Northern Approach to Mergui 7.41 1 The channel leading to Myeik Harbour is about 3 miles wide between the NE side of Plantain Kyun and Cape Rock about 5 miles ENE. The E side of the channel is bounded by an extensive bank with depths of less than 5.5m. 2 Kala Kyun, which is hilly on its W side and fringed by mangroves, is separated from Kadan Kyun by Fell Passage. Knoll hill about 18m high lies on the SW side of the Kala Kyun. 3 Sa Kyun, 64m high, lies in the N entrance to Fell Passage, on the W side 3 miles SSE of Daungnet Hill. 4 Komwe Kyun, 61m high, lies about 2.7 miles SE of Sa Kyun. It is surmounted by a pagoda and is connected to Kala Kyun by a drying flat. The southern side of Komwe Kyun is fringed with rocks which extend up to 6 cables further S. An unnamed Island 53m high lies 7 cables SSW of Komwe Kyun. Another unnamed Island lies about 1.3 miles SSE of this Island. 5 A rocky bank with depths of less than 5.5m, part of which dries extends about 2½ miles N from the N end of Kala Kyun and forms the E side of the N entrance to Fell Passage. 6 A narrow channel with a least depth of 7.3m leads 6½ miles S from Komwe Kyun along the E side of Kala Kyun S of a line drawn between Komwe and Kalwin Points about 6 miles SE; the entire sea is filled with numerous small Islands, shoals and drying banks There are fishing stakes which lie about 1.5 miles and extend up to 6 miles further NNW of Kalwin Point. 7.42 1 Kalwin Point (12º 29'N, 98º 36'.4E), the NW extremity of Myeik Kyun, forms the S entrance point of Kyaukpya River, which separates Myeik Kyun from the mainland and is one of the outlets of Tenasserim River. Some conspicuous oil tanks stand about 2 miles S of Kalwin Point. 2 Kalwin Point Light (12º 29'.3 N 98º 35'.5E) is exhibited from a red metal framework tower, with yellow bands, on a platform of concrete piles standing about ¾ mile WNW of Kalwin Point; an old light house stands close NE. 3 Pataw Kyun, about 2 miles SSW of Kalwin Point (12º 27' N, 98º 35'E), lies in the SE corner of the above shoal area. 4 Pataw Pagoda, with another pagoda a short distance N, stands on a peak, 238m, near the N end of Pataw Kyun. 5 Kalaggyi Kyun, 84m high, lies about 2.7miles NNW of Pataw Kyun. Greenwich Reef lies about 2.5 miles S of Kalagyungyi Kyun. There are three small Islands which lie close S of Greenwich reef. There are many mud flats and drying sands, some of which dries up to 1.2m, which lies between Kalagyun Point and Kalwin point. 6 Hian-nyi-naung, a white pagoda ½ mile SSE of the 238m peak, stands near the E point of Pataw Kyun. The shore on the E side of Hian-nyi-naung is fringed with rock awash which extends about 6 cables further NNW. 7 Pahtet Kyun, 83m high and surmounted by a pagoda, lies 1.4 mile SSE of Pataw pagoda with a mangrove swamp in between. 7.43 1 Oyster Pagoda stands on a hill near the N end of Pahtet Kyun about 2.5 cables N from the Pahtet pagoda; four other pagodas stand in the S and SE part of the Island. The E side of Pahtet Kyun is steep-to towards east. 2 A stranded wreck lies about ½ mile SE of Pahtet Pagoda. 3 The W coast of Myeik Kyun is low and wooded on its N part with flats of sand and mud, drying 0.3m to 2.4m, extending about 1 cable offshore. About 2 miles S of Kalwin Point, a sea wall fronts the town extending ¾ mile SSW. 4 Seikkantha Light (12º 26'.5N, 98º 35'.9E) is exhibited from a white metal framework beacon surmounted by a white wall on a wooden framework tower standing on the sea wall about 4 cables from its N end. 7.44 1 Mergui Pagoda (12º 26'.2N, 98º 36'E), gilded and prominent with an elevation of 73m, stands about 3 cables SSE of Seikkantha Light tower and overlooks the harbour SW. This pagoda is brilliantly lit at night. Pawdawmu Pagoda. With an elevation of 57m, stands 2 miles NE. 2 An obstruction with a depth of 2.7m lies 2 ½ cables WNW of Kalwin Point Light tower. A wreck with a depth of 1.2m lies about 5½ cables NW of the light tower. 