Chart 2068 Gulf of Kuchchh – Deep Water Route WEST PART OF THE GULF OF KACHCHH-SOUTHERN SIDE APPROACH AND ENTRY General Information 1 The coastal route leads 20 miles NNE from a position NW of Dwarka (22º 14'.62 N, 68º 57'.76 E), then 44 miles E to position N of Narara Bet. 2 Through the SW approach and entrance to the Gulf of Kachchh; the deep-water route extends to Vadinar Offshore Terminal (22º 30'.56 N, 69º 42'.07 E); as shown on the chart. 3 General information. Vessels, except those constrained by their draught, should as far as possible avoid using the Deep-water route by keeping N of the route and passing S of Ranwara Shoals, as described below. Fairways 1 Fairway 1 The route of 50 miles from Porbandar to Dwarka is defined by a safety fairway with depths of 60m to 25m. The safety fairway is bounded by under mentioned co-ordinates from a position approximately 35 miles West of Porbandar to approximately 10 miles West of Dwarka. 21° 37’.20 N, 69° 01’.68 E 21° 36’.35 N, 68° 58’.97 E 22° 16’.20 N, 68° 44’.75 E 22° 16’.27 N, 68° 47’.75 E 2 Fairway 2 The route of 30 miles is defined by a safety fairway with depths from 80 m to 25 m bounded by under mentioned co-ordinates from a position 40 miles South West of Okha Mandal to 11 miles West of Okha Mandal. 22° 03’.50 N, 68° 15’.38 E 22° 16’.27 N, 68° 44’.60 E 22° 18’.25 N, 68° 42’.80 E 22° 01’.10 N, 68° 16’.80 E 3 Fairway 3 The route of 35 miles is defined by a safety fairway with depths of 60m to 25 m between under mentioned co-ordinates from a position 44 miles West of Okha to 10 miles West of Dwarka. 22° 16’.20 N, 68° 44’.75 E 22° 16’.27 N, 68° 47’.75 E 22° 27’.35 N, 68° 15’.23 E 22° 24’.77 N, 68° 14’.50 E Topography 1 The Okha Mandal Peninsula NNE of Kachchigadh (22º 19'.88 N, 68º 56'.91 E), has a Coastline fringed with sand hills; its hinterland is very low. The coastline from Humani Point, the N point of Okha Mandal Peninsula; to Narara Bet is heavily indented with bays and fronted by numerous large reefs. Depths 1 Throughout this route, there is considerable variation in the depths. Hazard 1 Numerous small fishing vessels may be encountered off parts of the S coast of the Gulf of Kachchh. Tidal streams 1 Tidal streams set E when in-going and W when out-going; at the W edge of Gurur Shoal (22º 33'.28N, 69º 01'.59E), these streams attain a rate of 1½ kts at neaps. 2 Along the N face of Bural Reef (22º 30'.0N, 69º 20'.0E) the tidal stream has a rate from 4 to 6 kts. Tidal streams set 100° while inbound and 280° while outbound. These currents remain strong until one hour after peak of tide. Overfalls 1 Depths are irregular and heavy tide-rips are experienced, between Gurur Shoal and the mainland S and SE, on each side of the intervening deep-water channel, particularly on the out-going stream. It should be noted that the sea sometimes breaks in this channel even in calm weather. 2 In the vicinity of Chandri Reef (22º 31'.0 N, 69º 07'.54 E), Paga Reef (22º 28'.27 N, 69º 13'.18 E) and Bural Reef to the E, the uneven bottom causes overfalls and tide-rips which are particularly heavy at springs. 3 Heavy tide-rips occur off the NE end of Bural Reef when the tidal stream is strong. Principal marks 1 Landmarks. Chimney (elevation 102 m) (22º 24'.30 N, 69º 00'.65 E). Aramda Beacon (22º 26' N, 69º 00' E) stands a 1¾ miles W of the walled town of Aramda. Water tower (elevation 89 m) (22º 23'.96 N, 69º 42'.82 E).For landmarks at Sikka . 2 The following landmarks, standing on the N coast of the Gulf of Kachchh, may be visible from parts of the route: Asar Mata Temple (22º 50'.41 N, 69º 13'.15 E). House (22º 49'.78 N, 69º 16'.81 E). Tamachi Pir Tomb, which stands close E of above house. 3 Vijay villas Palace stands close N of above tomb. Radio mast (22º 52'.48 N, 69º 24'.00 E). Rawal Pir Tomb (22º 48'.89 N, 69º 23'.43 E). 4 Major lights: Dwarka Point Light (22º 14'.30 N, 68º 57'.50 E). Kachchigadh Light (22º 19'.87 N, 68º 56'.92 E). Humani Point Light (22º 28'.6 N, 69º 04'.2 E). Chhachhi Light (22º 57'.21 N, 69º 00'.87 E). Mandvi Light (22º 49'.75 N, 69º 20'.88 E). Navinal Point Light (22º 44'.43 N, 69º 42'.88 E). Pirothan Island NW Point Light (22º 36'.26 N, 69º 57'.13 E). Other navigational aids 1 Racon (22º 32'.7 N, 69º 16'.2 E) at Bural Reef Lighthouse. 2 Racon (22º 49'.75 N, 69º 20'.5 E) at Mandvi Lighthouse. 