On Arrival:
All ships on approaching Cochin are to contact Cochin Port Control on VHF Channel 15 / 16 and report their E.T.A. to receive instructions on Pilot boarding / anchoring. Cochin Port Control is equipped with Radar / A.I.S. based V.T.M.S. and monitors the approach of vessels towards the fairway buoy.Open anchorage is South of the Channel with clay and sand bottom offering good holding ground.Pilots board ships in the vicinity of the Buoys no. 3 & 4 (Deep drafted vessels - about 0.5 n.m. West of buoys 1 & 2). Pilot ladders are to be rigged on the lee side 1.5 m above the water line.The Pilots embark from Pilot boats with white superstructure / red hull with 'PILOTS' marked on the sides.
Port Channels:
The entrance to the harbour is by a 16500m long and 260 m wide 15.95 m deep outer approach channel marked with eight sets of buoys numbered from 1 to 16. Inner harbour is divided into two navigational channels - Ernakulam Channel of 2800m long and 300 - 500 m wide with depths from 9.75 to 13.5 m and Mattancheri Channel of 2200 m long and 180 - 250 m wide with a depth of 9.75 m.Mattancheri Channel has the berths Q1 to Q4, North and South Coal berths and B.T.P.Ernakulam Channel has berths Q5 to Q10, North and South Tanker Berths and Cochin Oil Terminal. Basin for the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) lies just north of the shipping channel along the south face of Vallarpadam island. Basin for the LNG terminal of Petronet LNG Ltd. is located north of the approach channel between buoys 14 & 16 with the jetty along the south end of Puthuvypin Island.
Tugs:
The following tugs are available in Cochin normally two tugs are used for each shipping movement as per the requirement of the Pilot and the cost of the tug is included in the Pilotage charges.
VALLARPADAM |
2009 Built |
Twin screw cycloidal propulsion |
45 Tons Bollard Pull |
VYPEEN |
2009 Built |
Twin screw cycloidal propulsion |
45 Tons Bollard Pull |
OCEAN ELITE |
2012 Built ASD |
60 Tons Bollard Pull |
OCEAN PIONEER |
2011 Built ASD |
60 Tons Bollard Pull |
OCEAN ENTERPRISE |
2012 Built ASD |
60 Tons Bollard Pull |
Mooring launches:
Five mooring launches are available for passing mooring lines at Tanker, Coal and fertilizer (Q10) berths. On other berths lines are passed by heaving lines.
Pilot Boats
2 Nos of Pilot boats of Red Hull and White Superstructure with "PILOTS" embossed on the sides.
Port Control:
VHF Channel 15 / 16
Telephone + 91 484 2667105 / 2666468.