Fishing Ports and Port Registration Letters

Commercial fishing boats are regulated by Government agencies. To ensure clear and separate identification of boats that may have similar names, each fishing boat must display Port Registration Letters. The style of these letters varies depending on the Country that issues them, but they usually take the form of a letter code that identifies the port or administrative area, and a number that identifies the individual boat. Some Countries reissue the same number when it becomes free after the loss or scrapping of a vessel, while others issue unique numbers to each new boat that is registered. The general principles are similar to those in various Countries for motor vehicle number plates. This list contains Port Registration Letters mainly for European countries, and includes registration letters that are no longer in current use, but may be of historic interest in identifying old photographs. Some ports exist only as an administrative area and may issue registration letters although there is no local fishing fleet. For example, the port of Banff in Scotland is so small that no seagoing commercial ship could enter it, but the registration letters BF, which, like all British registration letters, are issued by a centralised national office, are used by many of the big trawlers working from the harbours of North East Scotland.

Last updated on 08 August 2004

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List of Fishing Ports and their Registration Letters

Letters	Port	Country	Notes
A	Aberdeen	Scotland	Important fishing port, but the main maritime business is offshore oil support. Excellent photo views for boats entering and leaving the harbour, but poor vantage points for quayside photos. Most of the Scottish East Coast fishing boats are further north at Peterhead and Fraserburgh. (July 2003)
A	Akershus	Norway
A	Aalborg	Denmark
A	Antwerp	Belgium
AA	Aabenraa	Denmark
AA	Alloa	Scotland	There is no fishing trade here, and only a few small boats use these registration letters (June 2003)
AA	Aust - Agder	Norway
AA	Westeraccumersiel	Germany
AB	Aberystwyth	Wales
AB	Bensersiel	Germany
ABH	Bremerhaven	Germany
AC	Arcachon	France
AC	Calolinensie	Germany
ACC	Accumerseil	Germany
AD	Ardrossan	Scotland	Commercial port in the Firth of Clyde. Most boats use the BA Ballantrae registration
AD	Audierne	France
AD	Langeoog	Germany
AE	Emden	Germany
AF	Friesdrichs Schleusses	Germany
AG	Greetseil	Germany
AH	Angra do Heroismo	Portugal
AH	Arbroath	Scotland	Only a few boats now use the harbour, most landings are at Aberdeen, Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The town is famous for producing smoked haddock (September 2003)
AH	Ditzum	Germany
AI	Akureyri	Iceland
AJ	Juist	Germany
AK	Andijk	Netherlands
AL	Albufeira	Portugal	Small boats can be found on the beaches all along the coast (May 1983)
AL	Algeciras	Spain
AL	Ameland	Netherlands
AL	Langeoog	Germany
AL	Leer	Germany
ALK	Alkmaar	Netherlands
AM	Almeria	Spain
AM	Amsterdam	Netherlands	The Maritime Museum has a preserved fishing boat (October 1997)
AM	Leerort	Germany
AN	Ancora	Portugal
AN	Norderney	Germany
AO	Oldersum	Germany
AQ	Retzmarsiel	Germany
AR	Arnes Syssel	Iceland
AR	Ayr	Scotland	The fish market here closed in 1997 and the boats moved a few miles north to Troon. Boats also use Girvan, to the south of Ayr.
