Navigating The Corinth Canal

For many yacht deliveries and cruising yachts traveling to or from the Aegean Sea the Corinth Canal can save time and distance.

A Brief history.

The Corinth Canal, completed in 1893, links the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

The concept of a canal dates back to the 7th century BC, but instead, a decision was made to implement the Diolkos, a land trackway for moving ships.

Construction of the canal initially began under Roman Emperor Nero in 67 AD, but the project halted shortly after his death.

Work resumed in 1881, although it faced geological and financial challenges that led to the bankruptcy of the original builders.

It was completed two years later and opened in July 1883; however, a series of landslides delayed its opening to traffic until November of that year.

The canal is situated in an active seismic area, and the tall limestone walls have been susceptible to landslides because of the heavily faulted nature of the sedimentary rock through which the canal was constructed.

Navigating The Corinth Canal By Yacht

First Check the Canal is operational

It is advisable to verify the canal's operational status before visiting. Landslides can lead to unexpected closures for maintenance. Additionally, the canal is routinely closed one day a week for maintenance; currently, this occurs every Tuesday, though this schedule may change. The closure hours are from 06:00 to 18:00.

For up-to-date information on closures, please visit the Corinth Canal Website.

Dimensions

The canal is maintained at a depth of 7.5 to 8 meters and has a width of 25 meters.

There are four bridges spanning the canal: one for the railway and three for roads, with the lowest clearance being 57 meters.

According to the regulation, the maximum dimensions allowed for vessels are 52m in height, 18.25m in width, and a draught of 6.5m, which does not present any issues for pleasure yachts.

There are also two road bridges either end of the canal which submerge to allow vessels to enter and exit.

View from the canal looking back at the connecting roadways to the submersible bridge at Poseidonia end of the canal.

Navigating the canal

The west end of the canal is called Poseidonia and the east end Isthmia.

Traffic is permitted in only one direction at a time. Upon approach, you should contact VHF channel 11 to receive instructions on when to enter. Be prepared for potentially long waits with minimal information on the entry timing.

The canal length is approximately 3.2 nautical miles. Once inside vessels must navigate under engine and keep a speed of 6kts.

Night navigation

Entry from either end is fairly simple, with standard red and green lights indicating entry through the breakwaters. After passing the breakwaters, you'll see the lights for the submersible bridges at the start and end of the canal. These lights are on the end of the connecting roadway: red for no entry, and green for entry.

Navigate between the two green lights when the bridge is submerged to enter the canal.

Amber lights are positioned every 100 meters on either side of the canal, directly across from each other, illuminating the sides. At night, the canal remains equally impressive, with its high sides partially lit by these amber lights.

Corinth Canal at night.

Fees

Payments for the fee can be processed at the office located at the Isthmia end. There is a quayside adjacent to the office where you can moor, and fuel is available from tankers at this location.

Fueling truck and the quayside at the Isthmia end of the canal. Tie to this quay side to visit the office for payment.

Alternatively fees can be paid on the Corinth Canal website

After payment you will be assigned a reference number which must be quoted when initial VHF contact is made for entry.

The Corinth Canal is undoubtedly a must-visit attraction in Greece for cruising yachts. It also offers a time-saving route if you're traveling from the Ionian to the northern part of the Aegean.

Additionally, it positions a yacht advantageously for exploring the Aegean islands, as the prevailing Meltemi winds from the north create ideal conditions for downwind sailing through the islands.