3 The channel from close W of Kalwin Point Light tower to the harbour of Myeikhas depths of 2.4m to 4.3m in the fairway but there are depths of 2.1m within ½ cable on each side and large shoals with depths of less than 1.8 m lie beyond 1 cable W of the fairway. 4 Depths in the fairway gradually increased abreast Myeik to between 5.8m and in the anchorage W and NW of main wharf in Myeik Harbour. MERGUI HARBOUR OR PORT MYEIK Position and function 7.45 1 Myeik (12º 26'.00 N 98º 35'.50E) is the principal port of Myeik District fronting the town of Myeik, which is the most important in the S part of Myanmar, and centre of rubber and tin minning. Pearl fishing is also an important industry for this area. Sea going vessels load and discharge cargoes at anchor. The port handles rubber, tin, wolfram, timber, mother of pearl and shell, cotton piece goods and foodstuffs. Topography 7.46 1 Myeik Harbour lies at the S end of the channel that separates Pataw Kyun (12º 27'.00N, 98º 35'.00E) and Pahtet Kyun (12º 26'.00N, 98º 35'.00E) on the W from Myeik Kyun on the E. The town of the Myeik stands on the W coast of Myeik Kyun and is backed by wooded hills over 30m high. Myeik is the most important town in the southern district of Myanmar and extends for more than one mile along the SW shore of Myeik Kyun. The W coast of Myeik Kyun is low and wooded on its N part with drying mud and sand flats extending about 1 cable N. 2 Myeik Port is the scheduled port of call for small coastal vessels and is the centre of important rubber and tin mining operations. The pearl fisheries of MyeikKyun are also important. 3 Tidal Streams S set through the harbour with the rising tide with a rate of about 2 knots at springs during the dry season. During the wet season the outgoing tidal stream may attain a rate greater than 2 knots. The rate of the ebb stream is perhaps greater during the monsoons. Tidal stream off the E extremity of Pahtet Kyun are very strong. 4 Main Wharf is a wooden structure on piles with a depth of 0.6m to 0.9m alongside at the end of the seawall, which fronts the town. Naukle Jetty extends from the shore about 3½ cables S of main Wharf and was reported to have depth of 1.5m alongside. 5 A new pontoon wharf, about 75m long 6m wide, with a reported depth of 4.3m alongside, is located abreast of the town. 6 The port office lies close to the root of main Wharf; a flagstaff stands 1½ cables SE of the Main wharf. Principal exports are rubber, tin, wolfram, timber, mother-of-pearl and shell; imports are cotton piece goods and husked rice. 7 Even though Myeik is a shallow water port, Vessels of up to 4.6m draught, can enter with local knowledge at spring tides after the first quarter of the flood tide; Vessels of above 3m draught should not enter until after the first quarter of the flood tide without local knowledge; those of greater draught should not enter until the first half of the flood tide. Anchorage 7.47 1 Anchorage may be obtained in Myeik Outer Anchorage in depths of 10.5 m between 1 and 1 ½ miles NW of Kalwin Pint Light structure with Pataw Pagoda bearing between 169º and 179º , distance about 3 miles. 