AR	Rhaudermoor	Germany
ARC	Arcachon	France
ARM	Arnemuiden	Netherlands
ARN	Arnis	Germany
AS	Aarhus	Denmark
AS	Spickeroog	Germany
AS	Ahus	Sweden
ASS	Assel	Germany
AT	Alicante	Spain
AT	Terborg	Germany
AU	Audierne	France
AU	Baltrum	Germany
AV	Aveiro	Portugal
AV	Avenhorn	Netherlands
AV	Norden	Germany
AW	Aengwirden	Netherlands
AW	Wilhelmshaven	Germany
AX	Borkum	Germany
AY	Norddeich	Germany
AY	Auray	France
AZ	Neuharlingsersiel	Germany
B	Belfast	Northern Ireland
B	Blankenburg	Belgium
BA	Ballantrae	Scotland	Another tiny and little used harbour, but the BA registration letters are carried by many of the West Coast fishing boats
BA	Bayonne	France
BA	Barcelona	Spain
BA	Bardastradn Syssel	Iceland
BB	Bremen	Germany
BCK	Buckie	Scotland	Busy fishing port. Good views of the boats and there is also the Buckie Drifter Fisheries Museum (October 2003)
BD	Bideford	England	A shallow tidal estuary with only a few small boats, but the port also includes Appledore, with its excellent maritime museum and the picturesque village of Clovelly, once famous for its herring boats.  Barnstaple and Bideford both have 12-16 foot salmon boats that carry registration letters (August 2004)
BD	Buskerud	Norway
BE	Barnstaple	England
BEI	Beidenfleth	Germany
BEN	Bensersiel	Germany
BF	Banff	Scotland	Tiny harbour, but registration port for many Scottish fishing boats. The adjacent port of Macduff is a major repair yard for fishing boats and also has a Marine Aquarium (October 2003)
BH	Blyth	England
BH	Brouwershaven	Netherlands
BI	Bilbao	Spain
BIN	Bingum	Germany
BK	Berwick on Tweed	England	Not many boats in the town of Berwick on Tweed, but a variety of boats can be seen in coastal villages such as Seahouses, Amble and Newbiggen (1998)
BL	Boulogne	France	Many fishing boats use the quays close to the town centre
BL	Bristol	England
BM	Brixham	England	Fishing port, a major marina for pleasure boats, and a busy tourist area.
BN	Boston	England
BO	Borrowstoness	Scotland	Its actually pronounced Bo-ness. There are no fishing boats here
BOG	Borgerende	Germany
BON	Bongsiel	Germany
BOR	Borkum	Germany
BOU	Bouchoute	Belgium
BR	Barreiro	Portugal
BR	Bridgewater	England
BR	Breskens	Netherlands
BR	Brest	France
BRA	Brake	Germany
BRD	Broadford	Skye, Scotland	This is a tiny harbour with no fishing fleet. A few fishing boats can be found at Uig, Portree, Dunvegan and Kyleakin. Skye is no longer an island - there is a bridge to the mainland. (5/2001)
BRE	Bremen	Germany
BRO	Brokdorf	Germany
BRU	Brunsbuttelkoog	Germany
BRU	Bruinisse	Netherlands
BS	Beaumaris	Wales
BU	Bunschoten	Netherlands
BU	Burntisland	Scotland	Another harbour with few fishing boats. There are a some small boats at nearby Kinghorn (2001)
BUR	Burgstaaken Burhaversiel	Germany
BUS	Busum	Germany
BV	Bremen - Vegesack	Germany
BW	Barrow	England
BX	Bremerhaven	Germany
BX	Bordeaux	France
BZ	Bergen op Zoom	Netherlands
C	Caen	France
C	Cork	Ireland
C	Coxyde	Belgium
CA	Cadiz	Spain
CA	Cardigan	Wales
CAN	Cancale	France
CC	Concarneau	France
CE	Coleraine	Northern Ireland
