Chart 2121     VERAVAL HARBOUR

General Information

1.	Position:

	The Veraval town (20º 54' N, 70º 22' E) lies at the head of a small exposed bay indenting a straight stretch of coastline.

2.	Function:

	The port provides a fair weather intermediate anchorage. The principal exports are oil cakes, soda ash and cement and the chief imports are fertilizer, wheat and coke.
		
3.	Traffic:

	About 30 vessels use the port annually.

4.	Port authority:

	The port is administered by the Port Officer, Gujarat Maritime Board, Bunder Road, Veraval 362 265.

	Limiting conditions:

1.	Tidal levels Mean spring range about 1.6 m; mean neap range about 0.7 m. See information in Tide Tables.

2.	Maximum size of vessel handled:

	length 203 m, draught 9.5 m and 23 339 GRT.Entry for vessels with draught more than 2 m not recommended.
	
3. 	Weather:

	The SW monsoon affects the port adversely and it is closed to shipping from mid-May to mid-September.
	
	Arrival information:

1.	Port operations:

	At a time, only three vessels can be worked, when weather permits, between mid-September until mid-May. Vessels lie at anchor in the roads and load and discharge by barges working to two basins in the inner harbour.

2.  	Port radio: 

	There is no port radio station; messages should be passed through Mumbai or Kandla coast radio stations, see the relevant List of Radio Signals.

3.	Outer anchorage:

	Vessels can anchor comfortably with BhidBhanjan Temple (20º53'.9 N, 70º 23'.0 E)bearing 040º distant 1.1 miles in a depth of 15½ m, rock; in fine weather vessels may anchor,
	with the same temple bearing 058º distant about 1 mile in depths of 14½m, sand. Both anchorages are shown on the chart.
	
	Pilotage is not necessary for vessels to anchor.

4.	Local knowledge:

	Local knowledge is considered essential for the vessels using the enclosed and inner harbour.

	Harbour:
	
1.	General layout:
	
	The port has an open roadstead anchorage, lying off a small harbour which is protected by two breakwaters; an inner harbour with two basins is situated N of the enclosed harbour,
	the inner harbour leads to East Harbour which is a shallow inland berthing area.

2.	Signal station:

	There is a signal station with which signals may be exchanged by Morse or using the International Code of Signals or on VHF RT.

3.	Tidal streams:

	Tidal streams in the roadstead are not perceptible, but there is sometimes a surface drift of about ½ kn due to wind.

	Directions:

1.	The alignment (041½º) of the following marks leads from SW towards the anchorage.
	BhidBhanjan Beacon Light (white square masonry tower, red bands, 6 m in height) (20º 53'.9 N, 70º 23'.0 E).BhidBhanjan Temple (8.197) (close NE).

	Useful mark:

1.	South-east Breakwater Head Light (20º 53'.84 N,     70º 22'.52 E) is exhibited from the SW end of the breakwater.

2.	Anchorages:

	Anchorages A to E are available for vessels working cargo, as shown on the chart. Bearings and distances given in the table below are from BhidBhanjan Temple, together with the maximum draught permitted:

Berth		Bearing		Distance		Draught
A           	216½º		5½cables		8.75 m
B           	228º		8½ cables		9.25 m
C           	207º		9¾ cables		10.00 m
D           	195½º		7¼ cables		8.25 m
E		214½º		7¾ cables		10.25 m

	Harbour:
	
1.	General information:

	The enclosed harbour facilitates an all weather fishing port.

Port services
8.209
	
1.	Repairs:

	There is a dry dock of dimension 45 x 53 mts and a workshop of 5082 sqmtr.

2.	Electrical Power:
	
	Port area is well illuminated by lighting poles and high mast tower. Adequate HT/LT power supply is available.

3.	Facilities:

	Hospital; however barges and tugs are not available.

4.	Supplies:

	Fresh provisions; limited fresh water.