Chart 4005 	Nancowry Harbour and Approaches


Trinkat Island (8°05'N., 93°35'E.), which lies between 1.5 and 2.5 miles E of the S part of Camorta Island, is separated from that island to the W and NW by False Bay and Beresford Channel. Trinkat Island is low, level, and covered by coconut trees. An extensive reef surrounds the island. Morrel Point, the S end of the island, is marked by a beacon.

Beresford Channel (8°07'N., 93°33'E.) is entered from the S through False Bay. Both shores are fronted by reefs and shoals that extend almost 0.8 mile offshore. A number of shoals, with depths of 5.5 to 11m, lie in the middle of the S part of the channel. The channel on both sides of Middle Reef, which lies about 3.5 miles NNW of Morrel Point, is about 183m wide. The W channel has depths of 7.6 to 25.6m and the E channel has depths of 5.8 to 20.1m. The area N of Trinkat Island has not been closely examined.

Expedition Harbor (8°03'N., 93°30'E.) is landlocked, and together with Grand Harbor its extension to the NE, is of considerable size. A low, narrow peninsula separates Expedition Harbor from Nancowry Harbor to the S. The entrance of Expedition Harbor lies between Cave Point and Satellite Point, about 0.3 mile SSE.
The S and E sides of the harbor are indented by coves, fringed by reefs and mangroves. Hoau Village lies about 0.3 mile ESE of Edgecumbe Point. The latter point lies a little over 1 mile NE of Satellite Point. The coast from Edgecumbe Point extends E and N to Edye Point, about 0.9 mile NNE, the S entrance point of Grand Harbor.

Wasp Point (8°03'N., 93°29'E.) lies about 0.3 mile SE of Cave Point and forms the inner entrance point of the harbor. The coast from Wasp Point extends NNE for 0.7 mile to Devils Point, then N and NE for about 1.3 miles to the N entrance point of Grand Harbor. A conspicuous palm tree lies close N of this point.
Grand Harbor is entered between Edye Point, the N end of the promontory separating Grand Harbor from Expedition Harbor, and a point about 0.3 mile to the N. The harbor is about 2 miles long in a N and S direction. Two creeks indent the E shore. The bay at the N of the harbor is foul.

Depths—Limitations.—Coral patches, which dry 1.2m, lie 0.2 mile SSE of Cave Point.
A channel, about 91m wide and having depths of over 18.3m, forms the inner entrance of Expedition Harbor, between the reefs fringing Wasp Point and Satellite Point. The channel passes about 91m N of the latter point.
Middle Reef, an extensive drying shoal, lies in the middle of the fairway, abreast of Devils Point. A channel, about 183m wide and having depths of 12.4m, leads between the SE end of Middle Reef and the reef fringing Edgecumbe Point.
A drying reef extends 0.2 mile SE from Foul Point, about 0.5 mile NE of Devils Point. A channel, about 183m wide with a least depth of 23.8m, leads between the SW end of this reef and the N end of Middle Reef.
Grand Harbor has depths of 7.3 to 14.6m in its middle part. Foul ground extends up to 0.3 mile off the salient points.

Anchorage.—Vessels can anchor in 18.3m, mud, with Devils Point bearing 340°, distant 0.3 mile. Vessels intending to stay are advised to use Nancowry Harbor, because of the swarms of mosquitoes which infest this anchorage. 

Directions.—Vessels wishing to enter Expedition Harbor are advised to wait until the sun is high, and is possible to enter at LW, when all the fringing reefs and dangers are visible. Vessels approaching from the N or S should keep at least 1 mile off the coast until abeam of the entrance. When Hoare Village opens out in the entrance and bears 071°, vessels should alter course to this heading taking care to avoid the fringing dangers on both sides of the channel. When Devils Point bears 000°, course can be altered to the NNE which leads to the recommended anchorage.
Vessels not having local knowledge should not proceed above Devils Point into Grand Harbor until the N end of.Middle Reef and the SW end of the drying reef fringing Foul Point are clearly visible. 

