Cuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located 25 kilometres south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.

The Cuddalore Port area comprises the open anchorage off the town and the backwater formed by the confluence of the estuaries of the Gadilam River and the Uppanar River, both of which are subject to heavy flooding in the rainy season.
The old town, which shows up well from the N, especially the buildings to the E, lies on the Uppanar Backwater; the new town lies on the Gadilam River, about 1 mile N of the old town.

Depths off the port shoal gradually from the 20m curve about 3.5 miles E of the port, to the 5m curve about 0.3 to 0.5 mile offshore.

An unmarked shifting boat channel crosses the bar at the entrance of the Uppanar River, about 0.8 mile S of the light. This channel has a least depth of 1.2m.

Vessels should send their ETA 24 hours in advance.

A signal station, by which vessels can communicate by Morse code, lies close S of the lighthouse. Storm signals are displayed in accordance with the Indian Extended System.

When surf conditions require the closing of the channel across the bar, flag K of the International Code of Signals is displayed. Flag M indicates a strong ebb current; flag S indicates a strong flood current.

The port can be contacted weekdays only, from 0900-1300 and from 1400-1800, as follows:
Call sign: Cuddalore Port Radio
VHF: VHF channels 11 and 16
Tel: 91-4142-238025
Fax: 91-4142-238026
Mail: cuddaloreport@gmail.com

Anchorage