3 Racon (22º 30'.54 N, 69º 42'.08 E) at Vadinar Offshore Terminal SBM I. Directions Coastal route 1 The route leads 20 miles NNE from a position NW of Dwarka (22º 14'.68 N, 68º 57'.76 E), then 44 miles E to a position N of Narara Bet, passing (with positions from Bural Reef Light (22º 32'.71 N, 69º 16'.19 E) WNW of a stranded wreck (21 miles SW), then to: 2 WNW of an unnamed coastal reef with shoal patches extending about l½ miles seaward (19¾ miles WSW), then to WNW of Aramda Reefs (16¼ miles WSW), then to: 3 Depending on draught clear of a 9.4 m shoal (l8¼ miles WSW), then to WNW of Marian Shoal (l4½ miles WSW) with Bobby Shoal lying 1 mile NE, then to clear of Gurur Shoal (14½ miles W), and ESE of Lushington Shoal (27 miles WNW) and: 4 Humani Point (11½ miles WSW), at the N end of the Okhamandal Peninsula, forms the S entrance point of the Gulf of Kachchh; a tower stands on the point. A beacon stands on the coast 4 cables SSW of Humani Point; another beacon stands at the head of a small bay 1½ cables SSE of the same point. No 1 Buoy (starboard hand) is moored 1¾ miles NNW of the point at the extremity of shoal water in the W approaches to Okha . Then to: 5 WNW of a dangerous wreck (11 miles W) lying in the approaches to Okha, then to WNW and N of Chandri Reef (8 miles W), which dries in places and is covered by the red sector (217º-247º) of Samiani Island Centre Light (22º 29'.31 N, 69º 05'.23 E). Then to Clear of an obstruction (3¾ miles N), and: 6 S of Ranwara Shoals (10½ miles NNW); these two rocky shoals cover an extensive area with depths of 10 m or less, as shown on the chart, the sea always breaks over the SE shoal. Ranwara Light-buoy (port hand) is moored off the SW side of the SE shoal. Then to N of Bural Reef (Chank Reef) (extending 9 miles E), a large coral reef which is steep-to on its N side; the reef dries and it supports several islands. Then to clear of Investigator Reef (16 miles ENE) which lies, near the middle of the gulf, just S of the deep-water route. Then to N of Kalubhar reef. 7 Karumbhar Reef ( 20 miles ESE), and to a position N of Narara Bet an islet with a clump of trees, fronted by sand, which separates Pathfinder Inlet and Sikka Creek; the islet is joined to the mainland S by a mangrove swamp and surrounded N by Narara Reef. Deep-water route 1 Caution. Reports are often received concerning route buoys that are missing or unlit. 2 General information. The route is marked in accordance with IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Region A), it varies in width between 8 cables and 1¾ miles. There are controlling depths of 25 m at the beginning of the route, NW of Kachchigadh light, and 23 m NNE of Okha Point (22º 28'.44 N, 69º 05'.01 E); however, vessels should take into account possible changes which may have taken place due to meteorological or other effects since the last survey. 3 Directions. In the vicinity of position 22º 21'.0N, 68º 49'.0 E, the route is entered, about 7 miles WNW of Kachchigadh Light; it leads NNE between Lushington Shoal (22º 37'.76 N, 68º 47'.13 E) and Gurur Shoals , 13 miles ESE, and then to E into the gulf, passing S of Ranwara Shoals (22º 42'.0 N, 69º 19'.0 E) and N of Investigator Reef (22º 35'.54 N, 69º 33'.39 E) . 4 Under keel clearance. While proceeding at their normal service speed, deep draught vessels must allow a minimum under keel clearance of 20% of their draught. At reduced speed, the clearance in calm weather may be reduced to 15%; but if an appreciable sea or swell is running a 20% clearance must be allowed. Particular care should be taken where the chart indicates critical depths in the route and the vessels individual squat calculation applied. Clearing marks and lines 1 The alignment (171º) of the following marks leads W of Gurur Shoal (22º 33'.28 N, 69º 01'.59 E) and E of Lushington Shoal (22º 37'.76 N, 68º 47'.13 E): 2 Kachchigadh Fort (22º 19'.56 N, 68º 57'.17 E) and: Dwarkanath Temple (22º 14'.26 N, 68º 58'.05 E). 3 For vessels passing S of Gurur Shoal, Samiani Island Centre Lighthouse (22º 29'.31 N, 69º 05'.23 E) bearing between 092º and 103º passes S of Gurur Shoal and N of Marian Shoal, in a depth of not less than 11.3 m; note that Bobby Shoal, and other isolated patches, lie from 3 to 4½ miles W of the lighthouse between these bearings. Useful marks 1 Mojap Beacon (22º 21'.44 N, 68º 57'.81 E) a black masonry structure stands near a sandhill, about 30 m high, with bushes on it. 2 Mithapur Light 50 m in height) (22º 24'.42 N, 69º 00'.67 E) stands close NE of a conspicuous chimney. Samiani Island Centre Light (22º 29'.31 N, 69º 05'.23 E). 3 Samiani Island North Light (white masonry tower, black bands, 10 m in height) (22º 29'.50 N, 69º 05'.47 E) stands at the NE end of a drying reef extending NE from the island. 4 Bural Reef Light (white round tower, 12 m in height) (22º 32'.71 N, 69º 16'.19 E) stands near the NW extremity of Bural Reef. 5 Chank Tapu Light (white 4-sided concrete tower, black bands) (22º 32'.90 N, 69º 24'.57 E) stands near the NE extremity of Bural Reef. 6 Kalubhar Tapu Light (white round stone tower, 20 m in height) (22º 26'.32 N, 69º 35'.23 E) stands at the W end of Kaubhar Tapu from where the reef extends about 1¼ miles offshore.