NOTICE TO MARINERS
Notice N°24/2026 – Subject : Bastille day celebrations
Recreationnal users of the harbor are informed that:
Bastille day’s celebrations, 14th of july, will take place from 10:00 on the “Avenue Michel Crépeau”. This celebration will include a “present arms” ceremony, decoration award and a military troops presentation .
In this special occasion, we kindly ask our mariners to raise up the French national flag for all boats, especially those moored up in the “Bassin des chalutiers”.
The technical area of the Vieux Port will be dedicated to La Rochelle city services, and will be closed to any trafic but special authorized staff only, with the “Port la Rochelle” sticker from tuesday, 14th of july at 16:00, until end of event, wednesday 15th of july at 06:00.
A safety perimeter fot the fireworks will be set around the launching pontoon.
Preparation : A safety area will be set up in “Port neuf” from monday 13th of july at 19:00 to wednesday, 15th of july at 03:00. During that period car access, slipway access, mooring access and navigation will be prohibited in a perimeter of 150 meters around the fireworks’launching pontoon.
Setting up : The launching pontoon will be tugged tuesday, 14th of july from 17:00. A safety distance of a 150 meters around the convoy shall be respected at all time.
Fireworks launching : The firing is scheduled for 00:30, the night of the 14th to the 15th of july. The firing point is located north east from “Richelieu tower”, 46°08.899’N and 001°10.300’W. Circulation, navigation or mooring of any vessel is prohibited in the safety perimeter, 150 meters around the firing barge (the safety area will be delimitated by safety boats and red buoys), from tuesday 14th of july at 17:00 until the end of the event, about half an hour after its begin.
Cancelation : In case of unfavourable weather conditions, or safety conditions that shall not permit the firing, the fireworks could be cancelled.
We require all our mariners to conform with the instructions received by Port staff or police staff
As a reminder, mooring of any vessel is prohibited in the access channel.
We also remind you that it is totally prohibited to use handfires for fun or celebrating, even during the night of the 14th to the 15th of july. They should only be used in case of real distress at sea.
Thank you for your understanding.
Further information needeed?
Contact “les Minimes, Harbor Master’s office“, 24/7
+33 (0) 5 46 44 41 20 (press 3), or VHF channel 09.
Informative map Fireworks Bastille day
La Rochelle, friday 10th of july 2026.