a mast storage area and containers for storing equipment that needs to be removed.

The spacing between boats and access to electricity in all areas means that you can easily carry out small jobs yourself, without affecting neighbouring boats. As our Mediterranean dry port is very committed to respecting the environment, work on the boats is supervised and dedicated areas are set aside for larger jobs (sandblasting, painting, etc.).

Users wishing to call on professionals to careen or maintain their boat or overhaul their equipment can take advantage of a wide range of technical facilities directly within the harbour, with all trades represented.

Do professionals have access to the Mediterranean port sites?

Boat storage at our in the Mediterranean is available to both private boaters and professionals.

Storage spaces are available from one week, for a duration of up to a full year. Fleet rental companies, shipyards, and dealers, for example, are welcome.

How much notice do I need to give the dry port before taking my boat out or putting it in the water?

For all handling operations – launching, lowering, moving, rigging or dismasting – the port teams work by appointment only. The harbour master manages the entire schedule, and must be informed in advance.

Depending on the time of year, boat movements may be in high demand and handling times may be longer. In low season, it may be sufficient to book handling 48 hours in advance. However, during the summer season, it is advisable to plan ahead and notify the harbour master’s office at least two weeks before the desired date.

How long does handling take?

Thanks to the way our appointments are organised, our technicians are very punctual, and the vessels are launched in just 15 to 30 minutes. Landings take a little longer, as the hull of the lifted vessel is high-pressure washed.

It is preferable for the owner or his representative to be present at each handling operation.

What are the access hours for launching and storage?

Motorboats and sailing boats can be launched between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 5 or 6 days a week (depending on the season).

How is the dry port of Port Napoléon investing in the environment?

In our Mediterranean dry port, some operations are regulated. For example, the careening and cleaning of boat hulls must be carried out in specific areas. Particular attention is also paid to waste water discharges.

As part of its ‘Clean Port‘ certification, our marina also has a waste management area. It is identified by ‘Clean Point’ signage and allows all users to deposit their waste from yachting – whether ordinary or hazardous.

Is our Mediterranean marina monitored?

Like all Port Adhoc Group facilities, our dry port at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône is fully secure. The port is under video surveillance, with entry reserved for vehicles registered with our number plate recognition system.

4 to 6 people are permanently on site, ensuring a continuous presence.

What are the rates for storing a boat in the Mediterranean marina ashore?

In the Mediterranean, the cost of a dry port berth always depends on the characteristics of the vessel and the desired duration of parking.

The starting price for a dry dock space in the Mediterranean, at Port Napoléon, is under €150 incl. VAT per month for a vessel of 8 to 9 metres (for annual storage).

The rate is always proportional to the length of the commitment, whatever the type of boat concerned: an annual rate is proportionally cheaper than a monthly rate.

We present the 2026 rates applicable to Port Napoléon in the following table:

Are water and electricity included in the storage fee?

Water is included in the Mediterranean ashore storage package at Port Napoléon, and access has never yet been restricted by the prefecture. Electricity is charged as a flat rate.

What is the minimum duration for boat storage in our marina ashore?

You can store your boat in our dry port on the Mediterranean for as little as one week. Storing packages are available on a weekly, monthly, half-yearly or annual basis.

How can you book a space in a marina ashore?

To make a reservation in our Mediterranean dry port, you can send a request via the contact section of our website or directly to the port office in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône.

We will provide you with all the additional information you need. Depending on availability, we will offer you an immediate booking, or put your boat on a waiting list.

Are all boats accepted in the Mediterranean dry port?

The Port Napoléon teams are very vigilant about the quality of the ships they put ashore. This is why you will be asked to provide recent, representative photos of the condition of your vessel when you make your reservation. If, when the vessel arrives, the condition does not correspond to that shown in the photos, the vessel may be refused permission to land.

The age of the vessel is not a criterion for acceptance or rejection: 100-year-old sailing ships, for example, are regularly welcomed! On the other hand, our teams sometimes have to turn down more recent vessels that are in too poor a condition.

Please also note: it is not permitted to live or live aboard ships in our dry port, apart from occasional stays to prepare or winterize ships.

How far in advance should I book a berth in a Mediterranean dry port?

At Port Napoléon, as in other Mediterranean dry docks, the number of available storage spaces varies according to the season. Therefore, the Port Adhoc team advises you to reserve your space at our dry dock as early as possible.

Dry storage in the Mediterranean during the low season

Dry dock spaces are particularly in demand during winter. This is the classic period for winter storage of boats! Therefore, if you wish to secure a space in a Mediterranean port for the winter, we recommend booking several months in advance.

Ashore storage in the Mediterranean during the high season

During the peak sailing season, between April and October, there is less demand for dry port parking in the Mediterranean – but it’s not non-existent!

Port Napoléon users still store their boats when they’re away, for example to carry out small or large jobs. For dry parking during the summer season, we therefore recommend that you book early.

What shops are close to the Mediterranean dry port?

Port Napoléon is very well equipped. Boaters in our dry port have access to an Intermarché drive equipped with cold positive and negative lockers for receiving groceries. A Uship shop sells nautical equipment and gas. A restaurant serves the best local dishes. A hotel – currently undergoing renovation – has a capacity of 15 rooms.

Can I buy or sell a boat in Port Napoléon?

Yes, there are on average around a hundred boats for sale in our Mediterranean dry port: sailing yachts, speedboats, monohulls and multihulls. On-site brokers offer their services to ensure that your transactions are carried out under the best possible conditions.

What do boaters think of our Mediterranean port?

“Port Napoléon in Port-Saint-Louis is a destination of choice for boaters and lovers of the sea. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The facilities are modern and well-maintained, offering everything you could need for a day at sea or an extended stopover. The staff are friendly and always ready to help, making the experience even more enjoyable. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, with stunning water views and peaceful surroundings.

Whether you’re an experienced sailor or just a fan of boat trips, Port Napoléon is sure to meet your expectations.

This is the place to be if you want to enjoy the pleasures of the water! 🛥️😊 “

Les aventures de TAO (Yannick), 2024

“A place at the end of the world. The port is very pleasant for preparing your boat for a round-the-world trip. The technical facilities are top-notch and all the staff are extremely friendly.”

David LIOPE, 2024

Whether you’re looking for a dry port in Cap d’Agde, a dry port in Hyères, a dry port in Canet-en-Roussillon or, perhaps, a dry port in Gruissan, we advise you to consider boat storage in Port Napoléon.

Whether you’re a private individual or a professional, our dry port at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône is probably your best option!

If you still have doubts or questions, contact our team: our agents will be happy to advise you.