CHART NO. - 4253 APPROACHES TO PORT BLAIR 8.116 Shaheed Dweep (Neill Island) (11°50´ N, 93° 03´ E) lies S side of Fusilier Channel. Shaheed Dweep is a tiny but beautiful island with unexplored coral reefs, brilliant bio-diversity, white sandy beaches and tropical forest and vegetation; it is one of the hot tourist spots in the Andamans. Shaheed Dweep is known as the ‘vegetable bowl’ of the Andamans. There is a pier on the northern side of Shaheed Dweep, which extends 320 m NE between the drying reefs. The S coast of the Shaheed Dweep is low, partly fringed with mangroves and fronted by a reef extending 4 cables from the S end. The sea breaks heavily on this reef. The SW point of the island consists of dark coloured cliffs, 12m high and is steep-to. Fusllier Channel (Nancowry Strait), separates Swaraj Dweep from Shaheed Dweep. It is about 2½ miles wide and deep in the fairway but a 10 m patch lies at its W end and vessels should pass N of this patch. Nipple Hill, 101m high and conspicuous, stands at the NE point of the Island where prominent white cliffs rise steeply from the sea. The N coast of the Neill Island is fringed with reefs with some foul ground at the W end close of which lies some detached patches with depths of less than 5m. Berths 8.117 Shaheed Dweep Jetty 11°50´.2N, 93° 02´E) is mostly used by the small crafts with a draught of less than 3m. The depths alongside the jetty on Eastern side are more than 3 m. The approach channel to this jetty has a minimum depth of 3.0 m and two concrete stumps on either side temporarily mark the approach channel to this jetty. The approach to jetty between the drying reefs is 0.7 cables wide. The distance of drying reef from the jetty on Eastern side is 0.6 cables, while on the Western side it is 0.5 cables. A white cemented beacon 75m north of jetty marks the extent of this drying reef for approach to jetty. Landmarks 8.118 Concrete Beacon (11°50´.36N, 93°02´.18E). The beacon is damaged and not visual on surface. However concrete piles of the beacon is present in the same location and is dangerous for navigation. Murugan Temple, 12m high, stands 1¾ cables SW of the root of the pier; this temple in line bearing 212° with Coconut Stump standing near the flagstaff, leads to the head of the pier. Banana Hill Tree, 74m high, standing behind a school building, 4 cables W of Neill Island Pier is conspicuous. Anchorage 8.119 Anchorage may be obtained in a depth of about 20 m with the Concrete beacon bearing 170° distance 1.15 miles with good holding ground. The sea state in the area of recommended anchorage is generally higher than the western side of Shaheed Dweep. This phenomenon is attributable to the narrow distance between Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep, which acts as a venturi thereby giving rise to the prevailing sea state. The wind force in this area also is more than the wind prevailing in nearby area because of the above-mentioned reason. Alternate recommended anchorage can be obtained on the western side of the Neill Island in the depths of 25 to 30 meters. This is generally a sheltered area with calm sea and less winds and the bottom is Sand and is a good holding ground. Directions for Tadma Bay from E and S 8.121 Vessels approaching Tadma Bay from E should clear Pilot Reef and foul ground E of Swaraj Dweep bringing the W extremity of Sir Hugh Rose Island bearing 173°and just open E of the E extremity of Shaheed Dweep. When the extremity of the reef extending S from Runnymede Point is visible, course may be altered to NW into Tadma Bay. Vibart Shoal, with least depth of 15.6m, lies about 6 miles SE of Runnymede Point. Sir Hugh Rose Island (11°47´ N, 93° 05´ E), the S most island of Ritchie’s Archipelago, lies about 2.1 miles SE of Shaheed Dweep and is densely wooded. The NE end of the island is marked by conspicuous yellow cliffs, 24m high. A reef, extending upto 1 cable, fringes the island and from its E side, rocky ground, on which the sea breaks, extends 1 cable farther E. A rocky bank with depths of less than 8.2m extends 5 cables W and 3 cables SW from the island. Several patches, with depths from 5.5 to 10m, lie in Arthur Channel separating Shaheed Dweep and Sir Hugh Rose Island and as adjacent depths are very irregular, vessels are advised not to use this channel. Sir Hugh Rose Island Light (11° 47´.2N, 93° 05´.1E), is exhibited from a 22m high white circular cast iron tower with red bands standing near the summit of the island. The lighthouse marks the S most tip of Ritchie’s Archipelago. 