CF	Cardiff	Wales
CG	Callantsoog	Netherlands
CH	Cherchell	Algeria
CH	Cherbourg	France
CH	Chester	England
CK	Colchester	England
CL	Calais	France
CL	Carlisle	England
CLN	Clinge	Netherlands
CM	Camaret	France
CM	Caminha	Portugal
CN	Campbeltown	Scotland	Medium size harbour with fishing boats
CN	Cimbrishamn	Sweden
CO	Caernarfon	Wales
CO	Coruna	Spain
CO	Coursuelles	France
CP	Castellon	Spain
CP	Colijnsplaat	Netherlands
CS	Cascais	Portugal
CS	Cowes	England
CT	Trouville	France
CT	Cartagena	Spain
CT	Castletown	Isle of Man
CU	Ceuta	Spanish North Africa
CUX	Cuxhaven	Germany
CY	Castlebay	Scotland	Harbour on the island of Barra in the Western Islands
CZ	Cadzand	Netherlands
D	Doel	Belgium
D	Dunkirk	France
D	Dublin	Ireland
DA	Dala Syssel	Iceland
DA	Drogheda	Ireland
DAG	Dagebull	Germany
DAH	Dahme	Germany
DAN	Dangast	Germany
DAR	Darlowo	Poland
DD	Dordrecht	Netherlands
DE	Dundee	Scotland	When Herman Melville wrote "Moby Dick", Dundee was a major whaling port. Now there is no fishing of any importance, but boats in the small harbours around the Firth of Tay use the DE registration letters (2003)
DED	Dedesdorf	Germany
DH	Dartmouth	England
DI	Dieppe	France
DIN	Dinant	France
DIT	Ditzum	Germany
DK	Dundalk	Ireland
DK	Dunkirk	France
DO	Douglas	Isle of Man
DOR	Dorum	Germany
DP	Dieppe	France
DR	Dover	England
DRA	Drage	Germany
DRE	Oehe-Drecht	Germany
DS	Dumfries	Scotland	There is no fishing fleet in Dumfries - it is too far upriver. Boats operate from Kirkcudbright and Isle of Whithorn (despite the name, the Isle of Whithorn is a mainland town, not an island)
DV	Deventer	Netherlands
DW	Doniawestal	Netherlands
DZ	Delfzijl	Netherlands
DZ	Douarnenez	France
DZI	Dziwnow	Poland
E	Ericeira	Portugal
E	Esbjerg	Denmark
E	Exeter	England
EA	Eysafjord	Iceland
EB	Elburg	Netherlands
ECKE	Eckernforde	Germany
EE	Eenrum	Netherlands
EG	Egmond aan Zee	Netherlands
EH	Enkhuizen	Netherlands
EL	Etel	France
ELM	Elmhorn	Germany
ELS	Elsfleth	Germany
EMD	Emden	Germany
ER	Ericeira	Portugal
ES	Esposende	Portugal
EWD	Ellewoutsdijk	Netherlands
EZ	Ezinge	Netherlands
F	Fano	Denmark
F	Faversham	England
F	Fecamp	France
F	Finnmark	Norway
F		Malta	F = "Full time" fishing boat MF and PTF = "Part time" fishing boat
FAL	Falshoft	Germany
FD	Fleetwood	England	Best place to view the fishing boats is from the promenade at the mouth of the river as they arrive and depart
FD	Fuglefjord	Faeroe Islands
FE	Ferrol	Spain
FE	Folkestone	England
FED	Fedderwardersiel	Germany
FF	Figueria da Foz	Portugal
FG	Falkenberg	Sweden
FH	Falmouth	England
FL	Finsterwolde	Denmark
FLE	Flensburg	Germany
FN	Frederikshaven	Denmark
FN	Franeker	Netherlands
FN	Funchal	Madeira, Portugal
FR	Faro	Portugal
FR	Fraserburgh	Scotland	Major fishing port. Lots to see around the harbour. Good photo opportunities. There are harbours in the small villages of Sandhaven, Rosehearty, Pennan and Gardenstown, situated between Fraserburgh and Macduff. Access to Pennan and Gardenstown is by a precipitous, narrow, winding road.(2003)
FRI	Friedrichskoog Friedrichsort	Germany
