NAVIBANDAR TO VERAVAL - 205

Veraval:
General information:
The Veraval town (20º 54'.00 N 70 º22'.00 E) lies at the head of a small exposed bay indenting a straight stretch of coastline. It is situated 68 miles South of Porbandar. 
Veraval is a fair weather lighterage port with an intermediate anchorage. The principal activity is fishing. The port also handles trading of food grains and general cargo.	

Limiting conditions:
Tidal levels. Mean spring range about 1.6 m; mean neap range about 0.7 m. See information in Tide Tables.
Maximum size of vessel handled. Lighter crafts of draught 2.5 m to 3 m and 75MT.
Weather.The SW monsoon affects the port adversely and it is closed to shipping from mid-May to mid-September.

Arrival information: 
Port Operations. At a time, only three vessels can be worked, when weather permits, between mid-Septembers until mid-May. Vessels lie at anchor in the roads and load and discharge by barges working to two basins in the inner harbour.
Vessels are to inform port office 24 hours in advance prior arrival on CH 16.

Principal marks: 
Port Flagstaff (20º 54'.137 N, 70º 22'.14 E, height-16m) located on the rooftop of port office.
Mosque Minaret (20º 54'.019 N, 70º 22'.135 E) located near the landward side of Western breakwater.
Veraval lighthouse (20º 54'.6 N, 70º 21'.2 E) is of 34 m height semicircular front masonry tower (black and white bands).
Water tower and Bhidbhajan temple located approximately 41/2 cables NNW of the port.   

Leading marks:
The alignment (041½º) of the following marks leads from SW towards the anchorage:
Bhid Bhanjan Beacon Light (white square masonry tower, red bands, 6 m in height) (20º 53'.94 N, 70º 22'.98 E).
Bhid Bhanjan Temple (21º 06'.38 N, 70º 05'.98 E)(close NE).

Useful mark:
Eastern Breakwater Head Light (20º 53'.84 N, 70º 22'.52 E) flashing Green is exhibited from the SW end of the breakwater.
Western Breakwater light flashing Red is exhibited from the SE end of the breakwater.

Rivers, landing and anchorage:
Rivers and landing:
Singwada River has its mouth close E of Mul Dwarka (20º 46'.0 N, 70º 40'.0 E), the river is nearly dry except during the monsoon season.
Landing.Good landing can be effected for boats on the S side of Mul Dwarka.
Somat River enters the sea through two mouths 1 and 2 miles W of Mul Dwarka.

Anchorage: 
Small craft can anchor in a cove protected by a spit, close S of Sutrapara (20º 51' N, 70º 28' E); a bandar near the center of the cove provides a good landing place. High sandhills SE and cliffs, about 15 m high, NW help to identify 
this cove.

VERAVAL TO PORBANDAR:
Topography: 
This stretch of coastline is virtually straight with a steep beach in parts and a coastal reef that extends a short distance offshore. At intervals along the coast several small rivers empty into the sea during the rainy season, however, 
during the fine season most of the river mouths are usually blocked by sand.
The coast is generally rocky between Veraval Lighthouse and Chorwad Bandar, 9 miles NW, with low cliffs in places; between Shil Bandar (21º11'.0 N, 70º 02'.20 E) and Madhavpur, 6 miles NW, sandhills fringe the coast. 
From Navibandar (21º 27' N, 69º 47' E) to Porbandar, 16 miles NW, there are more sandhills with clumps of trees growing near the villages; an extensive swamp lying inland, which is flooded during the rainy season, abounds in water flow.
Surf and a rocky bottom in places makes landing difficult on this stretch of coastline.

Depths:
There are no charted dangers except for two dangerous wrecks (20º 50'.5N, 70º 00'.5E) & (21º 28'.46N, 69º 24'.81E) seaward of the 30m depth contour.

Principal marks:
New Hazur Palace (21º 37'.73 N, 69º 36'.83 E) stands about 1 mile SW of the town of Porbandar, a flagstaff stands close NW of the palace.
Kadar Pir (21º 38'.25 N, 69º 35'.20 E) a conspicuous mosque stands W of Porbandar Harbour.

Major lights:
Veraval Light (20º 54'.6 N, 70º 21'.2 E, 34 m height semicircular front masonry tower (black and white bands))
Mangrol Light (white 6-sided concrete tower, red bands, 35 m in height) (21º 06'.56 N, 70º 06'.28 E).
Porbandar Light (white round concrete tower, black bands, 41 m in height) (21º 37'.37 N, 69º 37'.18 E); it should be noted, that with off-shore winds, the lighthouse is sometimes obscured by emissions from a chemical factory which 
stands 3¼ cables NE.



Directions:
The route leads 64 miles NW from a position 	SSW of Veraval Lighthouse to a position SW of Porbandar, passing (with positions from Madhavpur, a small walled town standing near the coast, (21º 15'.0 N, 69º 57'.5 E).
SW of an 8.3 m patch (28 miles SE), then to to: Clear of a dangerous wreck (25 miles S), and: 
Depending on draught, clear of a wreck (5 miles S), Then to:
SW of a wreck (26 miles NW), then to:
SW of a stranded wreck (29 miles NW), and: To a position SW of Porbandar.

Porbandar:
General Information: 
Porbandar town (21º 37'.90 N, 69º 35'.87 E) is one of the largest on the Kathiawar coast, it lies on the E side of the entrance to a narrow creek which flows out between the town and a point close W.

