CHART 220 Tanurnagaram to Manakkodam General information This stretch of coast is generally straight, low, sandy and fringed with palms which are only broken by the entrances to rivers and backwaters. Between Kochi and the mouth of the Periyar River, about 13 miles N, the coast is densely populated and the hinterland flat. There after about 18 miles ENE of Chettuva (10º 32’ N, 76º 03’ E) a range of hills over 305 m high in their highest part, stand between the Western Ghats and terminate abruptly towards the S; the NW summit of the range is radar conspicuous. The coast between Beypore and Ponnani (10º 46' N, 75º 55' E), about 24 miles SSE, is low, sandy, fringed with palms, and backed by red laterite hills. A tableland, about 90m high, with a few scattered trees, lies about 9 miles N of Ponnani. Small fishing harbours/Fish landing places used by small fishing vessels can be found in this stretch. Depths There are no charted dangers seawards of the 30 m depth contour. It has been reported that the depth contours and Coastline between Njarakal (10º 03' N, 76º 13' E) and Periyar River, 9 miles NNW, had extended about 5 cables seaward in places. Natural conditions Surf. At the start of the SW monsoon, there is always a swell and surf on the coast in the vicinity of Malipuram (10º 01' N, 76º 13' E), but after about one week it becomes smooth, though a confused sea will often persist offshore. Currents. The currents are of monsoonal origin but tend to follow the trend of the coast. From November to January the sets are NW with rates of up to 1 kts. In July and August, when the SW monsoon is well established, SE sets with rates of up to 2 kts are experienced. Exceptionally, onshore sets of up to 1-5 kts may be found during the NE monsoon and up to 3 kts during the SW monsoon. Principal marks Landmarks: Kochi Lighthouse. Chimney (red and white bands, 82 m in height) (10°04'.82N, 76°18'.84E). Azhikode Lighthouse (white square masonry tower, black bands, 34 m in height) (10°12'.19N, 76°09'.46E). Kollengode Bluff stands about 42 miles NE of Kochi at the NW end of the Aanamalai Hills (10°30'.48N, 76°39'.39E), it is conspicuous during the NE monsoon. The bluff forms the S side of Palakkad Gap. Chettuva Lighthouse (white round masonry tower, red bands, 30 m in height) (10°33'.17N, 76°01'.01E). Boundary pillar (white, 6 m in height) (10°45'.25N, 75°55'.07E), stands close to the coast about 1 mile SSE of the entrance to Ponnani River; a similar pillar stands on a ridge of sand about 5 cables N of the entrance. Ponnani Lighthouse (White RCC masonry tower, black bands, 30 m in height) (10°46'.56N, 75°55'.17E). Urot Mala (478 m in height) (11°05'.28N, 76°00'.56E), a hill which makes a good landmark from NW; it is radar conspicuous. Olavattur Kunnu (228 m in height) (11°11'.58N, 75°55'.54E), a hill standing among other isolated hills E of Beypore. Beypore lighthouse (11°09'.48N, 75°48'.35E) Vavul Mala (11°25'.66N, 76°07'.90E) For landmarks at Beypore see 5.123. Major lights Kochi Light. Azhikode Light. Chettuva Light. Ponnani Light. Other navigational aid Racon. Kochi Lighthouse. AIS. Kochi Lighthouse, Beypore lighthouse, Ponnani Lighthouse,Sea Angel, a wreck marking buoy (10°08'.20N 76°02'.90E) For more details see Indian list of Radio signals. Passage directions The route leads 60 miles NNW from a position W of Cochin (9º 58'N, 76º 15'E) to a position WSW of Tanur Nagaram. For this route the chart is sufficient guide. Caution. In depths of less than 30 m, vessels should give the dangerous wreck (10º 46'.5N, 75º 48'.0E), lying about 7 miles W of Ponnani, a wide berth. Clear of a dangerous wreck marked by a light buoy (isolated danger) (10°08'.20N 76°02'.90E), give wide berth of 1 mile. Useful marks Chettuva S boundary pillar (white, 6 m in height) (10º 29' N, 76º 03' E). Chettuva N boundary pillar (two black and white bands, 6 m in height) (10º 32' N, 76º 02' E). Caution. The existence of the above pillars is doubtful. Tanur Nagaram Light (10º 59' N, 75º 52' E) is exhibited from the village of Tanur Nagaram; a tableland covered with palms is situated about 1 mile NE of the light. Kota Kunnu (11º 08’ N, 75º 51' E) a hill standing about 1¾ miles ENE of Beypore S Boundary Pillar. Exercise Areas Submarine exercise and firing practice areas, shown on chart, lie in the approaches to Kochi. Submarine cable A submarine cable extends WSW from 10°08'.41N, 76°10'.69E, about 4 miles SSE of Azhikode Lighthouse. Rivers Small fishing harbours are situated on the river entrances and are generally easy to identify from sea because of the gap in the coastal fringe of palms. Munambam Fishing Harbour General information. Munambam (10011’N, 76010E), is about 22 mile. north of Kochi harbour and 47 Nm. south of Ponnani Port. This is an estuary where one branch of Periyar River after joining the Chalakudy and Pullut rivers meets the Arabian Sea. Both banks of the estuary are well-developed areas. In the northern bank, Azhikode fishing village and the southern bank, Munambam. Two rubble mound breakwaters (625 m and 360 m) protects the harbour. Port Authority Port Conservator,Port Office, Kodungallur. PIN – 680 666 Phone - 0480-2819471 kodungallurport@gmail.com Facility RCC wharf - 440m long. Small boats for transferring cargo are also available. Kodungalloor Municipal Town is 22 km away from Azhikode fishing village and the town of Parur is 12 km from Munambam. Chettuva Fishing Harbour General information. Chettuva Fishing Harbour (10o30’30” N 760 02’ 30” E) is situated 27 mile north of Munambam Fishing Harbour and 17 mile south of Ponnani Fishing Harbour. This is the entrance of a breakwater. In this region mud banks are often formed during monsoon. This attracts fishermen from other areas to migrate to the coastal area to exploit the rich resources and the landing facilities. Two Breakwaters protect this harbour. Facility 1. There are two Fish Landing Centres (FLC) operating on either bank of Chettuva River. The Munakkakadavu FLC and Chettuva FLC. An RCC wharf of 60 m is available in the harbour. 2. The harbour is located at just 1.5 km west of the NH 47 and 8 km south of Chavakkad town. Ponnani Fishing Harbour General information. Ponnani, (10°47'.11N, 75°54’ .71E) a busy seaport for local craft, for fishing, lies on the S side of the entrance of Bharathapuzha river, the longest river of Kerala. Port Authority Port Conservator, Port Office Ponnani Phone - 0494-2666058 portponnani@gmail.com Facility The port is having a wharf of 294 m. Tirur, a town located about 13 km N of the port, is well connected by railway. National Highway 17 (NH 17) is just ½ Km from the port. Small Craft Anchorages and Harbours Malipuram (10°01'.30 N, 76°13'.46 E), under the superintendence of the Kerala State Port Officer, is a small open port; most of its trade passes to and from Kochi through the backwater.