Galle
UN/LOCODE LKGAL · Sri Lanka · Asia-Pacific
Galle (UN/LOCODE LKGAL) is a designated seaport in Sri Lanka in the tropical northern Indian Ocean region. The port operates on Asia/Colombo, uses the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR), runs shore power at 230V/50Hz (Type D/G/M). Nearest major airport for crew changes is Koggala Airport (KCT), 12 km from the port.
Reference
- Coordinates
- 6.0328139, 80.214955
- Time zone
- Asia/ColomboUTC +05:30no DST
- Local currency
- LKR— Sri Lanka Rupee
- Languages
- si, ta, en
- Nearest airport
- KCTKoggala Airport~12 km
- Electricity
- 230 V50 Hzplugs D, G, M(country default — verify at berth)
- Climate
- AwTropical savanna (dry winter)
Country-coastal Köppen zone (most ports cluster on the coast). For port-coordinate resolution use Kottek 2006 0.5° grid.
- Function codes
- 1-------
seaport
- Port authority
- Sri Lanka Ports Authority - Sri Lanka Ports Authority
Operational details
Compiled from public port-authority and P&I-club directories. Always verify current contacts via your agent before arrival.
ISPS security level (normal): 1
Port of Galle, Sri Lanka. Verify pre-arrival, pilot booking, and agent details with the port authority.
Helplines for seafarers in Sri Lanka
Welfare, abandonment, wages, medical, mental health, harassment — 24/7 lines where available. See full helplines directory.
- Sri Lanka Director General of Merchant Shipping — welfare deskAsia-Pacific · Office hours · en, si, ta
- Mission to Seafarers Sri LankaSouth Asia · Daily · en, si, ta
- ISWAN SeafarerHelpGlobal · 24/7 · en, ar, es, fr
- ISWAN Mental Health & Wellbeing helplineGlobal · 24/7 · en, es, ru, tl
- ITF SeafarersGlobal · 24/7 for emergencies · en
- ISWAN — Family helpline (for relatives of seafarers)Global · 24/7 · en, hi, tl
Other ports in Sri Lanka
Port-state-control region: indian ocean MoU · how to file a PSC complaint.
Galle: seafarer FAQ
- Is shore leave allowed at Galle?
- Shore leave at Galle is governed by Sri Lanka immigration rules, the flag administration's policy, and the port authority's local rules. Seafarers normally need their seaman's book + a shore-leave permit issued by the agent. Confirm with your agent before going ashore — local policy changes frequently.
- What visa or shore-pass do I need for Galle?
- Seafarers calling at Galle on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. Sri Lanka may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.
- Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Galle?
- Yes — 1 seafarer welfare centre is listed for Galle in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.
- Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Galle?
- Yes — 6 helplines are listed for Sri Lanka in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.
- What's the nearest hospital to Galle?
- Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Koggala Airport (KCT), about 12 km away — useful for medevac planning.
For the arriving crew
- Pilot ladder (SOLAS V/23) — rigging + inspection + Master's duty of care.
- Pre-arrival checklist — the standard bridge + engine + agent workflow before entering port.
- Ships' agent — role + documentation + interface with pilotage + tug + immigration.
- Currency at port — cash-carrying limits + declaration + safe practices.
- Hours of rest — STCW VIII/1 + MLC A2.3 rest rules during port operations.
Sources & verification (13)
- country_iso3 · ISO 3166-1 (LK)retrieved 2026-05-06
- country_name · ISO 3166-1 (LK)retrieved 2026-05-06
- currency_code · ISO 4217:2015 (LKR)retrieved 2026-05-06
- currency_name · ISO 4217:2015 (LKR)retrieved 2026-05-06
- languages · CIA World Factbook (public domain), national-language listing (LK)retrieved 2026-05-06
- timezone_iana · IANA tz database (Asia/Colombo)retrieved 2026-05-06
- timezone_utc_offset · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Asia/Colombo)retrieved 2026-05-06
- timezone_dst · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Asia/Colombo)retrieved 2026-05-06
- electricity · IEC TR 60083 plug-and-socket standard list (LK)retrieved 2026-05-06
- function_codes_expanded · UNECE Rec. 16 — UN/LOCODE function-code mask (1-------)retrieved 2026-05-06
- nearest_major_airport · OurAirports (CC0) — davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data (KCT)retrieved 2026-05-07
- wikidata_qid · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q319366)retrieved 2026-05-07
- climate_classification · Kottek et al. 2006 / Beck et al. 2018 — country-coastal Köppen zone (LK)retrieved 2026-05-07
Last verified
High confidenceEditorial confidence: how we grade. Data sources and methodology: /sources.