`			APPROACHES TO BHIMUNIPATNAM	Chart 3030



2.161	
	Bhimunipatnam Port is no longer functional as an open roadstead and the port office has been abandoned. The town had a population of 40 thousand in 2002, it lies on the SW side of Gostani River, the entrance to which almost dries but is used by local boats. The town is built on the NE slopes of a hill 167m high.
	Divi’s Pier The Birla Periclase Pier has been recently named as Divi’s Pier after it was taken over by Divi’s Laboratories Limited, Visakhapatnam. The Pier is about 380m and connects to a private road built by the company. The pier is built to draw water from the sea for extracting minerals and is presently in disused condition.

 

Divi’s Pier

	Laxmi Narsimha Swami Temple, painted white halfway up the E top of the hill shows up well with the sun shining on it.
	A Chimney 53m high, of a factory at Chittivalasa 2 ½ miles NNW of the town, is also a good mark..
	Bhimunipatnam Light is exhibited from a white masonry tower, 11m high, near the port office at the NE end of the town close to shore, 7 cables E of the beacon described earlier.

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	Port Limits are marked by boundary pillars, each 9m high, standing about 1 cable S and 13 cables NNE of Bhimunipatnam Lighthouse.
	Storm Signals of the port also have been abandoned.

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	Anchorage may be obtained 1 mile offshore in depths of about 12m, sand and mud with good holding ground which is more sheltered than at adjacent ports. During the SW monsoon a vessel should anchor with the lighthouse bearing 264º; during the NE monsoon she should anchor with the lighthouse bearing between 249º- 259º.
	Tidal Stream is scarcely perceptible.

Conspicuous Objects
Sl. No.		Objects			Positions (WGS 84)
					Latitude 	Longitude 
1		New Water tank		17º52'.43 N	83º24'.92 E
2		Old Water tank		17º51'.98 N	83º24'.98 E
3		Flag Staff		17º51'.70 N	83º25'.20 E
4		Laxmi Narsimha Temple	17º53'.32 N	83º26'.95 E
5		Light House		17º53'.43 N	83º27'.35 E
6		Microwave Tower		17º53'.33 N	83º26'.33 E

	Boat Entrance. The entrance of the breakwater lies N of Bhimunipatnam Lighthouse. The controlling depth over the bar is 0.6m. Boats can pass through the entrance only at certain stages of tide.
	Landing, can be effected on the beach between the entrance to the breakwater and the port office 

Facilities
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	The wharves no longer exist and the provision for supplies and freshwater are also non-existent. There is a small government hospital with 16 beds.
	 Supplies, Fresh provisions are obtainable, but fresh water is not available  
	Communications by sea are maintained with other Indian Ports. The port is connected by general road, telephone and telegraph systems. The nearest air port is at Visakhapatnam.