Chart No 2032 Nindakara And Kollam Anchorages Nindakara General information Position. Nindakara (8° 56' N, 76° 33' E), about 3 miles S of Kovilthottam is a small port with an open roadstead anchorage lying off the entrance to Ashtamudi Backwaters, through which it is connected to the inland canal system. Traffic. The port is used by local vessels and occasionally by international vessels. Harbour information Port operations. The port is seasonal, operating from mid-November and mid-April. Storm signals are displayed, the brief system is used. Directions: The port is approched direct from seaward, passing(with positions from the S breakwater head 8°56´N 76°32´E) Clear of a dangerous wreck (2 ¾ miles W), then to; Clear of a 4.4m shoal (1 ¾ miles SW) and; Remain seaward of shoal patches extending about 8 cables W from the harbour entrance and from the coast N and S of it. Useful marks: A break in the palms fringing the shore marks the port. A bridge (8° 56' N, 76° 33'E) spans the entrance to Ashtamudi Backwaters. Caution. There are no night marks near the port. Vessels approaching in darkness should not proceed into depths of less than about 27 m. Approach: The anchorage can be approached from sea ward. The chart is sufficient for guide. Basin and anchorages Basin protected by two breakwaters, a basin has a wharf on its N side at which barges load ilmenite sand; a bar with a least depth of 1.2m fronts the wharf. Anchorages. Anchorage, for large vessels working cargo can be obtained at about 1 ¼ miles NW of the narrow entrance in a depth of about 6.7 m, as shown on the chart. Vessels anchoring farther offshore, in depths of about 15 m, should keep well clear of the dangerous wreck lying in position 8° 56'.0 N, 76° 29'.4 E. Port services Repairs of a minor nature to engines. Facilities,barges and tugs. Supplies, small quantities of fuel oil. Kollam General information Position. The port of Kollam (8° 52'.5 N, 76° 35' E) is a roadstead lying in the bight close SE of Tangasseri Point (8° 52'.8 N, 76° 34' E). Function. Kollam is one of the larger towns of Kerala State. It is a commercial and industrial centre of growing importance. The town lies between the coast and the S end of the Ashtamudi Backwaters, about 1 mile offshore; the chief industry is tile manufacture. Principal imports are processed nuts, paddy, rice, tobacco, salt and tea whereas main exports are coconut oil, processed cashew nuts, coir mats, timber and fish. Topography. The coast is rocky with groves of palms growing close to the high-water line from close E of Tangasseri Point to about 3 cables NNW of it. There is a settlement situated on Tangasseri Point and the ruins of old fortifications; among the ruins are British, Dutch and Portuguese Cemeteries. Tidal levels Mean spring range about 0.6 m; mean neap range about 0.3 m. Harbour information General signals are made from a flagstaff standing near the tile works (8° 52'.6 N, 76° 35'.4 E), for vessels at anchorage. Storm signals are displayed by using the brief system. Landing, There is heavy surf along the steep beach fronting the bight and landing is dangerous except in native boats. Caution. Vessels approaching Kollam from the N should not approach Tangasseri Point in depths of less than 20m to avoid the foul ground extending 1 ½ miles W and about 1 mile SW of the point. Anchorages Anchorage off Kollam is exposed to winds from the NW through W to SE, and is little frequented during the SW monsoon when communication with the shore is only practicable by signal. During the SW monsoon vessels should anchor in not less than 15m with Tangasseri Point bearing about 000°, over 1 mile. Between October and May vessels can anchor in the inner anchorage, between Gamaria Rock and Pallikall Shoal, in about 9.1m, sand, with the red chimney of the tile works bearing 040°, and Tangasseri Light bearing 299°. A large vessel may find a position about 0.3 mile farther SW more comfortable. Principal marks Landmarks: Tangasseri Point Lighthouse (8° 52'.8 N, 76° 34' E) Church (15 m in height) (8° 55'.5 N, 76° 32'.5 E). Silos (21m in height) (8° 58'.8 N, 76° 31'.6 E). Useful marks Pillar (9 m in height) (8° 54'.6 N, 76° 32'.6 E). Boundary pillar (8° 51'.4 N, 76° 36'.8 E) stands close SE of a chimney 32 m in height. Chimney (8° 52'.6 N, 76° 35'.4 E).