Chart 4134 STEWART SOUND GENERAL INFORMATION: Stewart Sound, a large harbour and principal port of North Andaman island, lies 06 miles SW of Sound Island, between Cadell Point (13º01'.7N, 93º00'.3 E).Stewart Sound contains several inlets and anchorage may be obtained in almost any part of it; but Bacon Bay, in the SW part, is the only one in which anchorage can be recommended at all seasons. However, safe anchorages can be obtained in the Middle channel, about 19 cables NW of Jones Point in most part of the year, and about 13 cables SE of Brown point, in fair weather. The hills surrounding the Stewart Sound are covered with dense jungle, though several parts in the inland, West of Cadell Point, and West of Aves Point to Phoenix Point have been cleared for cultivation. Stewart Sound derives its importance from large timber-felling operation, which is centered on a settlement known as Maya Bandar, situated near Takla Oyster Point (12º55'.5N, 92º54' E) on the SW side of the Sound Mayabandar, the district headquarters of the Middle Andaman district, is also the commercial hub amongst the eight/ten villages within 10 -20 km. With exception of some out lying forest camps and villages, the population of Stewart Sound, which numbers about five thousand odd, is mainly to be found in the vicinity of Maya Bandar. The eastern entrance to Austen Strait, which separates North and Middle Andaman Islands, lies at head of a shallow bay on the S side of the Sound. Sound Island, is an irregularly shaped island lying in the entrance to the Stewart Sound with Simpson Point (12º 59'.8N, 93º 00'.05E) its NE extremity, about 1.9 miles S of Cadell Point; rocks, both above water and sunken, extend about 4½ cables NE from Simpson Point. Ridges of high land traverse Sound Island in all directions and are prolonged in spurs upto the entrance point of the numerous bays, which indent the coast of the island; the coast is mostly lined by belt of mangroves and fringed by coral reefs and by a few sandy beaches. There is a conspicuous summit, 113m high about 1 mile WSW of Simpson Point. Mitchell Point, (12º55'.9 N, 92º59' E), The Southern extremity of the Sound Island, lies about 4.2 miles SSW of Simpson Point; a drying reef extends about 4½ cable SSW from Mitchell Point, and on the W side of the outer part of the Reef is Square Rock, 5m high, it is a good mark. A white light Fl W 15s at position (12°55'.60N, 92°58'.80E) exhibited from a Beacon standing on Square Rock. Jones Point (12º56'.4 N, 92º57'.2E), the SW extremity of Sound Island, lies about 1¾ miles WNW of Mitchell Point; a drying reef extends about 3½ cables S from the point, a rock, which dries 0.4m at its outer end. Good Landing may be effected at a small sandy bay on the E side of the island, about 1 miles N of Mitchell Point. Middle Channel, about 1 mile wide, separates Sound Island from North Andaman Island. The N entrance to Stewart Sound lies between Cadell Point and Simpson Point; several drying and sunken rocks encumber the entrance and channel within. Elfin Patch, which lies near the middle of the N entrance, about 1 mile SE of Cadell Point, has a depth of less than 1.8m near its center. Morland Rock, about 4½ cables SW of Cadell Point, dries to 2.4m. A 4.6m shoal patch lies about 2½ cables SSE of Morland Rock. An obstruction, with a depth of 9.2m over it, lies 9½ cables NW of Simpson Point. Oliver Island (12º59'.9 N, 92º59'.4 E), 24m high, lies 1 mile W of Simpson Point and about 3 Cables off the N coast of Sound Island; its N and E sides are fringed by reefs and shoal banks extend up to 1½ cables N from the island, but its SW side is steep to and there are depths of 34m in the channel which separates it from Sound Island. Sunk Rockwhich dries 0.6m is located at about 7½ cables WNW of Oliver Island. A group of rocks drying 2.4m, lie in mid channel 9 cables W of Oliver Island; depths of less than 3.1m extend about 2 cables SW of the group. Oyster Island, 2m high, lies 8½ cables WSW of Oliver Island. Stewart