Harbour:
General layout:
An S-shaped breakwater provides the protection to the port. The breakwater extends about 2620 m S, from the W entrance point of the narrow creek described at 8.219. A light is sighted at the head of the breakwater. The main alongside 
berth lies on the E side of the breakwater and anchorage may be obtained in deep water seaward of the breakwater head. The inner harbour lies NW of the town.
Caution: 
It was reported that cyclone damage had resulted in two breaches of the breakwater, S of the berth; the breaches are about 280 and 350 m from the S end of the breakwater.
Development:
Future plansinclude the extension of the existing breakwater by 800 m eastward and providing 400 m landing space. Construction of a second breakwater extending 1 mile S from the vicinity of Porbandar Lighthouse.Construction of gravity
wharfs of 300 m in between finger and Coast guard jetty for sailing vessels and miscellaneous cargo. 
Depths: 
The depth shoals gradually towards the shore, North of the 10 m depth contour. There are several drying patches in the vicinity of the breakwater and along the coastline; the entrance channel to the inner harbour creek, described below, 
also dries. An area of foul ground exists about 2½ cables E of berth located on the inner side of the breakwater. Several stranded and dangerous wrecks lie within the harbour. Their positions are best shown on the chart.
Channel:
There is no marked channel for entering into the main harbour. A small craft channel leads from the main harbour N of the reefs fronting the creek, then to through the creek, to the inner harbour.
Storm signals are displayed from a conspicuous flagstaff standing near the E entrance of the creek by using the general system. 
Tidal streams: 
Tidal streams are negligible in the offing. The out-going stream, within the creek, runs strongly and continues well after low water; if leaving the creek on the out-going stream, great care must be taken to avoid being set on to 
the reef at the entrance.

Leading and useful marks:
The alignments (given below) of the following marks lead through the channel towards the creek at the entrance of the inner harbour:
A pair of leading beacons standing 4 cables W of the conspicuous minarets (21º 38'.3 N, 69º 35'.8 E), in line bear 292º.
A similar pair of beacons standing 7 cables ESE of the above minarets, in line (astern) bear 111¼ º.

Useful marks:
Breakwater head light (white metal framework tower, red bands) (21º 37'.0 N, 69º 35'.5 E).
Under construction building of 45 m height in position 21º 37'.8 N, 69º 36'.76 E is located near the Huzoor palace.
Porbandar light house is a 41 m round concrete tower with black and white bands. It lies on the Eastern side of breakwater headlight.

Anchorages and berths:
Anchorages:
Large vessels can obtain anchorage 1 mile SSW of the breakwater light in an open roadstead, in depths of 12 m. approach to the anchorage from break water is 1.1 mile. Two steamers can operate at a time. Anchorage operations remain 
closed during monsoon period due to heavy swell and winds. It is advised that vessel remain 5 miles SW of break water, after berthing is finalized by port authority the vessel approaches as per agent/port authority advise. 
Anchorage is prohibited during monsoon season.
Examination:
An examination anchorage is centered about 1½ miles WNW of the breakwater head light, in a depth of 15 m; as shown on the chart. 
Lighterage: 
Small crafts can obtain anchorage E of the breakwater, which is also used for small craft lighterage operations.

Chorwad Bandar:
General information.Chorwad Bandar (2lº 00'.23 N, 70º 13'.67 E) provides anchorage for small craft.
Megal River flows into the sea, during the SW monsoon, about 5 cables SE of Chorwad Bandar.

Mangrol Bandar:
General information:
Mangrol Bandar (21º 06'.56 N, 70º 06'.28 E) is a small fishing harbour, providing safe alongside berths for the local fishing vessels. It is situated on the West Coast of Saurashtra peninsula facing Arabian Sea in 
Junagadh district.
The Mangrol town lies about 1 mile inland and a high tower (notcharted) in the town may aid its identification from a distance of at least 10 miles. The mosque here is remarkable for a finely carved interior.
Topography:
There are cotton and betel nut plantations and many trees in the vicinity of Mangrol.
Function:
Mangrol is an important fishing harbour on the Gujarat coast. 



Fishing Activities: 
Fishing is the major activity of this port and the economy of the township and area around is partially dependent on fishing industries.
Useful mark:
West Breakwater Light (21º 06'.38 N, 70º 05'.98 E) (square concrete tower, 4 min height).
Mangrol lighthouse (21º 06'.3 N, 70º 06'.3 E)is a 35 m hexagonal concrete tower with red and white bands. It is located on the Eastern side of the new basin.
Channel entrance:
Local knowledge is considered essential for the vessels entering harbour. Harbour can be approached from the SE direction along the West breakwater.

Shil Bandar:
General information: 
ShilBandar (21º 11'.0 N, 70º 02'.20 E) is a coastal fishing village situated on the South of the creek in Junagadh district of Gujarat. The main village is located at a distance of 02 km from the coast. It is located 15 km North of Mangrol harbour. 
Function: 
Shil Bandar is a small fishing village and approximately 30 to 40 small fishing boats operate from the sandy beaches along the coast. The principal activity is fishing.
LimitingConditions:
This Bandar provides no shelter and is available to local crafts only. Use of Bandar by fishing crafts is limited in rainy season. There is no conspicuous object present for navigation.

Navibandar:
Position:
Navibandar (21º 26'.7 N, 69º 47'.4 E) is a small town situated between the Southern bank of Bhadar river and the sea coast. It lies 40 km S of the city Porbandar. Bhadar river flows into the sea close NW of the town.
Function:
Navibandar is a fishing villageand provide shelter to small fishing crafts on the Southern bank of the river.
Navibandar Light (21º 27'.02 N, 69º 47'.16 E) is exhibited from the sea wall of the centre bastion of the town.
Storm signals are displayed by using the brief system. See 1.36.
Anchorage:
Vessels can anchor with the above light-structure bearing 099º distant 1 mile, in a depth of about 9 m, sand and mud; as shown on the chart.