All ships on approaching Cochin are to contact Cochin Port Control on VHF Channel 16 and report their E.T.A. to receive instructions on Pilot boarding / anchoring. A two radar V.T.M.S. is being installed (expected commissioning in December 2008) which will monitor and guide ships approaching the channels.

Open anchorage is S.W. of the Fairway buoy with clay and sand bottom offering good holding ground.

Pilots board ships in the vicinity of the Fairway Buoy and deep drafted vessels, half a mile West of the Fairway Buoy.
Pilot ladders are to be rigged on the lee side 1.5 m above the water line. The Pilots embark from F.R.P. Pilot boats white superstructure / red hull with ?PILOTS? marked on the sides.

Latitude:   09 Degrees 57 minutes 45 seconds  North
Longitude: 076 Degrees 08 minutes 59 seconds East

BA 65 and Indian Chart 2045 (INT 7360)

The entrance to the harbour is by a 10000m long and 200 m wide 13.8 m deep outer approach channel marked with five sets of buoys numbered from 1 to 10. IALA system A (Red to Port is followed for buoyage in this port)
 
Inner harbour is divided into two navigational channels

1. Ernakulam Channel with a length of about 2800m, widths varying between 300 to 500 m and depths from 9.75 to 13.5 m. Ernakulam Channel has berths Q5 to Q10, North and South Tanker Berths and Cochin Oil Terminal.
   
2. Mattancheri Channel with a length of about 2200 m, widths varying between 180 to 250 m and a depth of 9.75 m. Mattancheri Channel has the berths Q1 to Q4, North and South Coal berths and B.T.P.

VHF Channels:  16 / 13 / 14 (Cochin Port Control)
Inmarsat (Mini M):  + 873 762834463 (Voice)
Telephone:  + 91 484 2667105.
 
Harbour Master:  + 91 484 2666410