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Algeria Flag of Algeria

Pre Arrival:  Charts
Pollution:  Pollution
Facilities:  Medical
Local Info:  Time | Holidays | Weather
Shore:  Banks | Customs
Crew:  Leave | Repatriation
Report:  Report
General Information for Algeria
Geo-political:
Capital City: Algiers. 36° 45.00′ N, 003° 03.00′ E
Nationality: (noun) Algerian(s), (adjective) Algerian.
Population: 42,972,878 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 213.
Number of Internal Airports: 149 (2020).
Major Languages Spoken: Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber or Tamazight ; dialects include Kabyle Berber (official; Taqbaylit), Shawiya Berber (Tacawit), Mzab Berber and Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Algerian Dinar (DZD) of 100 Centimes.
Exchange Rates:  (as of November 2020)
USD 1.00 = DZD 129.05
Exchange rates under licence from XE.com
Main Industries: Petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical and food processing.
Agricultural Products: Wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits, sheep and cattle.
Imports: Capital goods, foodstuffs and consumer goods.
Exports: Petroleum, natural gas and petroleum products.
Commodities: Crude: Production 1,259,000 bbl/d. Exports 756,400 bbl/d. Imports 5,340 bbl/d. Reserves 12,200,000,000 bbl. Products: Production 627,900 bbl/d. Exports 578,800 bbl/d. Imports 82,930 bbl/d. LNG: Production 93,500,000,000 cu.m.. Exports 53,880,000,000 cu.m.. Reserves 4,504,000,000,000 cu.m..
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Exclusive Fishing Zone: Exclusive Fishing Zone: 32-52 nm.
Coastline Extent: 998 km.
Climate: Arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer.
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead and zinc.
Natural Hazards: Mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes, mudslides and floods in rainy season and droughts.
Terrain: Mostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain.
Average Temperatures: 
Month High Low
January 18° C 3° C
June 34° C 20° C
September 33° C 18° C
CHARTS:  Nautical charts, publications and Notices to Mariners produced by Service Hydrographique des Forces Navales (SHFN).
POLLUTION:  Pollution incidents shall be reported to Centre National des Operations de Surveillance et de Sauvetage en Mer (CNOSS) (for Oil & HNS). T: +213 (21) 430178. F: +213 (21) 437108. [email protected]
MEDICAL:  Hospitals and clinics in Algeria are available and improving in the large urban centres but are still not up to Western standards. Facilities at private clinics are usually better than at government hospitals. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for services. Most medical practitioners speak French; English is not widely used. Emergency services are satisfactory, but response time is often unpredictable.
Prescription medicines are not always readily available. Some pharmacies may at times be out-of-stock. In addition, the medicine may be sold under a different brand name and may contain a different dosage. Please be aware that some newer medications may not yet be available in Algeria. It is usually easy to obtain over-the-counter products.
Cases of tuberculosis are regularly reported but do not reach endemic levels. There have been a number of cholera cases reported in the provinces of Algiers, Blida, Bouira, Tipaza, Medea and Ain Defla. Every summer, public health authorities report limited occurrences of water-borne diseases, such as typhoid. In addition, HIV/AIDS is a concern in the remote southern part of the country, especially in border towns.
HOLIDAYS:  1 January (New Year's Day); 8 March (Woman's Day (celebrated by women); 1 May (Labour Day); 5 July (Independence Day); 1 November (Revolution Day); Islamic New Year (1st of Muharram); Ashura (10th of Muharram); Mawlid (Birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on 12th of Rabi' al-awwal); Eid ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan on 1st of Shawwal); Eid ul-Adha (10th day of month of Dhul Hijja).
WEATHER/TIDES:  Natural Disasters:  Parts of Algeria are prone to severe flood damage. Northern Algeria is also within an earthquake zone. In May 2003, a severe earthquake struck the Algiers area. There were over 2,200 dead and more than 10,000 injured. Smaller earthquakes occur regularly. In July 2014, an earthquake killed 6 people and injured 420.
BANKS:  The use of ATM machines and credit cards in Algeria is still confined mainly to hotels and a limited number of other businesses in the larger cities. Algerian Dinars should be obtained from Bureaux de Change at the international airports and larger hotels or from banks in the main cities. Do not attempt to change money on the streets. Algeria has strict foreign exchange laws and the Dinar cannot be exported.
CUSTOMS:  Currency:  Undeclared cash on board is subject to confiscation. Also, a fine of at least double the amount confiscated is imposed under the Law 96-22 (as amended by ordinance No. 10-03 dated 26/08/2010), on the repression of infringement on the laws and regulations of the exchange and capital movements to and from abroad.