2 Vessels with local knowledge and drawing more than 5.5m draught can anchor about 3 cables NW of the heads of the Main Wharf. The swinging room is restricted by banks extending from the shores on each side and by rocks off the NE part of Pahtet Kyun. 3 Vessels of greater draught can anchor in a small deep area off the E extremity of Pahtet Kyun. The swinging room is restricted and the tidal streams and eddies here are very strong. Directions 7.48 1 Vessels bound for Myeik outer Anchorage from N and using the Inner Route pass about 2 miles E of the N point of Dawei Kyun and then alter course to pass about the same distance off Cornwall Point, the E point of that Kyun; from here the direct track leads, free from dangers, between Thamila Kyun and Long Kyun. 2 If from W proceed either through Middle Passage or Iron Passage. 3 From a position about midway between Thamila Kyun and Long Kyun keep the E tangents of Plantain Kyun bearing 167º until Thityagun Kyun bears 113º; then steer for the summit of Pataw Kyun bearing 150º. 4 When NE tangent of Plantation Kyun comes in line with the summit of Little Canister Kyun bearing until Kalwin Point Light tower can be identified; bring the light tower in line with Pawdawmu pagoda bearing 130º which leads to the Outer Anchorage NW of Kalwin Point. 5 Vessels entering Myeik Harbour should continue steering with Kalwin Point light tower in line bearing 130º with Pawdawmu Pagoda until Seikkantha light beacon is in line with Myeik Pagoda, the spire and upper dome of which are brilliantly lit at night, bearing 169½º. Keep these marks in line until Htan-nyi-naung Pagoda on the E side of Pataw Kyun bears 275º, then steer for another pagoda, close off the E side of Pahtet Kyun bearing 197º; this leads toward the anchorage. Facilities 7.49 1 A hospital of moderate size lies ½ mile E of Main Wharf. 2 Supplies. Small quantities of fuel oil and coal are normally maintained. Fresh water is laid onto main Wharf but the supply is limited. All drinking water should be boiled. 3 Communications. There is regular communication by sea with Yangon and other Ports in Myanmar. 4 Storm and Weather Signals. The General System is in use. Southern Approach to Myeik Harbour 7.50 1 The S approach to the port of Myeik is through Fell Passage and then from NE of Sa Kyun as if from N, or, for vessels of shallow draught, by a channel passing through the Islands and mud banks extending SW from Myeik Kyun. The latter route, which requires local knowledge, may be used at high water by vessels not exceeding 2.4m draught and is about 15 miles shorter than that through Fell Passage. 2 The entrance to the shallow draught passage lies between the S end of Tatagyi, 4 miles SE of the S end of Kadan Kyun, and Kyauknakaungdaung, ½ miles farther S; the N end of Pyin Sa Bu Route lies about 3 miles WSW of the entrance. The channel has a least depth of 6.4m in the fairway as far as the anchorage off Linmalo Kyun (12º 19'.5N, 98º 28'.4E), then the least depth in the fairway falls to 2.7m as far as S of Bertie Kyun (Ma-ing) (12º 21'.1N 98º 30'.8E), and about 3 miles NE of the Linmalo Kyun the depths further fall to 0.3m. 3 Tatagyi (12º 17'N, 98º 23'E) a low Kyun with two peaks, the S peak is 120m high, it lies about 2 miles SE of the S end of Kadan Kyun. 4 Shrub Rocks, (12º 15'.5N, 98º 21'.6E) 7m high lies 1¾ miles WSW of the S point of Tatagyi; a reef extends ¾ mile NW. 5 Kyauknakaungdaung, 58m high and with a 5m shoal 1 mile NE, lies ½ mile S of Tatagyi; Pindan Kyun, 28m high ,lies about ½ mile farther S. Depths between Pindan Kyun and the N Myeik Kyun S of it are apparently irregular; a rock, drying 3m, lies about 1.3 miles E of the Kyauknakaungdaung Kyun. 6 Myeik Kyuns , two bold, lofty and densely wooded Kyuns, lie 3½ miles SSE and 5½ miles S of Tata-gyi. The summit of the S and higher Island is 486m high and of pyramidal shape. Shelving mudbanks, with depths of 5.5m, extend 1½ mile W from the N and 2 mile W from the S Island. 