FY	Fowey	England
FZ	Fuzeta	Portugal
G	Galway	Ireland
G	Granville	France
GA	Gaasterland	Netherlands
GC	Gran Canaria	Spain	Like Tenerife, it is worth hiring a car to get to the small ports and beaches to find the local fishing boats (September 1983)
GD	s'-Gravendeel	Netherlands
GDA	Gdansk	Poland
GDY	Gdynia	Poland
GE	Gefle	Sweden
GE	Goole	England
GEV	Geversdorf	Germany
GG	Geertruidenberg	Netherlands
GG	Goteborg	Sweden
GH	Grangemouth	Scotland	Major port and oil refinery in the Firth of Forth. There is no local fishing, and except for occasional repair work there are no fishing boats to be seen here
GI	Gijon	Spain
GK	Greenock	Scotland	Industrial town and commercial harbour. There are no fishing boats based here
GK	Grindavik	Iceland
GLU	Gluckstadt	Germany
GM	Genemuiden	Netherlands
GN	Granton	Scotland	Used to be a fishing port, but is now part of the City of Edinburgh and the harbour is a marina for pleasure craft. There are a few small fishing boats at nearby Newhaven (2003)
GO	Goedereede	Netherlands
GOE	Goes	Netherlands
GOT	Gothmund	Germany
GR	Gloucester	England
GRA	Grauw	Netherlands
GRA	Gravelines	France
GRE	Greetsiel	Germany
GRO	Grossenbrode	Germany
GRÖ	Gromitz	Germany
GRO	Groningen	Netherlands
GS	Gasselte	Netherlands
GT	Grafhorst	Netherlands
GU		Guernsay
GV	Guilvinee	France
GW	Glasgow	Scotland	Only a few boats use the GW registration and none operate from within the City boundaries. Glasgow used to be a major port and shipbuilding centre but it never had a fishing fleet. (2000)
GY	Grimsby	England
H	Helsingor	Denmark
H	Heyst	Belgium
H	Hordaland	Norway
H	Hull	England
H	Unknown	Portugal
HA	Haparanda	Sweden
HA	Harlingen	Netherlands
HAF	Haffkrug	Germany
HAL	Halsteren	Netherlands
HAR	Harlesiel	Germany
HAS	Audeich/Kreuzdeich	Germany
HAS	Hasselt	Netherlands
HAT	Hatzum	Germany
HB	Het Bildt	Netherlands
HBK	Hamburg - Kleinfahrzeuge	Germany
HC	Cuxhaven	Germany
HD	Halmstad	Sweden
HD	Den Helder	Netherlands
HE	Hayle	England
HEI	Heikendorf	Germany
HEIL	Heiligenhaven	Germany
HEL	Helgoland	Germany
HEL	Hel	Poland
HEN	Hennstedt Horst	Germany
HF	Hamburg - Finkenwerder	Germany
HG	Helsingborg	Sweden
HG	Hjoring	Denmark
HH	Hamburg	Germany
HH	Harwich	England
HI	Hindelopen	Netherlands
HK	Holbaek	Denmark
HK	Harderwijk	Netherlands
HL	Hemellumer	Netherlands
HL	Hartlepool	England
HL	Hudiksvall	Sweden
HN	Hoorn	Netherlands
HND	Hornosand	Sweden
HO	Honfleur	France
HO	Hoogeveen	Netherlands
HOE	Hoedekenskerke	Netherlands
HOH	Hohwcht	Germany
HOK	Hoek	Netherlands
HON	Hontenisse	Netherlands
HOO	Hooge Hooksiel Hoopte	Germany
HOR	Horumersiel	Germany
HÖR	Hornum	Germany
HP	Hoofdplaat	Netherlands
HR	Herkingen	Netherlands
HS	Haamstede	Netherlands
HT	Heenvliet	Netherlands
HT	Horta	Portugal
HU	Huelva	Spain
HU	Hunavatn	Iceland
HUB	Hubertsberg	Germany
HUS	Husum	Germany
HV	Hellevoetsluis	Netherlands
HV	Hadersley	Denmark
HVH	Hoek van Holland	Netherlands
HVL	Hoogvliet	Netherlands
HW	Hoogwoud	Netherlands
HZ	Huizen	Netherlands
I	Isigny	France
IB	Ibiza	Spain	Many beaches and harbours with small boats (1984)
