KOLACHEL TO MANAPPAD-223 Position. Colachel (8º 10' N, 77º 15' E) is an open roadstead with anchorage in about 13m in the lee of four small islets. Function.The principle export from this port is ilmenite sand. Port authority. The Port Conservator administers the port. Maximum size of vessels handled. Vessels of about 15 000 tons have used the port. Storm signal station. Storm signals, using the Brief system, are displayed from a flagstaff 4 cables E of Colachel Light. (8º 10' N, 77º 15' E). Dangers while approaching Pulleri Rock, 1m high, the SE danger in the approach to Colachel, lies about 3¾ cables SSE of Colachel Lighthouse. Patna Rock and Constance Rock, both with depths of 2.1 m, lie about 1 cable WNW and 2 cables NW of Pulleri respectively. Several rocks, above and below-water, lie up to about 3 cables S and SW from Colachel Lighthouse. Kurusukal, 6 m high and surmounted by a white shrine carrying a black patriarchal cross, lies about 1 cable S of Colachel Lighthouse. Ahnakal, 3 m high, lies close SSE of Kurusukal, with a rock awash close SE of it. Sudukal Islet, 1½ cables SW of Kurusukal has a rock, above water, ¼ cable NW of it. Chadikal Islet lies 1¼ cables NW of Sudukal. Caution. Local knowledge required for Vessels approaching near or inside the Dangers. Useful marks Colachel Lighthouse is shown from a white platform on a mound close to the foreshore SW of the town. The Roman Catholic Church lies ¼ cable NNW of Colachel Lighthouse. Roadstead Anchorage. Anchorage can be obtained in depths of 20 m, with the flagstaff bearing 045°, 1.3 miles. Small vessels can obtain anchorage in about 13m, sand, with the flagstaff bearing 004°, 0.5 mile. Mooring buoys are moored about 0.3 mile SE of Colachel Light. Landing.During good weather it is fairly easy as the rocks off the village form a practical breakwater to the heavy surf on the coast. Port services Medical facilities; limited provisions. Development A new port atColachel (Enayam) is in the advanced level of planning. The envisaged plan is to have a major transhipment port Kolachel to Cape Comorin Muttam Point (Muttum Point) (8°07'.46N., 77°19'E.), 12m high and with steep red cliffs, lies about 5 miles SE of Kolachel. The village of Muttamtura lies on the point. A light is shown on the point. A group of palmyra trees on high red ground, about 1 mile N of the light structure, forms a good landmark which can usually be seen above mist which may obscure the lighthouse. Muttam Point has been reported to give a good radar response at 18 miles. Vessels in the vicinity of Muttam Point, at night, should not approach into depths of less than 45m due to the dangers W and SW of the point. Crocodile Rock, a dangerous sunken rock, about 3 miles SW of Muttam Point Light, is the outermost danger; the sea does not break over it in calm weather. Adunda Rock, 3m high, lies about 1.3 miles SW of the point. It is difficult to identify from seaward, and foul ground extends about 0.2 mile NNW from it. Kota Rock, 6m high and steep-to on its W side, lies about 1.3 miles WNW of Adunda Rock. Vessels should not pass inside of Adunda and Kota Rocks. The coast extends about 14 miles ESE from Muttam Point to Cape Comorin(8° 05'N, 77° 33'E). A heavy surf prevails along this coast and ship's boats should not attempt to land; the local inhabitants use only catamarans.3.24 Wedge Bank, with a least depth of 54m, lies about 25 miles SW of Cape Comorin. From Tuticorin (08°48'.02N, 78°09'.62E) to Manappad Point the coast is low, sandy and fringed with coconut trees. The coast WSW of Manappad Point (08°22'.37N, 78°03'.80E) to Kanyakumari is higher than that in other parts of the W side of Gulf of Mannar, with undulating sand hills up to 60m in height; the hinterland is mostly reddish soil and rises gradually to the foot of the Southern Ghats, a few miles inland. Many villages and whitewashed churches lie along this stretch of coast. The coastline is fronted by isolated dangerous rocks which is some places extend up to 1 mile offshore. Depths