Malpe

Chart  2014 

General information
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Position. Malpe (13º 21' N, 74º 42' E), a town of some importance to coastal vessels, lies on the N bank of the Udiyavara River close within its entrance.

Function. It is an open roadstead port used for the export  of  silica sand and  bricks; chief imports are salt, bentonite lumps, soda ash and cement.
Topography. Malpe is afforded some protection by Saint Mary Isles (Dariya Bahadurgarh Islands) which lie in a semicircle N and S of the approach to the port. The coastline is low, sandy and  fringed with coconut palms; its hinterland is well populated and backed by a number of low hills.
Port limits. Seaward of Saint Mary Isles, the port limits extends about 2¾ miles W from South Island (6.65) and Middle Rock (6.65) to the 12.8 m depth contour; E of the Isles, the limits converge from South Island and Middle Rock towards the port.

Approach and entry. The port is North of North Island (6.65) and entered between the breakwaters which boarder the Udiyavara River estuary.

Traffic. About 200 vessels use the port annually.
Port authority. The Deputy Port Conservator, Port Office, Malpe 576 118, administers the port. 

Limiting conditions
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Depths. The entrance has a least charted depth of 3.8 m between the breakwaters; however, it is liable to constant change. In parts of the berthing basin the depth is 2.2m.

Tidal levels. Mean spring range about 1.1 m; mean neap range about 0.5 m. See information in Tide Tables.
Arrival information
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Pilots and tugs. Licensed pilot can be requisitioned from Coondapoor 17 miles N, for details see 6.82. During high water, unlicensed pilots are available to take sailing vessels in and out.

Tugs are also available at Coondapoor.

Harbour
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General layout. The small inner harbour lies close within the breakwaters on the N bank of the Udiyavara River estuary. Since the harbour and its entrance are fronted by Saint Mary Isles, it provides some protection from W winds.
Storm signals are displayed from the signal station flagstaff (38 m in height) (13º 21' N, 74º 42' E) by using the brief system. See 1.49.
Landmarks (positioned from the N breakwater light (13º 21'.0N, 74º 41'.5E):
White house (7 cables ESE).
Ice plant (6 cables ESE).
Building (6 cables E).

Directions
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Caution. The Passage between the Saint Mary Isles, except as described above, is obstructed by numerous rocks and should not be attempted without local knowledge of the channels.
Approach from seaward. The route leads E from a position W of the port, passing (with positions from the N breakwater light (13º 21'.0 N, 74º 41'.5 E):
Clear of a dangerous wreck (4 miles WSW), then to: 
N of North Island (5 cables SW) with several rocks standing on a rocky ledge extending 1½cables NW, there is a rock 8 m high near the end of the ledge; a rock with a depth of 3.3 m over it lies ¾ cable WNW of the ledge. And:
S of Entrance Rock (6½ cables NW), a ridge of below and above water rocks, extends about 4 cables N from Entrance Rock to Middle Rock; foul ground lies up to 2½ cables NW and W of the ridge. Thence the route leads ESE to the breakwaters passing:
SSW of a rock which dries 0.3 m (5½ cables NW), then to:
SSW of Adjakal Rock (7 cables NNW), a rock with a depth of 0.9 m over which the sea often breaks. A number of below-water rocks lie between Adjakal Rock and Coconut Island 1¼ miles NW.  And:
To a position between the breakwater heads from which lights are exhibited from September to May inclusive.
Small craft channel. About 2 cables wide channel, leading from a position S of the port to the entrance; it passes between the S part of Saint Mary Isles and a dangerous wreck lying near a rock 2 cables SSE of South Island (13º 20'.0 N, 74º 41'.5 E), and the drying sandspit extending W from the S bank of Udiyavara River about 5 cables NE. 

Useful marks:
North boundary pillar (white, 4 m in height)  (13º 21' N, 74º 42' E).
Dariya Bahadurgarh Island Fort (ruin) (13º 20' N, 74º 41' E). 

Anchorages
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Anchorage can be obtained at about 1 mile WNW of North Island Lighthouse, in a depth of 7.3 m, mud.
Small vessels may anchor about 4 cables WNW of the N breakwater light; or about 5 cables E of the summit of South Island. Both anchorages are in a depth of 6 m, sand and mud.
Small craft can anchor with shelter from W winds, in the channel E of North Island and Dariya Bahadurgarh Island, in depths of 3 to 4 m, sand and mud

Basin and berths
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There is a small craft basin is situated close SE of the N breakwater.
There is a landing jetty 33 m long, with a depth of about 3.7 m alongside, 1 cable SE of the basin. There is also another jetty nearby with a depth of 1.8 m alongside.

Landing places 
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Landing should not be attempted on the seaward side of Saint Mary Isles but can be effected, in moderate weather, on the E sides of North Island or Dariya Bahadurgarh Island; it is also possible on the mainland coast in the lee of the islands. In another places on the open coast landing is only possible in calm weather.

Port services
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Repairs: small slipway; minor repairs.
Facilities: hospital; cargo lighters.
Supplies: fuel and fresh water are not available.

Small craft
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Udiyavara River (13º 20'.5 N, 74º 42'.5 E) is navigable only by small boats and with local knowledge. There is a bar with a depth of about 0.7 m close upstream of Malpe and the channel, which is sparsely marked, is liable to constant change in depth. 

Landing place
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There is a landing place in the lee of a ledge of rocks which extend about 5 cables NW from Kap Lighthouse (13º 13' N, 74º 44' E).

Other names
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Mulki (13º 05' N, 74º 47' E), a town. 
Mulki River (13º 05' N, 74º 47' E).