IE	Irvine	Scotland
IH	Ipswich	England
IL	Ilpendam	Netherlands
IJM	Ijmuiden	Netherlands
INS	Inverness	Scotland	There is no fishing fleet here, but many boats working from Scottish east coast ports use the INS registration letters. (2002)
IO	Isle d'Oleron	France
IS	Isafjordur	Iceland
J		Jersey
JAS	Jastarnia	Poland
JEM	Jemgum	Germany
K	Kieldrecht	Belgium
K	Kirkwall	Orkney Islands Scotland	Only a few fishing boats are based in Kirkwall. Small fishing boats can be found in the many harbours around the Orkney Islands, but most of the big trawlers land their catches in the Scottish mainland ports of Scrabster, Wick, Fraserburgh and Peterhead. (1998)
K	Kopenhagen	Denmark
KA	Karlskrona	Sweden
KAP	Kappeln	Germany
KAS	Kasenort	Germany
KB	Krabbendijke	Netherlands
KD	Kristianstad	Sweden
KD	Kattendijke	Netherlands
KE	Koege	Denmark
KE	Keflavik	Iceland
KE	Kerkwerve	Netherlands
KEL	Kellenhusen	Germany
KET	Ketelsby	Germany
KG	Klaksvig	Faeroe Islands
KH	Kolhorn	Netherlands
KIE	Kiel	Germany
KK	Koudekerke	Netherlands
KL	Klundert	Netherlands
KN	Karlshamn	Sweden
KN	Kruiningen	Netherlands
KNO	Knork	Germany
KO	Koog aan der Zaan	Netherlands
KOL	Kolberg	Germany
KOL	Kolobrzeg	Poland
KP	Kampen	Netherlands
KR	Kalmar	Sweden
KR	Korsor	Denmark
KRA	Krakstorf	Germany
KRO	Kronsgaard	Germany
KU	Kuinre	Netherlands
KW	Katwijk	Netherlands
KY	Kirkcaldy	Scotland	No local fishing fleet - the boats are further along the coast at the harbours of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem and St. Monans. The Scottish Fisheries Museum at Anstruther is worth a visit (2002)
L	Lannion	France
L	Lemvig	Denmark
L	Limerick	Ireland
L	Lisbon	Portugal
LA	Landskrona	Sweden
LA	La Rochelle	France
LA	Llanelli	Wales
LA	Lulea	Sweden
LAB	Laboe	Germany
LAN	Langeness	Germany
LANG	Langholz	Germany
LBB	Leerort	Germany
LE	Finkenwarder	Germany
LE	Leixoes	Portugal
LE	Lemsterland	Netherlands
LEB	Leba	Poland
LEE	Leer	Germany
LEM	Lemkenhafen	Germany
LF	Altenwerder	Germany
LG	Lagos	Portugal
LH	Le Havre	France
LH	Leith	Scotland	This is the port for the City of Edinburgh, the Capital of Scotland, but there are no fishing boats here - they are all in the harbours of Musselburgh, Cockenzie, Port Seaton, North Berwick and Dunbar along the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, and the North Sea harbours of St. Abbs and Eyemouth (2002)
LI	Littlehampton	England
LIP	Lippe	Germany
LIST	List auf Sylt	Germany
LK	Lerwick	Shetland Islands Scotland	The main harbours are in Lerwick and nearby Scalloway, but there are many small harbours and moorings all round the islands. You need a car to get around. There are excellent and frequent inter island ferry services. Allow for flexible planning if visiting - gale force winds are common and weather conditions can stop air and ferry services at short notice. (1994)
LK	Lubeck	Germany
LL	Liverpool	England
LL	Lysekil	Sweden
LM	Landsmeer	Netherlands
LN	Lokken	Denmark
LN	Kings Lynn	England
LNG	Linkoping	Sweden
