NAVLAKHI AND APPROACHES

Chart No.2017(INT7327)

General information:
Description:
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1.Hansthal Creek (22º 56' N, 70º 23' E) is the largest salt-water creek, which penetrates into the Little Rann, at the head of the Gulf of Kachchh. The creek leads NE for about 4 miles from its entrance, which lies, between Sathsaida Bet to the N and the Saurashtra Coast to the S; the width of the creek has doubled by erosion and is now about 2 miles wide at its entrance.
2.here are number of small creeks that empty into Hansthal Creek, as shown on the chart; the port of Navlakhi      (22º 57'.36 N, 70º 27'.17 E)  is situated on Navlakhi Bet, which lies between two of these creeks, on the E bank.
3.Hansthal Creek, above Navlakhi Bet, is navigable by moderate sized boats for 6 or 7 miles, but as the mangroves cease after 2 or 3 miles, there is only the ripple of water in the deeper channel to indicate the fairway.
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1.The Little Rann, an extensive salt marsh ENE of the head of the Gulf of Kachchh is dry from November to February during the NE monsoon; but the SW monsoon drives the sea many miles to the E and the marsh becomes an impassable inland sea which is drained by Nakti , Kandla and Hansthal Creeks.
Topography: 
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1.From the vicinity of the E end of Mungra Reef 
(22º 47' N, 70º 15' E), a rann, resembling the Little Rann, lies on the S shore of the Gulf of Kachchh. Its ordinary high water mark extends NE to the mouth of Hansthal Creek; during the SW monsoon this rann covers to a depth of about 1.2 m but at other times it dries. NE of the rann the Saurashtra Coast is fringed, in ridges, with coarse sand and broken shell from 0.3 to 0.9 m high; its coastal bank dries in places.
2.The N coast of Hansthal Creek is fronted by an extension E of Flamingo Flat  that dries.
3.Murga Bet, which lies off the E side of Hansthal Creek towards its NE end, consists of several islets covered with mangroves; on the W side, about 8 miles from the entrance, there is a large expanse of level ground which is flooded at high water.
Depths:
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1.In Hansthal Creek depths vary considerably and the irregular-shaped depth contours provide little aid to navigation.

Pilotage:
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1.Pilotage is not compulsory for Hansthal Creek, but if required, a pilot can be embarked at the pilot boarding place off Kandla, where vessels should arrive 3 hours before high water.

Quarantine:
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1. Kandla Port Health Officer customarily boards at the pilot boarding place and grants pratique.

Local knowledge:
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1.Local knowledge is required to enter the Hansthal Creek because of shifting shoals in the approaches, within its entrance and at the head of it.

Anchorages:
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1.Outer anchorage-The anchorage, NE of Pirothan Island Offshore NE light, is situated at 22º 44'N, 70º 05' E as shown on the chart.
2.Hansthal Cree- The holding ground is mostly bad with rock close under mud; thus, with the strong tidal streams a vessel will easily drag.
Tidal streams: 
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1.The tidal streams, in the outer approaches to Hansthal Creek are in general very irregular and appear to be much influenced by a strong wind from any quarter; however, the rate gradually increases as the creek is approached.
2.At the entrance to the creek, because of the large area which covers and uncovers, the out-going stream attains a rate of from 6 to 7 kts and flows for about 8 hours; the in-going stream flows for only about 4 hours.
3.Within the creek, in places where the channel is from 1 to 1½ miles wide, the in-going and out-going streams attain a rate of 5 kts; during occasional freshets this rate may increase to even 7 kts.
Tidal levels:
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1.Mean tidal levels. Mean spring range about 5.4 in; mean neap range about 3.1 in. See information in Indian Tide Tables.

