APPROACHES TO SIKKA - 2083(INT7339)

General information:
	Position: Sikka Creek (22º 29'.0 N, 69º 47'.0 E) is situated on the S coast of the Gulf of Kachchh; it lies between Narara Bet and Goos reefs.The Sikka town is situated at the head of the creek; it provides the site of one of the largest cement factories in Asia.
        Topography:Narara Bet Reef is an extensive reef that surrounds Narara Bet; it lies on the SW side of Sikka Creek and covers at high water. A number of shoal patches extend up to about 5 cables NE of this reef.
	           Goos Reef, situated on the NE side of Sikka Creek, is an extensive detached reef which covers at high water; it has upon it a long prominent sandbank that dries well before the reef itself. A shoal bank extends about 8 cables NW from the reef.	During the SW monsoon heavy breakers develop over both of the above reefs.
        Function: The creek affords sheltered anchorage and an alongside berth for vessels trading with Sikka. The following three major operators operate the terminals in the port.Reliance Marine Terminal which imports and exports petroleum products, The GujaratState Fertilizers and Chemicals (GSFC Limited)and Shree Digvijay Cement Company Limited jetty.
	Approach and entry: Approach to the creek is from NW and entered between Narara Bet and Goos reefs. The creek is navigable for about 3 miles at low water.

Limiting conditions:
	Tidal streams: The tidal stream set, within Sikka Creek, is generally in a direct parallel to the axis of the channel, with a maximum rate 2 kts.
	Tugs: Tugs available on request.
	Local weather: SW monsoon effects the port adversely.
                       Storm signals are displayed at Sikka by using the brief system.

Arrival information:
	Notice of ETA: ETA message should be informed 48 hours in advance, messages should be sent via Okha Radio; see the relevant List of Radio Signals.
	Outer anchorage: While awaiting a berth, Vessels can anchor in the vicinity of 22º 31'.4 N, 69º 46'.0 E, in depths of 17 to 20 m, as shown on the chart. This anchorage is exposed to the SW monsoon and previous reports indicate that it may be crowded.
	Pilotage: For all the merchant vessels pilotage is compulsory, requirement messages should be sent to the Port Officers at Okha and Bedi Bandar 48 hours in advance. The pilot boards from a tug at the entrance to the channel.Boarding normally takes place 2 hours before high water and during daylight hours only. 
        
Directions:
	Caution: The channel buoys moored in the outer part of the channel are reported liable to drag in strong winds.
	Channel: On each side, the channel is marked by buoys (lateral) in accordance with the IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Region A), it leads from the fairway buoy (red can), moored 3 miles NW of Beacon A, inward to close N of the ammonia berth.The channel is narrow with a least reported depth of about 8.2 m, but it should be noted that shoaler charted depths lie close outside the channel. The channel becomes narrow inward otherwise generally the width of the channel is about 183 m.

Entry leading beacons. Front beacon, Beacon A (grey and white bands) (22º 27'.8N, 69º 48'.2E). Rear beacon (black and white bands) (6 cables SE of front beacon) stands on the ammonia berth breakwater.
	From the vicinity of (22º 31'.0 N, 69º 45'.0 E) the alignment (137½º) of these marks leads into the entrance passing (with positions from the front beacon):
	Close SW of the fairway buoy (port hand) (3 miles NW), then to NE of Siri Reef (1¾ miles NW) which dries, and a smaller isolated reef, which also dries, lies 2 cables farther NW. Then to NE of a shoal with a depth of 3.6 m over it (1½ miles NW), and NE of a dangerous wreck (1 mile NW).
 

	Useful marks:		Siri Reef Beacon (elevation 15 m) stands near the E side of Siri Reef.Goos Reef Beacon (elevation 15 m) stands near the SW edge of Goos Reef. A stranded wreck lies, near the breakwater, 2½ cables E of the ammonia berth head; another stranded wreck lies on the reef 1 mile S.