Nancowry Harbor (8°01'N., 93°31'E.) lies between the S coast of Camorta Island and the N coast of Nancowry Island. This spacious, landlocked harbor is deeply indented by several bays and inlets. The harbor can be entered by deep-draft vessels either through the E or W entrance during either monsoon to take sheltered anchorage. Both entrances are readily identified from the offing. The harbor consists of four bays, Satellite Bay and Fort Bay on the N side, and Wasp Bay and Spiteful Bay on the S side. Cross Harbor lies between Fort Bay to the N and Spiteful Bay to the S.
Nancowry Harbor has been reported to be a good radar target up to 25 miles.


Tides—Currents.—The tidal currents set E on the flood and W on the ebb. These currents have considerable strength in the entrances, but are very weak within the harbor. Between Man Point and Indian Point the currents are very strong on both tides.


Depths—Limitations.—The depths in the W entrance are over 18.3m and the depths in the E entrance range from 11 to 42m. A depth of 22m exists in the three recommended anchorage areas.
West Entrance.—The W entrance of the harbor lies between Reef Point and Man Point on the N side and Burleigh Rock and Indian Point on the S side. The latter point, which forms the NW extremity of Nancowry Island, lies NE of Burleigh Rock. The W entrance can be identified by vessels up to 5 miles offshore by the trend of the coast inland to form its S side. Reef Point can be identified by a white mark on it and would otherwise be very difficult to identify. This mark cannot be relied on. Man Point is also difficult to identify. There is a least depth of 11.9m in the fairway of the entrance which is about 183m between the dangers on each side.

Northbrook Patch (7°59'N., 93°29'E.), which has a least depth of 4.5m, lies about 0.3 mile SSW of Reef Point. Shoal patches lie between this danger and the coast to the W of the point.
Burleigh Rock, 11m high and topped by a wooded summit, is joined to the SE by a reef. Foul ground extends about 137m NW and 91m N from the rock. A patch, with a depth of 7.6m, lies 0.2 mile SSW of the rock.
East Entrance Approaches.—The approach to the E entrance lies between Morrel Point, the S extremity of Trinkat Island to the NE, and Laire and Reid Points to the SW. The latter two points lie on the NE coast of Nancowry Island. Trinkat Island is easily distinguished from Camorta Island, which is higher and more open.
A disc beacon lies on Reid Point and a similar beacon lies about 91m NNW of Morrel Point. 9.39The coast between Laire Point and Reid Point is fronted by an extensive reef which extends up to 0.5 mile offshore. The edge of this reef, except at HW and on very calm days, is marked by breakers.
A shoal, with a least depth of 4.4m lies on the edge of the shore bank, about 0.4 mile ENE of Reid Point. A 9.8m patch lies near the center of the channel about 0.5 mile NE of the same point.

Eastern Shoals (8°02'N., 93°34'E.), a large shoal area with depths of less than 11m, extends from 1 mile SSW to 1 mile WSW of Morrel Point. Depths of 7.6 and 8.5m lie close within the outer edge of Eastern Shoals.
The dangers N of an imaginary line joining Naval and Marrel Points have been previously described under Beresford Channel.
East Entrance.—The E entrance of Nancowry Harbor lies between Naval Point to the N, and between Reid and Mayo Points to the S. A beacon lies on Mayo Point.
Naval Point Light shows from a structure 0.2 mile S of Wasp Bay (8°00'N., 93°31'E.), which forms the SW part of Nancowry Harbor, lies between the W entrance and an imaginary line drawn between Easter Point and Leda Point to the ENE. Itoe Village, which lies on the E shore of the bay about 0.5 mile S of Leda Point, serves as a good mark.
Wasp Bay has depths of over 18.3m in its central part, but is fouled by some dangers and irregular depths around its shores. 9.40
A shoal, with a least depth of 4.8m, lies 0.2 mile offshore about 0.5 mile NNE of Man Point, which lies 0.3 ENE of Reef Point. A shoal, with a least depth of 9.8m, lies about 0.7 mile NE of the same point. Foul ground, with depths of less than 11m, extends 0.3 mile SE and 0.5 mile ENE from Easter Point.
A drying rock lies in the E part of the bay, a little over 1 mile SSW of Leda Point and about 0.3 mile offshore. Shoals, with depths of 4.9 to 12m, lie between this rock and the shore reef.

