India - Yachting Essentials
India Yachting Essentials
Electricity:
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Water:
Bottled water is best for drinking. Otherwise, it can be obtained by jerry jug from local water taps but be sure to check the water is potable first (for example the water at Cochin marina is not potable).
Fuel:
Fuel has to be obtained by jerry can from local fuel stations onshore. Many Uber drivers now refuse to carry fuel and more and more taxis and Tuk-Tuks simply don’t have the space to load jerry cans because that area in the trunk is taken up with an LPG or CNG tank. This makes for more complicated refueling.
At Mumbai, there is a fuel berth at the ferry dock.
LPG:
It is possible to get propane refills in India.
Keep in mind that India is not a petroleum exporting nation, but an importer, so these products are not as cheap as in Malaysia or Indonesia.
Haulout and Repairs:
Repairs of one sort or another can be arranged at most main ports although riggers and sailmakers are very hard to come by.
Lift out is almost impossible, although can be arranged at Port Blair. If you have to take the boat out of the water, then you might be able to do it with a crane, or a makeshift trailer and tractor operating in shallow water (catamaran), but otherwise the only option in the majority of ports is a “dry dock” costing $1500 USD per day or more.
Marine supplies:
Marine spares are not easily obtained and often need to be flown in from abroad. See Customs for details. There are 2 marine supply stores in Cochin.
Provisions:
Many supermarkets don’t sell pork, but you can normally find it in the markets.
Fresh produce is abundant, but not canned vegetables. Canned corn is about the only one you will find.
You can easily find salsa, taco chips, popcorn, chocolate bars, milk, yoghurt, flatbreads, cheese and just about everything else.
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We cleared in at Kochi after sending pre-arrival notification (PANS). First Port (Harbor) Control came to see us, but they asked questions without coming on board. Then Health, who came on board, did a temperature check but no masks required (and he did not ask about our vaccination status) and finally Port Marina and Immigration.
They all had 3 copies of questionnaires and wanted to know the last 10 ports visited(one wanted to know the last 10 countries visited). They wanted to see the ships papers, number, port registration, etc. etc. They wrote everything down on all 3 copies.
The day after the visits on board, we had to visit the office of immigration. They entered some of the data into a computer. Then we had to go to the Port Marina office and answer some more questions. We had to pay (me and 1 crew) around 1200 rupies (approx. $15). We got a statement that we would be allowed to leave the anchorage and move to the marina. Then we had to go to customs .. which by mistake were not informed. A questionnaire was prepared and a Customs officer went with us in the dinghy back to the boat. He inspected the boat and put the Iridium Go phone in a compartment and sealed it. Then he wrote down some food we had .. white beans 3 cans, red beans 2 cans, fruit peach 2 cans … and so forth.
Back at the Customs office he guided us to another Customs department where my ships papers were taken as a deposit. We then had to wait around 30 minutes while that guy then got some other departments informed. Then we could leave.
There is a local guy that helps you. He and his brother took over the “service” from their father. He contacts sailors and offers help. He is not a clearing agent nor an approved importer, but he knows his way around all the offices. He’s called Nisam – phone +91 97464 62686.
27 hours after arrival we could proceed to the marina.
In general India (or at least the state of Kerala), probably doesn’t understand the cash / income they could make with yachts visiting. Maitenance of the marina is bad.
What comes first? Infrastructure for boats or the boats? I would not recommend others to stop here.
E-Visa normally processed in 72hours not 60days. Took 12 hours for our visas to be granted.
Lakshadweep Islands: Update received from Indian boat owner who was granted a permit to visit these islands for a period of 9 days in February 2015. He reports that the process is difficult and one must push to get an answer from the Island Administrator. See RESTRICTIONS above in the Formalities section for details of how to apply for a permit.
Posted on behalf of Brian Thurlow from Cochin, India:
It is difficult, or nearly impossible for foreign boats to visit the Lakshadweep Islands. We have one Indian owned catamaran in the marina who did the trip last year with at least one European crew. I will contact him for details. He said it was difficult, but not impossible. Waiting for an update.
Does anyone have any info on visiting the Lakshadweep islands?
Was in Kochi (Cochin) at the end of February 2014 on s/y Anima. Stay in International Marina. You must anchor off near Port Control for clearance. Port security comes onboard to check the boat, after that you will go ashore with a security officer for customs and immigration. Be ready to spend a whole day (or more, if you come on Sunday). After clearance, you’ll go to the Harbourmaster office to take permission to go to Marina. Channel to the marina is good markered, but not so good dragged – there was 1.8 minimal depth at MHWS, take care! Marina is empty but still works. Maybe you will meet Bebe – tuk-tuk driver. You can solve almost any problem with his assistance.