Nine new eco-moorings to protect Monaco Bay seabed
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Work begins this week on an organised anchoring zone in Monaco Bay, with completion due by March 2027 ahead of the summer season.
Work starts this week in Monaco Bay to install nine new moorings designed to protect the seabed from damage caused by repeated anchoring and to improve safety for visiting yachts. The organised anchoring zone will give vessels a designated, controlled point to moor rather than dropping anchor directly onto the seabed, a practice that has gradually degraded marine habitats in the bay over the years.
The project is scheduled for completion by 31 March 2027, with the facility expected to be fully operational in time for the summer 2027 season, the peak period for yacht traffic ahead of and during the Grand Prix and the summer social calendar. For residents and operators along the Port Hercule waterfront, the scheme should mean calmer, better organised anchorage and reduced wear on the harbour's natural seabed.
The move reflects a wider push by Monaco to balance its status as a magnet for superyachts with growing environmental obligations, particularly around posidonia seagrass beds that are protected under Mediterranean conservation rules. Yacht owners and charter operators planning visits to Monaco Bay from 2027 onwards will need to factor in the new anchoring protocol once the moorings come into service.