Port services:
	Repairs:	Minor repairs only.
	Supplies: Limited amounts of fresh water and marine diesel oil, by barge or road tanker.
	Transportation:	Local road and rail.The nearest airportis at Jamnagar which isat a distance of 25 km.
	Small craft: During heavy weather, and at high water, local craft pass through channels among the mangroves N of Sikka to reach Bedi Bandar , the port of Jamnagar, about 15 miles E.
	Port Authority: Port officer, Gujarat Maritime Board, GMB Complex, near Shivam petrol pump, Sarusection road, Jamnagar. Tel: 0288 - 2711805 / 06
e-mail :	pojam.gmb@gmail.com.

		
Gujrat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited Berths: 
	The berth is situated about 2 cables off the reef on the E side of the creek and 5 cables SSW of Beacon A. The berth has an overall length of about 220 m and consists of a concrete island jetty joined to the shore, 2 miles ESE, by a breakwater which supports a road; the central berthing face is about 48 m long with a depth of 11 m alongside and a maximum permitted draught of 8.0 m. Two mooring dolphins flank each end of the central berthing face, which itself, is fronted by three yokohama floating fenders.
	Berthing operation: Berthing is only permitted between 2 hours before and 2 hours after daylight high water. 
	Loading platforms:A disused jetty stands in ruins about 5 cables SSE of the ammonia berth, its overhead ropeway to the shore ESE and another overhead ropeway at the head of the creek are also in ruins.

SIKKA PORTS AND TERMINAL LIMITED

General Information:
	Sikka Ports and Terminal Limited operates one jetty with five berths situated in the channel between Goos and Munde reefs, 3.75 miles North of Sikka village (22° 29’.08N, 069° 50’.30E). It also have five SPMs in the vicinity of 22°35’.08N, 069°49’.13E bounded by 22° 34’.00N to the South, 22° 37’.00N to North and 069° 52’.00E to East and 069° 47’.00E to West. Out of five SPMs three cater to crude import and two for product evacuation.
	 Function: The Terminal handles crude and finished oil products to and Jamnagar refinery.
	 Approach and entry: A fairway buoy (22º 32'.75N,     69º 45'.30E) marks the outer approach to the terminal and approach to the alongside berths is through a buoyed channel between Goos and Munde reefs. Minimum under water keel clearance of 1.8 m (including squat) is required during the channel transit.
	Controlling Depths: The least depth at the crude SPMs is 30m, at the product SPMs 27m and at the berths: 13.4m. The least depth in the channel is 13.9m and the minimum under keel clearance is 1.4m.
	Deepest and longest berth.SPM No 1 and Berth D.	Maximum size and draught of vessels handled. 120,000 DWT, draught 14.5 m and LOA 252 m for jetty. 400,000 DWT, draught 22.5 m and LOA 345 m for crude SPM. 170,000 DWT, draught 18.5 m and LOA 300 m for product SPM.
	Anchorages: Open anchorage/ for vessels waiting for berthing (only vessels visiting the terminal are allowed to receive fresh water/bunker and stores). The coordinates  of recommended anchorageare as follows:-
	For VLCCs (Crude):
(a)	22º 39'.0 N, 69º 53'.5 E
(b)	22º 41'.8 N, 69º 58'.3 E
(c)	22º 40'.0 N, 69º 58'.3 E
(d)	22º 37'.3 N, 69º 53'.5 E
For Product Tankers:
(a) 22º 37'.35 N, 69º 53'.45 E
(b) 22º 40'.07 N, 69º 58'.3 E
(c) 22º 39'.0 N, 69º 58'.3 E
(d)22º36'.22N, 69º 53'.45E
For Other Tankers:
(a)22º 32'.55 N, 69º 44'.80 E
(b) 22º 32'.00 N, 69º 45'.75 E
(c) 22º 30'.50 N, 69º 44'.80 E
(d)22º 30'.50 N, 69º 45'.75 E
Prohibited Anchorage: The area surrounding the 5 SPMs is designated as SPM working area. Anchoring and fishing are strictly prohibited in these areas. Submarine oil pipelines are laid between SPMs and from SPMs to the jetty. Anchoring and fishing are prohibited in the vicinity of these pipelines. The area bounded by:-
	