7 Palok, an Kyun 43m high, lies on the S end of a drying bank 2½ miles ENE of Kyauknakaungdaung. 8 Saunggyi Kyun (12º 07'N, 98º 23'.5E), lies about 1 mile S of the S MyeikKyun, it rises to an elevation of 158m, Depths of less than 9m extend about 3¾ miles WSW from the W side of Saunggyi Kyun. 9 Linmalo Kyun, 43m high, lies about 3.3 miles NE of Palok Kyun. Pyinni Kyun, 89m high lies 2.2 miles W of Linmalo Kyun. Bertie Kyun, with a peak of 74m high, lies about ½ mile N of Linmalo Kyun. 10 Thayawgi Kyun (12º 19'.5 N, 98º 32'.00 E) lies about 1.8 miles E of Ma-aing Kyun. 11 Kan bi Sat Kyun covered with mangroves lies about 3.5 miles E Bertie Kyun. Kan bi Sat Kyun appears to be part of main land but is separated by a branch of Tonbyaw creek. 12 Balu an Kyun 61m high covered with mangroves lies about 1.5 miles WSW of Thayawgi Kyun.Ba Lu Nge Hill (Haycock) 55m high 4 cables SE of Ba Lu Hill Gyi. 13 Thi Yar Gyi Kyun 90 m high, lies about 7 cables SW of Balu Kyun. The Island is fringed with rocks on all sides. 14 Between the entrance to the shallow draught approach channel and S of Ma-aing Islets, about 8½ miles NE, the channel is bound by Tatagyi, Pyinni Kyun, Limalo Kyun, and Bertie Kyun, (Ma-aing) connected by an extensive drying mud bank, on the NW end, and on the SE side, by Palok Kyun and islets, shoals and mud banks NE of it. 15 Anchorage Good anchorage may be obtained in depths of about 14m, about 2 cables ESE of the SE point of Linmalo Kyun. 16 Tidal Streams, Near Shrub Rocks, the indraught of the stream setting E is very strong at springs. Tidal streams for Pyin Sa Bu Route are subsequently described. Directions 7.51 1 From a position on the Pyin Sa Bu Route track with the S point of Yenge Kyun (12º12'.5N, 98º15'E) 109m high, bearing 316º, distance 1¾ miles, steer 049º keeping the S end of Tatagyi fine on the port bow; when 1¾ miles from Shrub Rocks steer to pass midway between the S end of Tatagyi and Kyauknakaungdaung allowing for the tidal streams which are strong at springs. 2 When past the S end of Tatagyi steer to make good 042º for about 3½ miles and when the E end of Pyinni Kyun bears 012º alter course E to make good about 068º, which leads to the anchorage S of Linmalo Kyun. Do not proceed farther NE without local knowledge. Myeik Harbour to Auckland Bay 7.52 1 The coast between Myeik Harbor and Auckland Bay, about 20 miles SSW, is low and swampy. Several shallow rivers, navigable only by boats, flow out through narrow channels bounded by flats. Large trees usually cover the higher ridges and hummocks. 7.53 1 Auckland Bay (12º 07'N, 98º 32'E), is entered between the N point of Sakhan Thit Kyun (12º 07'N 98º 26'), and an Kyun surrounded by mangroves about 10 miles NE. The bay which extends about 15 miles SE, is well sheltered and can afford anchorage in depths of the bottom being about 7 to 22m, mud; but has not been examined and caution is necessary. 2 Tenasserim River has several mouths, the two principal of which are separated by MyeikKyun. Tonbyaw Creek, the next entrance S, joins the main river 8 miles SE of MyeikHarbour. The banks of Tenasserim River are very steep in places and the channel is narrow in parts. 3 Large boats can go upto Tenasserim river as far as the village of Tenasserim which lies at the confluence of Great Tenasserim River and Little Tenasserim River, about 33 miles SE of Myeikharbour. A reef of rocks a few miles below the river bars it, even during the rains, to vessels of more than 1.8m draught.