Moorings & Anchoring Sites on St. Croix

Enjoy the beautiful boaters paradise of St. Croix! There are no required cruising permits in USVI waters, but you will need to know about mooring and anchoring around St. Croix. Free public moorings are available for vessels under 60 feet in length for day use only, and do not require a permit. The moorings on St. Croix can be white, yellow or orange. Please note that public moorings are not intended for overnight use, and the National Park Service does charge a fee for night use. All other moorings require a permit from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).
A mooring permit is obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to DPNR, Division of Environmental Enforcement, which can be contacted by phone at (340) 773-5774. Once issued, the mooring permit must be on board and available for inspection by DPNR enforcement officers. The mooring decal must be displayed on the port (left) side of the vessel within 6 inches to the right of the registration number. Mooring permits are valid for one year, and may be renewed annually by submitting the proper form and fee.
DPNR now asks that requests for renewals, new vessel registrations, anchoring, or mooring applications be submitted to the Division through our online portal my.onlinemooring.com/VI. On this portal you will see the following Applications:
- Vessel Registration: This process allows you to: -Register a vessel for the first time – Renew your registration on a vessel that you’ve previously registered
- Mooring Permit: Any Vessel, currently registered in the Territory, seeking a permanent anchorage to which a vessel may be secured must apply for a Mooring Permit in the US Virgin Islands. Mooring Permits are only issued for designated areas
- Anchoring Permit: All Recreational Vessels currently anchoring or seeking to anchor in the waters of the United States Virgin Islands, who do not have a mooring permit, are required to obtain an Anchoring Permit.
- Cruising in Territory: All Vessels seeking Overnight Anchoring, not Registered in the USVI, who are conducting Charters are REQUIRED to obtain this Cruising Permit while operating in Territorial waters.
Mooring and Anchoring Areas:
Christiansted Harbor
Frederiksted Harbor
Gallows Bay
Salt River*
Buck Island*
Teague Bay**
Chenay Bay**
Cotton Garden Bay**
Annaly Bay
Cane Bay
Davis Bay
Long Reef
*Note: These sites are located within National Park waters and there are restrictions on vessels traveling through and anchoring here. Please contact the National Park Service at (340) 773-1460 for details on their regulations.
**Note: These sites are located within the St. Croix East End Marine Park (STXEEMP) waters are are subject to the STXEEMP Marine Park Rules and Regulations.