Seaward of the 30 m depth contour there are no charted off-lying dangers. Within the 20 m depth contour, and from 10 to 13 miles offshore, there are pearl banks lying between Tuticorin and Kayalpattinam (08°33'.83N, 78°08'.04E). Local knowledge Local knowledge is essential for entry to some of the small ports and anchorages situated on this stretch of coast. Vessels rounding Kanyakumari from W during the NE monsoon, having been sheltered by the land as far as Muttam Point, 14 miles W of the cape, may suddenly pass from a calm into the strength of the monsoon, similar conditions are met by vessels even if well offshore. Natural conditions Currents are subject to large changes in set and rate during the course of a year. Tidal streams Off Kanyakumari the incoming tidal streams sets E and out-going W; their strength and direction is much affected by the monsoon currents Cape Comorin to Manppad Cape Comorin (8°04'.80N., 77°32'.80E.), the S extremity of India, is low and sandy, with a small white pagoda on its extremity. This pagoda is surrounded by a high wall above which the top may be seen. A bungalow lies NW of the pagoda. A conspicuous memorial, 37m high, lies close W of the cape. The coast close W of the pagoda is barren and sandy, but is wooded NE of it.4.2 Cape Comorin Light is shown from a square white tower, 63m high, and painted in red bands, about 0.3 mile NW of.the cape. A church, 54m high, lies in a village about 0.5 mile N of the cape.4.2 Good radar returns have been reported from Cape Comorin at 23 miles..4.2 Foul ground extends about 0.5 mile S and SE from the cape. An area of foul ground lies 1.5 miles offshore, about 6 miles W of Cape Comorin.4.2 The land rises gradually N of Cape Comorin so that from a distance the cape appears as a sandy promontory. A mountain, 369m high, about 4 miles NW of the cape, appears as a pointed cone except from E or S. A range, about 9 miles farther N, with heights up to 1,041m, resembles a camel's hump.4.2 Mahendragiri, 1,657m high, lies about 19 miles N of the cape. These high peaks of the Western Ghats may be mistaken at a great distance for the 370m mountain nearer to the cape. Tides—Currents.—The tidal currents off Cape Comorin set E during the flood and W during the ebb, but their direction and strength are much affected by the ocean currents.4.2 An obelisk, 8m high, lies on the coast about 2 miles N of Cape Comorin, and serves to mark the position of a stranded wreck about 0.5 mile ESE.4.2 Caution.—When approaching Cape Comorin from the NW during the NE monsoon, a vessel sheltered by the coast as far as Muttam Point, about 14 miles W of the cape, may suddenly pass from a calm into the strength of the monsoon, even if already well offshore.4.2 East Cape (8°12'N., 77°47'E.) is prominent, and the coastal reef, with depths of 5.5m, extends about 1 mile offshore near the cape.4.2 Anchorage.—Shelter from W winds can be found in the bight between Cape Comorin and East Cape, but during the SW monsoon landing by ship's boats should not be attempted as swells roll into the bight.4.2 Anchorage for small vessels can be obtained in 7.3m, in the bight N of East Cape, partially protected from W winds and swell by the coast SW.4.2 Manappad Point (8°22'N., 78°04'E.) is a high sandy promontory with a rock base. A light is shown from a white, round concrete tower with red diagonal stripes. The village of Manappad lies 0.8 mile W of the point.4.2 Manappad Outer Shoal, with a least depth of 7.3m, lies about 8 miles SE of Manappad Point. A 13.4m shoal, reported in 1976, lies about 6 miles farther E. Other shoals lie WNW and WSW. Vessels should avoid passing through this area, and in thick weather should not get into depths less than 35m.4.2 Anchorage.—Good anchorage can be obtained during the NE monsoon, in 11m, about 1 mile offshore between Manappad Point and the town of Periya Talai, about 6 miles WSW of the point. From June through August, when the SW monsoon is strong, heavy seas roll in on this part of the coast.