Strait of Magellan Transit & Mandatory Pilotage
The Strait of Magellan is the protected route between the Atlantic and the Pacific — shorter than Cape Horn, sheltered from the Drake, and the reason most operators heading south choose it. We handle the transit end to end from Punta Arenas, on the Strait itself.
Send us your ETA at Bahía PosesiónPilotage is mandatory for the transit, pilot orders carry a fixed notice period, and a missed weather window costs a day. We coordinate pilot orders, navigation tracks, clearances, bunkers, provisions, ship spare parts and crew as one operation, by one point of contact — not by a desk in another city.
Mandatory pilotage
Pilotage is mandatory in both directions between Bahía Posesión and Punta Arenas. Pilots are ordered with 48 hours notice. Two channel pilots are carried.
| Pilot station | Position |
|---|---|
| Bahía Posesión — eastern entrance to the Strait | 52°22.75′ S · 068°58.63′ W |
| Punta Arenas | 53°10.5′ S · 070°54.5′ W |
Two kinds of call — quoted differently
Transit only
The vessel does not stop. The pilot embarks and disembarks between Bahía Posesión and Punta Arenas, the mandatory stretch is covered, and nothing else is triggered. Any further service is arranged on the master’s request.
Transit with activity
The vessel calls, works cargo, changes crew or takes services. Authority clearances, pre-arrival coordination, disbursement accounts and post-departure closure apply on top of the pilotage.
What we coordinate
- Pilot ordering and coordination within the 48-hour notice period, with pilot transfer at Bahía Posesión or Punta Arenas
- Navigation track preparation and submission in the format the maritime authority expects — the requirement that most often delays first-time operators in Chilean waters
- Authority clearances, pre-arrival coordination, post-departure closure and disbursement accounts — when the vessel calls
- Pilot ladders
- Bunkering coordination at Punta Arenas, if needed
- Provisions, bonded stores and ship spare parts alongside, through Amundsen Ship Chandler
- Crew changes and repatriation via Punta Arenas or Santiago, through Just Crew
- Waste reception, MARPOL Annex V handling and organic waste incineration — the only authorised incinerator for foreign-flag vessels in the Magallanes Region
Frequently asked questions
Is pilotage mandatory in the Strait of Magellan?
Yes. Pilotage is mandatory in both directions for the stretch between Bahía Posesión and Punta Arenas.
Where do pilots embark for a Strait of Magellan transit?
Pilots embark and disembark at Bahía Posesión (the eastern entrance to the Strait, 52°22.75′ S · 068°58.63′ W) or at Punta Arenas (53°10.5′ S · 070°54.5′ W), depending on the direction of transit.
How much notice is required to order a pilot?
Pilots are ordered with 48 hours notice ahead of the transit.
How many pilots are required in the mandatory stretch?
Two channel pilots are carried for the mandatory stretch between Bahía Posesión and Punta Arenas.
Is the Strait of Magellan faster than Cape Horn?
The Strait of Magellan is the shorter, sheltered route between the Atlantic and the Pacific, avoiding the open-water exposure of the Drake Passage that a Cape Horn routing involves — the reason most operators heading south choose it.
Does a vessel in transit have to clear with the authorities?
A transit-only call, where the vessel does not stop, is covered by the mandatory pilotage without triggering full authority clearance. A transit with activity — where the vessel calls, works cargo, changes crew or takes services — requires authority clearances, pre-arrival coordination and post-departure closure in addition to the pilotage.
Can a vessel bunker, take stores or change crew mid-transit?
Yes, under a transit-with-activity call. Bunkering, provisions, ship spare parts and crew changes are arranged on the master’s request as part of the same coordinated operation.
What are navigation tracks and who prepares them?
Navigation tracks are the route plans the Chilean maritime authority requires ahead of a transit, submitted in a specific format. Preparing and submitting them correctly is the requirement that most often delays first-time operators in Chilean waters — our team prepares and submits them in the format the authority expects.
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