	(a) 22° 31’.8N, 69° 46’.2E; 
	(b) 22° 30’.0N, 69° 46’.2E; 
	(c) 22° 27’.8N, 69° 48’.2E 
and the existing prohibited area contains several new pipelines carrying crude or petroleum products to and from SPMs.
	Pilot boarding areas: (a)For jetty berths and  SPM. During ebb Pilot boards in position 22° 32.20’N, 069° 46.25’E
(b) For crude vessels,duringfloodPilot boards in position 22° 36.50’ N   069°53.0’ E
(c)For Product vesselPilot boards in position 22° 38.0’ N   069° 52.10’ E
	Tugs: Ninetugs are available and are compulsory for both jetty berths and SPM. Controlled by Reliance port control. Available 24 hours,on MMB channel 71.

Navigation Aids:

	The passage between Goos and Munde reefs is marked by IALA region “A” buoyed channel. Buoy number TCA, TCB, TCC and TCD mark turning circle. Leading lights are provided to assist navigation from turning circle to Tanker berths. Caution must be exercised when transiting approach channel to prevent accidental release of anchor as the submarine pipelines pass through the approach channel between buoys 5-6 and riser platform.

Racons.
	SPM 1- 22° 34’.3N.   69° 47’.2E. Displaying R
	SPM 3- 22° 36’.6N.   69° 49’.9E. Displaying O

	Directions: The track leads NE from the vicinity of 22º 33'N, 69º 45'E towards the SPM’s and SE to the harbour entrance.
	Entry and berthing: The terminal is approacheddirectly from the east end of deep water route. The approach from fairway buoy 22º 35'.5N, 69º45'.8E is through a buoyed channel between Goos and Munde reefs.
	Tides (height):  Maximum 6.5m
	Tidal stream information: About 3 kts
	Wind speed and direction: Maximum 35kts in SW monsoon and 30kts in NE monsoon.
	Harbour Channel: The buoyed channel leads SE from No 1 buoy (22º 31'.36N, 69º 46'.67E) to a turning circle, radius 240 m, 4 cables NW of the jetty.

Berths:
	The Terminal has ten berths in total, comprising of05 alongside berths and 05 SPM
	SPM No1 - 22º 34'.32N,69º 47'.19E
        SPM No2 - 22º 35'.50N, 69º 48'.50E
	SPM No1 and SPM No 2 are about 1¾ miles NE, with depth of 33 m and 30.5 m respectively, handling crude oil.
	SPM No3 -22º 36'.55N, 69º 49'.93E
	SPM No4 - 22º 35'.36N, 69º 51'.41E
	SPM No5 - 22º 34'.71N, 69º 50'.11E
	Six alongside berths (A1, A2, A, B, C and D) are located between Goos and Munde reefs and designed to accommodate vessels of LOA 105-252 m, Max. beam 45 m and 59850-120,000 DWT. Berth ‘D’, the deepest has a depth alongside of 14.5 m. Berth ‘A’ handles LPG and chemicals only. Max. Permissible displacement for LPG tankers at Berth ‘A’- 39900 DWT.

	
Shree Digvijay Cement Co Ltd Captive Wharf (DCC)

General Information:
	            Sikka DCC is a shallow water tidal port handling dry cargo berth commodities. The captive cargo imported is coal in bulk and major exports are bagged cement and cement clinker in bulk.
	Vessels Handeled: 3-4captive cargo shipments are handled of approx. 50000 MT each. From the anchorage position, lighterage operations are carried out for import export of cargo to the captive jetty. Vessels ranging from 9 to 25 m are being handled at anchorage(lighter age operation throughbargesofaveragelength45m,width12m,draught4.5m,GRT650MTapprox.)
        Cargo Handling: No infrastructure available or required for handling container cargo. Only bulk and bagged captive cargo handled and operated at wharf in tidal condition through lighterage operation to and from anchorage port.