Port guide · UN/LOCODE FR BES
Rade de Brest, France
France · 48.38° N, 4.50° W
The World Port Index classes Rade de Brest as a coastal harbor sheltered by breakwaters on the North Atlantic Ocean. It records a channel depth of 12.5 m and a cargo pier depth of 12.5 m. Norfolk is 5,790 km away in a straight line.
- Channel depth
- 12.5 m
- Cargo pier depth
- 12.5 m
- From Norfolk
- 5,790 kmGreat-circle distance
- Nearest port guide
- Concarneau70 km away
Depths and vessel limits
- Channel depth
- 12.5 m
- Anchorage depth
- 21.6 m
- Cargo pier depth
- 12.5 m
- Oil terminal depth
- 10.1 m
- Tidal range
- 7 m
- Entrance width
- 305 m
As recorded in the World Port Index. Gauges run from 0 to 25 m. Confirm current depths and limits with the port before you fix a vessel.
Facilities on record
Arrival and entry
Rade de Brest is listed as a first port of entry. Pilotage is compulsory.
- First port of entry
- Yes
- Pilotage compulsory
- Yes
- Pilotage available
- Yes
- Pilotage advisable
- Yes
- Tug assistance
- Yes
- Arrival notice (ETA message) required
- Yes
- Port security
- Yes
- Vessel traffic service
- Yes
- Shelter afforded
- Excellent
- Entrance restricted by tide
- Yes
- Entrance restricted by swell
- No
- Entrance restricted by ice
- No
- Overhead limits
- Yes
Cargo handling
Cargo facilities on record: container, ro-ro, breakbulk, solid bulk and liquid bulk. The heaviest lift class recorded is 50 to 100 tons.
- Container
- Yes
- Ro-ro
- Yes
- Breakbulk
- Yes
- Solid bulk
- Yes
- Liquid bulk
- Yes
- Oil terminal
- Yes
- LNG terminal
- No
- Wharves
- Yes
- Fixed cranes
- Yes
- Mobile cranes
- Yes
- Lifts of 50 to 100 tons
- Yes
- Lifts of 25 to 49 tons
- Yes
- Lifts up to 24 tons
- Yes
- Longshore labor
- Yes
- Railway
- Large
Services and supplies
Repair capability is rated major.
- Repairs
- Major
- Dry dock
- Large
- Electrical repair
- Yes
- Fuel oil
- Yes
- Diesel oil
- Yes
- Potable water
- Yes
- Deck supplies
- Yes
- Engine supplies
- Yes
- Medical facilities
- Yes
- Garbage disposal
- Yes
- Dirty ballast disposal
- Yes
- Airport
- Yes
US trade with France
- US exports, 2025
- $50.6BLed by aircraft and spacecraft
- US imports, 2025
- $68.1BLed by pharmaceutical products
Other ports in France
The nearest is Concarneau, 70 km away in a straight line.
- BayonneCargo pier 9.4 m, channel 4.9 mFR BAY
- BordeauxCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 12.5 mFR BOD
- CalaisCargo pier 11 m, channel 7.9 mFR CQF
- ConcarneauCargo pier 4.9 m, channel 4.9 mFR COC
- DieppeCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 4.9 mFR DPE
- Dunkerque Port EstCargo pier 14 m, channel 14 mFR DKK
- FosCargo pier 6.4 m, channel 21.6 mFR FOS
- La PalliceCargo pier 14 m, channel 11 mFR LPE
- La RochelleCargo pier 9.4 m, channel 11 mFR LRH
- LorientCargo pier 10 m, channel 7.9 m, container, ro-ro, breakbulk and bulkFR LRT
- MarseilleCargo pier 15.5 m, channel 12.5 mFR MRS
- NantesCargo pier 4.9 m, channel 7.9 mFR NTE
- NiceCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 6.4 mFR NCE
- Port of RouenCargo pier 11 m, channel 9.4 mFR URO
- Port of le HavreCargo pier 15.5 m, channel 14 mFR LEH
- Rade de CherbourgCargo pier 12.5 m, channel 9.4 mFR CER
- Saint-MaloCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 3.4 mFR SML
- St NazaireCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 12.5 mFR SNR
Sources
- US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
- Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
- Distances are great-circle distances computed from World Port Index coordinates, not sailing distances.
- Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.