The law states that considered a tentative violation or infringement to the legislation and the regulation of foreign exchange and capital movements to and from abroad, by any means whatsoever, is:
  1. false declaration
  2. failure to comply with obligations declarations.
In addition, the law defines that anyone who commits an offence as of the above shall be punished by imprisonment for between two and seven years and a fine. This fine shall not be less than twice the sum due, which brought the offence and the confiscation of the corpus delicti and means used for the fraud.
Masters should inform their local agents and declare any cash on board to the Customs. The declaration will be handed to Customs authorities in their presence.
Also see " Report" dated September 1995.
Contact: 
Algiers:  Direction Regionale des Douanes a Alger Port, 2 Rue Beziers, Alger centre. T: +213 (21) 423010. F: +213 (21) 744321. [email protected]
Arzew:  Inspection Divisionnaire des Douanes a Arzew, Route du Port Arzew, Oran. T: +213 (41) 475478. F: +213 (41) 477942. [email protected]
Bejaia:  Inspection Divisionnaire des Douanes a Bejaia, Avenue des Freres Amrane, Bejaia. T: +213 (34) 211040, 211121, 211193. F: +213 (34) 211243. [email protected]
Mostaganem:  Inspection Divisionnaire des Douanes a Mostaganem, Route de la Salamandre, Mostaganem. T: +213 (45) 339631. F: +213 (45) 339680. [email protected]
Oran:  Inspection Divisionnaire des Douanes a Oran-port, Rue Mimouni Lahcen Route du Port Oran. T: +213 (41) 381029, 394952/53/54. F: +213 (41) 392451. [email protected]
Skikda:  Inspection Divisionnaire des Douanes a Skikda, Avenue Zighoud Youcef, Skikda. T: +213 (38) 757878. F: +213 (38) 757919. [email protected]
SHORE LEAVE:  Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Algeria, including kidnappings; terrorist kidnappers have previously targeted foreigners, government officials and civilians in Algeria. Terrorist attacks have focussed on the Algerian state, but attacks could be indiscriminate and include foreigners. There is also a risk that lone actors target foreigners. You should be vigilant at all times and take additional security precautions, avoid political gatherings and demonstrations and take local advice.
In certain areas of larger cities there are incidents of robbery and thefts. Avoid areas that you do not know, especially after dark. Do not carry large amounts of money or valuables around with you. It’s generally safe to move around the centre of Algiers during the day. Ideally, travel around with someone who knows the city well. If you plan to tour the Casbah area of Algiers, use a good local guide and make sure local police and your hosts/hotel know about your plans. Do not accept lifts from people you do not know - use a taxi service recommended by the hotel.
Local laws reflect the fact that Algeria is a Muslim country. Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.
The weekend is on Friday and Saturday. Not all restaurants serve alcohol and alcohol is not served anywhere during Ramadan.
Women dress in a wide variety of styles in Algeria, including European, and do not have to cover their head unless visiting a mosque. To avoid unwelcome attention, women may wish to dress modestly, particularly outside of the main towns.
Possession, use and trafficking of controlled drugs are all serious criminal offences in Algeria and carry custodial sentences.
You do not have to carry your passport at all times, but take it with you if you are making a longer journey. You will need your passport if travelling internally by air. Keep a photocopy somewhere safe.
Homosexuality is illegal in Algeria. Sexual acts between people of the same sex are punishable by imprisonment.
Do not attempt to take photos of any government building or security installation. This includes police and police checkpoints.
REPATRIATION:  In Algeria, the age of majority (when a child is legally recognised as an adult) is 19 years and 1 day old. Any person under this age whose father is an Algerian citizen will be regarded as Algerian if the father’s name is on the birth certificate. Any such child leaving Algeria without the father will only be able to travel if the father signs an ‘Autorisation Paternelle’ or, if travelling with just one parent, the parent (whether mother or father) will be expected to prove their parental link through a Livret de famille or a certified copy. Unaccompanied minors will need a letter from their parent or guardian granting them permission to travel out of the country.
Visas:  Unless exempted, all non-Algerian nationals need to apply for a visa in order to enter Algeria. Nationals from the following countries do not require a visa to travel to Algeria: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Seychelles and Tunisia. Nationals from the following countries holding diplomatic or official passports (passeports de service) do not need a visa to travel to Algeria: Albania, Argentina 1, Benin, Brazil, Croatia 1, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, France 1, Germany 1, Greece, Guinea, Hungary 1, Italy, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Niger, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania 1, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam.
1 diplomatic passport only.