Island (13º00'.5 N, 92º56' E), large and covered with dense jungle, is situated in a shallow bay on the NW side of Stewart Sound, its SE extremity lying about 2½ miles W of Oliver Island, its NW side is connected with the main island by a drying mud bank. Dot Island 29 m high lies between Stewart Island and N Andaman Island. Mountain(12º50'.7 N, 92º54'.7 E), 395m high, conspicuous and covered with dense jungle, lies 2 miles WSW of Cape Vestal; it stands at the end of the coastal range of Middle Andaman island. Aves Island, 23m high, on the S side of the entrance, about 1¾ miles SW of Jones Point, is easily identified from seaward side; it is connected with Aves Point about 7 cables WSW of it, by a rocky ledge which dries in places. A light Fl (2) 7s (1202.45) is exhibited from a Composite Masonry Tower (Red and White) at position (12°54'.75N, 92°56'.30E). Takla Oyster Point(12º55'.5N, 92º54' E),about 1.7 mile WNW of Aves Point, is the N extremity of promontory which forms the E side of a shallow bay, at the head of which is the E entrance to Austen Strait. WRECKS AND OBSTRUCTION: Five fathomPatch, with a least depth of 7.1m lies nearly in the middle of the S entrance, about 2.3 miles SSW of Mitchell Point. Convict Patch, a rocky shoal with depths of less than 1.8m, lie about 1.2 mile N of Cape Vestal. A 10m patch lies about 1½ mile ESE of Convict Patch. A shoal with a least depth of 3.8m over it, lies about 4 cables E of Takla Oyster Point; a red beacon exhibiting light Fl R 5s exists at position 12° 55’.71 N, 92° 54’.39 E on the E side of the shallowest part of the shoal. Marsack Shoals are two small coral patches lying at the S end of Middle Channel, about 5 cables NW, and 8½ cables WNW respectively from Jones Point; there is a least depth of 3.8m over the E and 2.0m over the W patch. Dottrel Island lies about 3 cables SW of Egg Island. Swamp Island, lies W of Dottrel Island and is densely wooded. The E entrance of Austen Strait, which separates North Andaman Island from Middle Andaman Island lies between Swamp Island and Mayabandar. A 9.1m patch lies about 3 cables NW of Orchid Island. There are number of bungalows. The Andaman Public Works Department Guest House and the stairs from there along the cliff, till a view point at the sea level is conspicuous. The settlement of Mayabandar is spread S of Takla Oyster Point. Maya Bandar is the district headquarters of Middle Andaman Island and is administered by an assistant Commissioner residing there. There is a dispensary, a police wireless station and a helipad. There is weekly steamer service between Mayabandar, Rangat, Long Island and Port Blair in the S, and a biweekly ferry service to Port Cornwallis in the N. Principal export is timber. Mayabandar town is 1.5 km from the jetty. Total population of town is approx. 10,000. Languages used here are Hindi, Tamil and Bangla. Mayabandar is connected to Port Blair by road which is approximately at a distance of 240 km. Regular bus services on daily basis exists between the two towns. LIGHT AND BEACONS: Aves Island light house on the south west (12 54.86 N, 92 56.10 E) with White masonry tower with red bends. Beacons at the entrance to Mayabandar:- Sl. No. Name of Beacon Position(WGS 84) (a) Takla Oyster Beacon 12° 55'.69N, 92° 54'.38E (b) Orchid Island Beacon 12° 56'.24N, 92° 54'.26E (c) Egg Island Beacon 12° 55'.96N, 92° 53'.55E Concrete Jetty, 195m long, lies about ¾ cable SW of Takla Oyster Point. A least depth of 9m is reported alongside the jetty. The minimum depth alongside the jetty is 7.5m. Orchid Island (12º 56'.4N, 92º 54'.2E), 33m high, is covered with tree and jungle; except for a reef extending about 1 cable SE, the island is steep-to. A light Fl G 5s is exhibited from a white square beacon. At an elevation of 27m on the SE slope of the island. Curlew Island (12º 56'.1N, 92º 53'.6E), 51m high to the tops of trees, is very steep on its N side, has several wooden huts on it and a red roofed bungalow on its NE side; these make the