Directions:
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1.Cautions:This stretch pf the coastline of Hansthal Creek and in the approaches to Navlakhi is liable to change; mariners are advised to exercise caution when using radar ranges.
2.The navigational buoys moored in Hansthal Creek are moved as required to conform to the frequent depth changes that occur.
3.Vessels bound for Hansthal Creek should, if required, embark a pilot in the Navlakhi Port outer anchorage area. 
4.The route leads about 2½ miles ENE from a position NNW of Baptista Shoals (22º 53'N, 70º 16' E)  to a position S of Singare Shoal, noting the isolated shoal patches which lie close E of the latter shoal. Then to, the channel which is buoyed on both sides should be followed into the creek and to the anchorages off Navlakhi

NAVLAKHI:

General information:
1. Position. Navlakhi Port (22º 58' N, 70º 27' E) is situated on the island of Navlakhi Bet, lying between the Sui (9.198) and Varsamedi Creeks which flow into the E side of Hansthal Creek.
2. Function. Navlakhi is small port and an open roadstead anchorage. The main exports are salt and soya bean extractions; chief imports are fertilisers, sulphur and flour.
3. Approach and entry. Lighters and small craft approach the port area through a buoyed channel.
Traffic. About 100 vessels use the port annually.
4.Port authority. The port is administered by the Port Officer, Gujarat Maritime Board, Navlakhi 363 680. E-mail: pfsonavlakhi@gmail.com

Limiting conditions:
1. Mean tidal levels. Mean spring range about 6.4 m; mean neap range about 4.1 m. See information in Indian Tide Tables.
2. Density of water is reported to vary between 1.009 and 1.034 g/cm3.
3. Maximum size of vessel to have used the anchorage is 24 364 dwt and 225 m LOA.

Arrival information:
1.  Port operations. Navlakhi is an all weather port where cargo is handled by lighters to and from ships at the anchorage; there is no night navigation.
2.  Port radio. There is no port radio station, messages should be passed through Kandla or Mumbai coast radio stations.
3.  Outer anchorage. The anchorage, NE of Pirothan Island offshore NE Lightis centred on (22º 44' N, 70º 05' E) as shown on chart. 
4.  Pilotage is not compulsory but if required an experienced local pilot can be provided by the Port Authority; in such cases, the pilot will normally board in outer anchorage (22º 44' N, 70º 05' E).
5.  Night pilotage is not available and generally movements take place around daylight high water; therefore, arrival at the pilot station should be 3 hours before high water.
6.  Requirement for local knowledge. Local knowledge is required to enter the Hansthal Creek because of shifting shoals in the approaches, within its entrance and at the head of it.
Harbour:
1.  Description. The port area comprises a railway station and buildings connected with the operation of the Port.
2. Storm signals are displayed at Navlakhi by using the general system. 
3. Landmark.
Navlakhi Bet Lighthouse (white framework tower, orange bands, 24 m in height) (22º 57'.6 N, 70º 26'.7 E) stands at the NW end of the island.
Berths:
1. Anchorages. Two vessels can obtain anchorage in good weather about 2¼ miles WSW of Navlakhi Bet Light, in depths of about 9 m, as shown on the chart; the holding ground here is fairly good and the sets of the tidal stream are comparatively steady. If a third vessel arrives off the port, anchorage may be found in the vicinity of No 5 Buoy moored about 3½ miles SW of the light.
2. Small vessels according to draught may obtain anchorage W of the port but cross currents from Sui and Varsamedi Creeks cause severe yawing and bring great strain on their anchor cables.
3. Wharves and jetties. Lighter wharves and jetties are situated in Sui and Varsamedi Creeks; there is a passenger landing jetty in Sui Creek.

Port services:
1. Repairs: minor repairs can be effected.
There is a small dry dock length 30 m, width 23 m, depth on sill at MHWS 3.21 m; also a slipway, length 91.45 m, cradle 25.00 m and gridiron, length 24.50 m. Normally all facilities utilised  for local harbour craft.
2. Other facilities: limited medical; covered storage; lighters and tugs.
3. Supplies: limited provisions; limited fresh water by barge.
4. Communications: ferry daily to Kandla; airport  35 km NW.
Small craft:
1. Sui Creek, which lies S of Navlakhi Bet (22º 58' N, 70º 27' E), is navigable by vessels of about 2.7 m draught for approximately 4 miles; but farther E it becomes a ditch.