Where can I fix my boat in Tunisia?
Haul-out at Tabarka, on-site work in four other ports. What can be done where, how the cost splits, and what to check before you choose a yard.
The YK Marine team6 min read
In brief
- Haul-out, antifouling, osmosis and painting: at the Tabarka yard, 160 t travel hoist, from 6 to 35 m.
- Engines, stainless steel, canvas and solar and wind power: on site in Bizerte, Gammarth, Sidi Bou Saïd and Hammamet.
- The cost: official port rates, yard work on a quote, and 250 TND of formalities for a foreign boat.
To fix your boat in Tunisia, the YK Marine yard hauls boats out in the port of Tabarka, in the north-west of the country: a 160 t travel hoist, boats from 6 to 35 m. Antifouling, wet blasting, osmosis treatment and hull painting are done there, ashore. In Bizerte, Gammarth, Sidi Bou Saïd and Hammamet, we work on site on engines, stainless steel, canvas and upholstery, and solar and wind power.
Boat repair in Tunisia: what is done where
| On site, 4 ports | Tabarka yard | |
|---|---|---|
| Haul-out | No | 160 t travel hoist, from 6 to 35 m |
| Antifouling | No | Yes, in 3 to 5 days |
| Wet blasting | No | Yes, the only yard in Tunisia |
| Osmosis and hull painting | No | Yes |
| Engines | Yes | Yes |
| Stainless steel and welding | Yes | Yes |
| Canvas and upholstery | Yes | Yes |
| Solar and wind power | Yes | Yes |
The four on-site ports are Bizerte, Gammarth, Sidi Bou Saïd and Hammamet. Is your boat there and does it need to come out of the water? Transport to Tabarka can be arranged on request.
- Ashore at Tabarka: sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans and RIBs, from 6 to 35 m. Antifouling, wet blasting, osmosis and GRP repair, hull painting. The yard also does joinery and teak decks and fibreglass moulding.
- Engines and electrics: inboard and outboard, all makes, and gearboxes. Servicing, repairs, propellers, shafts, bearings, anodes, boat electrics, custom parts turned on the lathe, and a sea trial. See engines and electrics.
- Stainless steel: pulpits, arches and repairs in 316L stainless, welded to measure. See stainless steel and welding.
- Canvas and solar and wind power: see canvas and upholstery and onboard power: solar and wind.
What a repair costs: three items
- The port: APIP, the port authority, charges for hoisting, the hard standing and berthing at its own rates.
- The yard: the work is done on a quote. The price depends on the boat, its condition and the job.
- Formalities, for a foreign boat: a paperwork and assistance package of 250 TND, not including the APIP fees.
| Paperwork and assistance package | 250 TND | YK Marine, for all the paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| Hoisting | 20 TND / tx | APIP, per gross ton (tx), relaunch included |
| Fixed fee | 50 TND | APIP, with the hoisting |
| Hard standing | 1 TND / tx / day | APIP, boat ashore |
APIP rates at the port of Tabarka, from a port quote in October 2026, subject to change. tx: gross tons. See also: apip.nat.tn.
Example: for a boat of 10 gross tons (tx), hoisting and the fixed fee come to 250 TND, about €75, then 10 TND a day ashore, about €3 (€1 ≈ 3.36 TND, Central Bank of Tunisia, 8 October 2026). Port rates can change.
Choosing a yard: what to check
Whichever yard you choose, ask these questions before you hand over your boat.
- The hoist: is it rated for your boat's weight? For a catamaran, does the beam fit between its legs?
- Blocking: enough supports on each side of the hull, and the keel resting on blocks.
- The quote: in writing, before any work starts.
- References: photos of jobs like yours.
- Language: being able to discuss the work without a go-between.
- Formalities: who handles them with you, and for how much.
- Living aboard: can you stay on the boat while it is ashore?
- Lead time: the haul-out date, how long the job will take, and how far ahead to book.
At YK Marine: a 160 t travel hoist for boats from 6 to 35 m, quick quotes in French or English, formalities done with you for 250 TND, and you can stay aboard ashore, day and night. Space is limited, afloat and ashore: book early.
Coming from Sardinia, Sicily or Malta
Sardinia, Sicily and Malta are one crossing away from Tabarka. Approximate distances, in a straight line:
- Southern Sardinia: about 120 to 135 nautical miles (Porto di Teulada 118, Carloforte 133, Cagliari 136).
- Sicily: about 180 nm to Marsala, 190 nm to Trapani.
- Malta (Valletta): about 285 nm.
Along the Tunisian coast, Bizerte is about 57 nm from Tabarka, Sidi Bou Saïd about 76 nm and Yasmine Hammamet about 93 nm.
A foreign boat clears in on arrival: customs, border police, the National Maritime Guard and APIP. We do it with you. The details are in the formalities at Tabarka, step by step.
Foreign yachts: haul-out and repairs at TabarkaA quote before you leave, formalities done with you on arrival.Getting a quote
1. Describe the boat
Type, length, work needed and dates, on WhatsApp at +216 20 373 243.
2. Get the quote
A quick quote, without a visit, in French or English.
3. Haul-out or on-site work
On the agreed day, at Tabarka or where the boat is.
4. Back in the water
Final check, and you sail on.
You can also email [email protected] or use the contact page. The yard is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 18:00, and Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 to 15:00.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to haul out in Tunisia?
Here are the rates at the port of Tabarka (APIP), taken from a port quote in October 2026, to compare with your own port. Hoisting (haul-out and relaunch): 20 TND per gross ton (tx), plus a 50 TND fixed fee. Hard standing: 1 TND per tx per day. Berthing: 1 TND per metre per day. Harbour dues: 2 TND per tx. For a boat of 10 tx, hoisting and the fixed fee come to 250 TND, about €75. Yard work is quoted separately.
How big a boat can be hauled out at Tabarka?
Up to 160 t and 35 m: sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans and RIBs, from 6 to 35 m.
Can I stay aboard during the work?
Yes, ashore, day and night.
Do you work outside Tabarka?
Yes, on site in Bizerte, Gammarth, Sidi Bou Saïd and Hammamet: engines, stainless steel, canvas and upholstery, and solar and wind power. Haul-outs, antifouling and osmosis treatment are done at Tabarka.
Our service areaHaul-out at Tabarka, on-site work in four ports.
