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.