LO	London	England	No fishing fleet operates from the Capital of England, although a few boats based in the South of England region use the LO letters (2000)
LO	Lorient	France
LOG	Loga	Germany
LP	Lajes, Pico	Portugal
LP	Loppersum	Netherlands
LR	Lancaster	England
LS	Leens	Netherlands
LS	Sables d'Olonne	France
LT	Lowestoft	England
LUN	Nesserdeich – Wollersum	Germany
LW	Leewarden	Netherlands
LX	Lisbon	Portugal
LY	Londonderry	Northern Ireland
M	Middelkerke	Belgium
M	Marstal	Denmark
M	Milford Haven	Wales
M	Melilla	Spain
M	Mor og Romsdal	Norway
M	Murmansk	Russia
MA	Malaga	Spain
MA	Maassluis	Netherlands
MA	Marseilles	France
MAA	Maasholm	Germany
MD	Marstrand	Sweden
ME	Medemblik	Netherlands
ME	Montrose	Scotland	Not many fishing boats, and it can be difficult to get a good position for photographs. It is worth looking at the small harbours of Johnshaven, Gourdon, and Stonehaven, all on the main road north between Montrose and Aberdeen (2002)
MEL	Meldorf	Germany
MF		Malta	MF and PTF = "Part time" fishing boat F = "Full time" fishing boat
MG	Middelburg	Netherlands
MH	Menorca	Spain
MH	Middlesborough	England	Small boats operate from the beaches all along this part of the East coast of England, not from harbours, and are launched and recovered by tractors with trailers
MK	Marken	Netherlands
ML	Maasland	Netherlands
ML	Methil	Scotland	This harbour is hardly used by fishing boats
MLL	Melilla	Spanish North Africa
MM	Mom	Sweden
MN	Maldon	England
MN	Marennes	France
MO	Malmo	Sweden
MO	Monnikendam	Netherlands
MP	Meppel	Netherlands
MR	Manchester	England	Big city in middle of England with a canal to the sea. You could grow old trying to find any fishing boats here
MT	Martigues	France
MT	Maryport	England
MT	Middlefart	Denmark
MU	Muiden	Netherlands
MUN	Munkmarsch-Sylt	Germany
MX	Morlaix	France
N	Nakskov	Denmark
N	Nazare	Portugal	Small boats launch direct from the beach but there is also a modern harbour just outside the town (1984)
N	Newport	Wales
N	Newry	Northern Ireland
N	Nieuwpoort	Belgium
N	Nordland	Norway
NA	Nantes	France
NB	Emden	Germany
NB	Nieuw Beierland	Netherlands
NC	Cuxhaven	Germany
ND	Nyord	Denmark
ND	Nieuwe Niedorp	Netherlands
NE	Newcastle	England
NES	Nessmersiel	Germany
NEU	Neufeld Neuharlingersiel Neuhaus/Oste	Germany
NEUK	Neukirchen	Germany
NF	Nykjobing	Denmark
NG	Ditzum/Emden	Germany
NG	Nyborg	Denmark
NG	Nykoping	Sweden
NI	Nice	France
NI	Nieuwendam	Netherlands
NIE	Niendort	Germany
NK	Neskaupstadur	Iceland
NK	Nijkerk	Netherlands
NKG	Norrkoping	Sweden
NN	Newhaven	England
NO	Noirmoutier	France
NOR	Norddeich	Germany
NS	New Ross	Ireland
NS	Seydisfjordur	Iceland
NT	Nord-Trondelag	Norway
NTO	Nieuwe Tonge	Netherlands
NV	Nieuw Vossemeer	Netherlands
NW	Noordwijk	Netherlands
NZ	Nazare	Portugal
NZ	Terneuzen	Netherlands
O	Odense	Denmark
O	Olhao	Portugal
O	Oslo	Norway
O	Ostende	Belgium
Ø	Ostfold	Norway
OB	Oban	Scotland	Important ferry terminal for the Scottish Islands. Used by a number of fishing boats, but not a major fishing harbour - most of the boats use the remote port of Mallaig
OB	Brake	Germany