Alfrey Shoal (8°01'N., 93°31'E.), having a depth of 8.2m, lies almost in mid-channel, a little over 0.5 mile SW of Leda Point.

Satellite Bay (8°02'N., 93°30'E.), which forms the NW part of Nancowry Harbor, is entered between Easter Point and Alfred Point, about 1.3 miles NE. Alfred Point has been reported to be a good radar target up to 21 miles.
A deep channel, about 0.3 mile wide, leads between the W side of Alfrey Shoal and the E side of the foul ground, which extends 0.5 mile ENE from Easter Point. Depths of 16.5 to 31.1m exist in the outer part of the bay.

Satellite Patch (8°01'N., 93°30'E.), which lies about 0.7 mile SW of Alfred Point, has a least depth of 3.7m. A 6.4m patch lies about 183m S of this patch, and shoal patches, with depths of 5.5 to 11m, lie between Satellite Patch and the coast to the N and NW. Shoal ground, as defined by the 11m curve, extends 0.3 mile SSW from Alfred Point and 0.3 mile NW and N from Leda Point.

Cross Harbor (8°02'N., 93°32'E.) is entered from the W between Alfred and Leda Points, and from the E between Naval and Mayo Points. Depths in the harbor area range from 21.9 to 53.1m, mud.

Fort Bay (8°02'N., 93°31'E.), entered between Alfred Point and Ray Point about 1 mile ENE, recedes about 0.8 mile NNW. The latter point can be identified by two radio masts which lie 0.2 mile to the NE. Battery Point, which lies 0.2 mile NW of Ray Point, can be identified by a conspicuous clump of casuarina trees about the same distance to the N. A flag staff lies close NE of Ray Point.
Depths in the bay range from 14.6 to 23.8m in its central part, shoaling gradually to the coastal reef which fringes its shores. A wreck, with a depth of 12.1m, lies about 0.3 mile W of Ray Point.

Spiteful Bay (8°01'N., 93°32'E.), the SE part of Nancowry Harbor, is entered between Mayo Point and Leda Point. A village lies on the E shore of the bay about 0.3 mile S of Mayo Point.
A 8.3m patch lies about in the middle of the entrance, about 0.3 mile ENE of Leda Point.
Depths of 16.5 to 23.8m are found in the outer part of the bay, shoaling gradually to the drying flats at its head. Shoals on the W side of the bay extend up to 0.3 mile offshore.

Anchorage.—There is an outer anchorage about 1 mile E of Excellent anchorage is provided in the outer part of Fort Bay in a depth of 21.9m, mud, with the conspicuous clump of trees previously mentioned bearing about 075°, distant 0.3 mile. The wreck previously mentioned should be given a wide berth. This anchorage is well-sheltered and little current is experienced.
Anchorage can be taken in the middle of the entrance of Spiteful Bay in a depth of 21.9m. This anchorage is somewhat exposed to the sea breezes.
Anchorage can be taken in the fairway of the E entrance of Nancowry Harbor, in convenient depths, on a line joining the stone jetty and the village of Mala about 0.2 mile SSW of Mayo Point.

Nancowry Harbor (8°01'N., 93°31'E.), although providing excellent shelter for all classes of vessels, has but few facilities. The residence of the Government Agent lies about 0.3 mile WNW of Naval Point. 
A stone jetty, 118.9m long, with wooden extension projecting about 100m SW and W from its head, lies about 0.3 mile WNW of Naval Point. There are depths of about 11m at the outer end of the jetty. The approach to the jetty requires much attention as there are shoals and rocks in the vicinity. 
A wooden jetty, 71.6m long and 6.1m wide, extends in a W direction from the shore about 0.2 mile SSW of Mayo Point