Place (Kardeljeva)
General
43°03'N 17°26'-2E Charts BA 1574, 269 (detailed), SC 5767. MK 24. lmray M26 Ploce is a busy commercial port and ferry terminal, and although it belongs to Croatia, is the main port serving Bosnia-Herzegovina. The town is very modern, and other than the ability to fill fuel tanks from quayside pumps and to find good shelter, has little to recommend it.
Approach
Ploce is situated NW of the Usce Neretve {the river Neretva mouth), tucked behind the headland of Rt Vifojica. Between the main port and the mouth of the Neretva there is an oil terminal in the Kanai Vlaska. The main danger in the approach to the harbour is the area of shallows and sandbanks off the river mouth. Keep well clear of this area. The entrance is easily identified by day or night by the headland, which rises to 244m and which has a light structure on its S point. The channel passes close to Rt Vifojica. When entering, particularly from N or W, note that Rt Vifojica is a blind corner hiding ships and ferries coming out of the harbour. Strong currents may also be encountered when entering or leaving the harbour. Pass between the headland and the green buoy, which lies to the E of it. Continue towards the gap between the headland and the quays. Turn NE when the harbour opens up. Do not enter the N part of the bay.
Lights
At night use Rt Vifojica Fl(2)5s13m7M and the buoys to the S and E, both Fl.G.2s to locate the entrance. Once inside the entrance there are two other red lights to port, both Fl.R.2s. Note that the Fl.G.3s light on the end of the quay (Gar Oslobodenja) is obscured until nearly abeam of it!
Berth
Enter the inner part of the harbour, taking care to avoid the dangerous rock on the N side of the entrance. Proceed beyond the ferry berths, and tie up alongside the SW quay near the fuel berth as space allows.
Shelter
Good all-round shelter in the harbour, although both the bora and sirocco blow strongly here. In this area, the NW afternoon breeze continues to blow well into the evening.
Officials
Place is open throughout the year as a port of entry. Harbourmaster. Customs. Police.
Facilities
Water from hydrants (standpipes) on the quay; consult the harbourmaster. Petrol and diesel available from the fuel berth on the SW quay of the inner harbour. The fuel berth has 1 Om alongside, and is open between 0600 and 2200. Several supermarkets, butchers, daily fruit and vegetable market. Department store. Banks. ATMs. Post Office. Telephones. Laundry and dry cleaners. Charts can be purchased from Plovno podrucje Split, Svjetioniearska postaja Place, Neretvanskih gusara 1 (located on the SE side of the inner harbour), or from Plovput d.o.o., Trg kralja Tomislava 9. Medical centre, pharmacy. Vet. Tourist information. Hotels, restaurants, cafe/bars. Bus and ferry service. Railway station. Repairs to hull, engine and electrical/electronic installations can be carried out. Mobile crane. Lloyds sub-agent. Gradac