8.141 The E coast of S Andaman Island between South Point and Chiriyatapu, about 11½ miles SSW, is bold. Sesostris Shoal has been previously described. Entry to Corbyn’s Cove South lies 5 cables S of Mount Haughton. Anchorage. Anchorage off Corbyn’s Cove may be obtained at about 06 cables NE of Snake Island in 27m depth. Tourist spot Corbyn’s Cove a well-developed tourist spot, is situated on the Eastern coast of South Andaman Island from Lat 11° 38´N to 11° 39´N and long 92° 44´ 30”E to 92°45´48”E about five Km South East of the Chatham jetty of Port Blair. There are three beach resorts at the high tide line, viz The Waves, Peerless Resort and Corbyn’s Hut, from South to North. Snake Island, 6m high, lies 5.8 cable SEE of Carbyn’s cove beach and is conspicuous: it is surrounded by rocks all around and having vegetation in the center. Chiriyatapu. Southern point of South Andaman Island and the NE entrance point of Macpherson Strait, is a distinctive bare promontory, 66m high, with some caves at its base. A rock, 1m high, lies 4 cables W of Chiriyatapu.Chidiayatapu Island Light (Munda Pahad) 11° 28´.74N, 92° 42´.76E, composite masonry tower with black and white horizontal bands (Fl (2) W 10s 50m 20M). RUTLAND ISLAND (KALAPAHAR) – E SIDE Topography 8.142 Portman Bay. Which is open to heavy swells during the NE monsoon, lies 4½ miles SSW of Chiriyatapu. It has irregular depths in the middle and shallow water and a mangrove swamp at its head. Rocks, both above and below water, extend 2 to 3 cables S of Rutland Island. This part of the coast should be given berth of at least 1½ miles, except at the E end which is clear outside ½ mile. Offlying Bank. An extensive bank of dead coral, with a least depth of 11m lies with its centre 6½ miles SW of the SW end of Rutland Island. In good weather it is safe to pass over this bank. A shoal with a least depth of 5.5m over it, the existence of which is doubtful, has been reported 5¾ miles SSW of the SW end of the Island. Rutland Island Light (11° 20´.79N, 92° 36´.61E), is exhibited from a 3m high white masonry tower on the S point of Rutland Island. Manners Strait lies between the S end of Rutland Island and Cinque Islands, 3 miles SE. There are depths of 68m in the fairway of the passage and tide rips occurs across the strait. Investigator Rock with a depth of 5.5m lies 9 cables SSW of the S point of Rutland Island. It is nearly always marked by tide rips. North and South Cinque Island 8.143 North Cinque Island, its N point lying 3 miles SE of the SE point of Rutland Island, has two peaks 154m and 145m high which form a saddle near its N point. A small conical, bare hill 89m high stands at the S end with a promontory projecting WNW from it. North Cinque Island Light (11° 19´.66N, 92° 43´.28E) is exhibited from a 7m high rectangular masonry tower with red and white bands 11 m in height on the N peak of the Island. South Cinque Island 162m high lying about ¾ mile SSW of N Cinque Island, has a 118m conical knoll near its S end. Ga Ta Kwe Bay lies E of the S Cinque Island and is also fringed with rocks with sea breaking on them. Anchorage may be obtained in depths of 15m, dead coral sand, in Minto Bay, W of the ledge which joins the two islands, Anchorage has also been obtained in depths of 24m with the conical knoll bearing about 168° distance 1 mile; the latter anchorage should be approached from W. Passage Island (Cho-go-da) 8.144 Passage Island (Cho-go-da) (11° 11´ N, 92° 40´.6 E) 85m high at its N end but low at its S end, lies 3.35 miles SSW of South Cinque Island. A detached rock 2m high, lies 3 cables N of Passage Island. A bank with a least depth of 10.9m lies 2 miles WSW of the Island. At spring tides, over falls form over this bank, which consists of narrow rocky ridge, fringed with sand. The channel between South Cinque Island and Passage Island is deep and clear although tide rips occur at spring tides. Sisters Islands (11° 08´.6 N, 92° 44´.00E) are two twin Islets, the NE and larger islet, being 76m high lying close together about 3½ miles SE of Passage Island. A ledge connects the islets and a partly drying rocky spit extends about 7½ cables NW from this ledge. Brothers Island 8.145 Duncan Passage lies between Sisters Island and North Brother Island (Te-ta-le) (10° 59´ N, 92° 40´), 27m high to the tops of trees, 10 miles SSW. It is the main channel between Rutland Island and Little Andaman Island. Numerous pinnacle rocks exists in Duncan Passage. Depths in the fairway of the passage vary from 13m to 36m. Tidal streams, in light breeze and good weather, set E and Win Duncan Passage. Sometimes a current caused by the wind runs through it. Shoal ground, with depths from 5 to 18m, lies between 2 miles WNW and 2.7 miles NE of the N point of North Brother Island. A 9.4m patch lies 2 miles ENE of the island. South Brother Island (10° 55´.7 N, 92° 37´ E), 28m high to the tops of trees lies 4 miles SW of North Brother Island. Both Brother Islands are flat-topped and have a lagoon in the middle. North Brother Island is fringed by a reef. Leeboard Ledge, a detached shoal, lies about midway between N and S Brother Islands. Foul ground extends about 2 miles NW to 3.5 miles NE from South Brother Island. The foul ground terminates in a reef awash NNW from South Brother Island. Discoloured Patches may be observed 3.4 miles NW of South Brother Island. A rocky patch lies 1¾ miles SE of the SE extremity of South Brother Island. South Sentinel Island (10°59´ N, 92°13´E), 24 miles W of South Brother Island is flat topped, The island lies near the SE end of a bank with depths of less than 30m. It is uninhabited. A light (11°58’.83 N, 092°13’.53 E)is exhibited on the NE corner of the island. Anchorage can be obtained W side of the island, in depths of 14 to 26m with the island bearing 010° distance 8 cables. Landing can only be effected on the N side of the island in fine weather. There are no known shoals outside the fringing reef surrounding the island.