SIKKA CREEK- CHART 2033 General information: Position: Sikka Creek (22° 29'.8 N, 69° 46'.3 E) is situated on the S coast of the Gulf of Kachchh; it lies between Narara Bet and Goos reefs. 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 only ships to call regularly at the creek bring coal for, or load cement from, the cement factory. 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. Traffic: About 150 vessels use the port annually. Limiting conditions: Mean tidal levels: Mean spring range about 4.7 m; mean neap range about 2.7 m. Density of water: is 1.025 g/cm3. Maximum size of vessel handled: is LOA 180 m, draught 8.0 m (reported 1998). Local weather: SW monsoon effects the port adversely. Arrival information: Notice of ETA: ETA message should be informed 48 hours in advance, messages should be sent via Okha Radio; Outer anchorage: While awaiting a berth, Vessels can anchor in the vicinity of 22° 31'.4 N, 69° 46'.0 E, in depths of 17 to 20 m. 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, however, it has been reported that the pilot boards close N of the first set of buoys in the approximate position 22° 29'.4 N, 69° 46'.8 E. Boarding normally takes place 2 hours before high water and during daylight hours only. Tugs: can be made available. Tidal streams: The tidal stream set, within Sikka creek, is generally in a direction parallel to the axis of the channel, with a maximum rate of 2 kn. 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 21/2 miles N of first set of buoys, 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. Anchorage: Vessels can obtain sheltered anchorage in Sikka Creek, in a depth of 11 m about 5 cables within the entrance between the SW side of Goos Reef and Siri Reef. Relience Jamnagar Marine Terminal: General Information: Alongside berths between Goos and Munde reefs in vicinity of 22° 29'.9 N 69° 50'.2 E. Function: The Terminal handles crude and finished oil products to and Jamnagar refinery. Approach and entry: A fairway buoy (22° 32'N, 69° 46'E) marks the outer approach to the terminal and approach to the alongside berths is through a buoyed channel between Goos and Mundereefs. Limiting conditions: Controlling depths. Least depth alongside 13.2 m. Deepest and longest berth: SPM No 1 and Berth D. Maximum size of vessels handled: 350 000 dwt and 355 m in length at the SPM’s. 95 000 dwt and 246 m in length at alongside berths. Arrival information: Notice of ETA required: 72, 48, 24 and 12 hours notice to be given in local time. Anchorage: Anchorage area is marked on chart. Tugs: are compulsory. Harbour Channel: On each side the channel is marked by buoys (lateral) in accordance with the IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Region A). It leads SE from No 1 buoy (22° 31'.5N, 69° 46'.7E) to a turning circle, radius 240 m, 4 cables NW of the jetty. Berths: Four berths alongside handling POL connected to a causeway leading S to Sikka. Berth D, the deepest, has a depth alongside of 14.5 m. Berths A handles LPG and chemicals only. 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. 2 Racons. SPM 1- 22° 34’.3N. 69° 47’.2E. Displaying R SPM 3- 22° 36’.6N. 69° 49’.9E. Displaying O 3 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. 4 Entry and berthing. The terminal is approached directly 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. 5 Tides (height). Maximum 6.5m 6 Tidal stream information. About 3 kts 7 Wind speed and direction. Maximum 35 kts in SW monsoon and 30 kts in NE monsoon. 8 Harbour Channel. The buoyed channel leads SE from No 1 buoy (22º 31'.5N, 69º 47'.9E) to a turning circle, radius 240 m, 4 cables NW of the jetty. Berths 9.122 1 The Terminal has ten berths in total, comprising of 05 alongside berths and 05 SPM SPM No 1 - 22º 34'.32N, 69º 47'.19E SPM No 2 - 22º 35'.50N, 69º 48'.50E 2 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 No 3 - 22º 36'.55N, 69º 49'.93E SPM No 4 - 22º 35'.36N, 69º 51'.41E SPM No 5 - 22º 34'.71N, 69º 50'.11E 3 Five alongside berths (A1, 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.