island easy to identify. A small reef, which dries 2.1m, lies about 2 cables E of the E extremity of the island. Egg Island (12º 55'.9N, 92º 53'.6E) ¼ miles S of Curlew Island, is 32m high and densely wooded. A light Fl G 1s is exhibited from a white square beacon at position (12°55'.84N, 92°53'.79E). Bacon Bay, is entered between Brown Point (12º 56'.8N, 92º 54'.9E), and the coast 2 miles W; it is an excellent harbour sheltered from all winds with its E side clear of dangers outside about 2 cables offshore. Ray Hill, 106m high, conical and conspicuous, is situated about 1.7 miles NNE of Brown Point; it is covered with dense jungle and can easily be distinguished by vessels approaching the S entrance to Stewart Sound. Gurjon Island (12º 54'.8 N, 92º 54'.8E) lies 1 mile SE of Takla Oyster Point and is fringed by a reef. Gurjon Bay is entered between Gurjon Island and Aves Point (12º 54'.65N, 92º 55'.4E). ANCHORAGES: Anchorage may be obtained with Egg Island bearing 270º distance 14 cables in depth of about 29m or with this bearing 272º distance 5 cables in a depth of about 18m. Anchorage may also be obtained with SE of Egg Island at a distance of 7 cables in a depth of 11m. The recommended anchorage berth marked on chart 4008 by symbol in position 12º 55'.87N, 92º 55'.53E and 12º 55'.87N, 92º 55'.03E is suitable for anchorage with soft mud bottom. Vessels wishing to communicate with Mayabandar settlement may obtain good anchorage in a depth of about 18m, with Egg Island bearing 272º distance 5 cables, and the SE point of Orchid Island bearing 023º. There is also anchorage in depths of 27 to 29m, mud, with Egg Island bearing 311ºdistance 3 cables and the SE point of Orchid Island 038º. Good anchorage may be obtained near the head of bacon Bay, in depths of 22 to 25m with Ray Hill bearing 095ºabout 4 cables from the E shore of the bay. Anchorages may be obtained on the N side of the N entrance about 9 cable N of Oliver Island, in depth of 13m, the bottom is mud and in Middle Channel, at depths of over 12m, the bottom is mud and sand, about 2½ miles NNW of Jones Point; all these anchorages afford little shelter from NE. TIDAL STREAM: Tidal streams in Stewart Sound set to N with the rising tide and S with the falling tide, attaining a rate at springs of 1½ knots in the narrow parts of the sound. To the S of Camp Bay, a small bight on the N side of the N entrance, about 1¾ miles NW of Oliver Island (13º00'N, 93º 00'E), the N going stream has a rate of ¼ knot and S-going streams a rate of 2 knots. Close of Takla Oyster Point the Stream sets SW with the rising tide and NE with the falling tide. During the strength of the SW monsoon the former stream is very weak but the latter stream attains a rate of about 3 knots. APPROACH AND ENTRY: Vessels approaching from N and entering by the S entrance should round Square Rock at a distance of about 6 cables and should then steer for Orchid Island on a bearing of 287º. If proceeding to the anchorage off Takla Oyster Point, vessels should steer for Egg Island when it bears 272º. Care must be taken to keep Egg Island bearing not more than 272ºuntil well clear of 2.6m shoal about 5 cables E of Takla Oyster Point. If proceeding to the anchorage in Bacon bay, after rounding Square Rock as directed above, Orchid Island should be kept bearing 287ºuntil the summit of Aves Island bears 133º, when it should be brought and kept astern on that bearing, which leads into Bacon bay, passing between Orchid Island and Brown Point and leaving the 13.4m patch in mid channel, about ½ cable to N. When the summit of Ray Hill bears 050ºcourse may be shaped N for the anchorage at the head of the bay. Vessels from S should approach the S entrance keeping Ray Hill bearing 322ºand slightly open SW of Jones Point until Orchid Island is seen about midway between Aves Island and Jones point and bearing about 287º. SUPPLIES: Provisions are scares, and can only be obtained in small quantities; water is also scarce, except in the rainy season.