Cocos (Keeling) Islands - Yachting Essentials
Cocos Yachting Essentials
Water:
Water resources are limited on these islands. Potable water is available from the Home Island wharf. The rainwater tanks on Direction Island contain untreated water. The water is not recommended for drinking without prior treatment.
Fuel:
Unleaded fuel can be obtained from Home Island. For small quantities you must provide your own suitable containers. Subject to change, the fuel station is open:
- Monday 0700-0830
- Wednesday 0700-0830
- Friday 0700-0930
- Saturday 0700-0800
The cartage of fuel containers empty or full is prohibited on the local ferry. So you must provide your own transport between the Direction Island anchorage and Home Island. Local charters may be available, however, this is expensive and subject to availability.
Diesel is only available from West Island. WARNING: The transport of diesel from West Island to the Direction Island anchorage is expensive and logistically problematic. It is strongly recommended that you have sufficient diesel onboard your vessel for your entire journey and do not rely on a resupply at Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
LPG:
LPG is available from the Marine Centre on Home Island.
Repairs:
Some repairs are available on West Island.
Rubbish Disposal:
No garbage can currently be disposed of anywhere in Cocos Keeling. Yachts must take everything away with them.
For yachting services including laundry, fuel, mail forwarding, pre-ordered parts and equipment please contact: hospitality@cocoscoop.cc
See Sailing to Cocos for more details.
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
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Related to following destinations: Cocos Keeling
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Now Covid travel restrictions are lifting we are starting to plan our exit from Australia and were very much hoping to stop via Cocos Keeling. This makes for a predictable weather window to travel the first big hop to cross the Indian Ocean. Noon site suggests that permission is granted on a ‘case-by-case basis’ – but I just posted an application and it was declined. Application forms are setup to expect you to fly in and out from WA, but I completed them anyway and added comments to clarify our situation.
Has anyone managed to get an approval?
Any thoughts? Tips?
Hi MaryAnne, thanks for the question. I’ve made contact with the Authorities in Cocos and will let you know what they come back with.
Following as we are in similar situation.
Posted on behalf of Paul Stephens aboard s/v Tin Tin:
Getting to West island to clear in/out was less easy especially as there was no consensus on the ferry timetable. I have since laminated one and attached to the notice board. There is a ferry from Direction to Home island on Saturday a.m. at 10:00 but the connections don’t really work to get back again.
So it’s best to dinghy the 1.5nm to Home island giving the chance if the last ferry back from West island at 16:00. Ferry is AU $3.50 single or $5.00 return. The bus meets the ferry for $0.50… everything shuts at 15:00 on Saturday and there was no cafe or bar open. The Community Centre was helpful with Wi-Fi, and the shop reasonably stocked.
Using broadband radar over-layed on the Navionics Gold electronic charts, we found that the chart was precisely accurate. There is an error in the positioning of the entrance waypoint on the plan of Direction Island in the Indian Ocean Crossing Guide.
The plan shows the waypoint to be at the seaward end of the leading lines to West Island but, when plotted, it is 0.28M east of the leading lines. The waypoint is still a perfectly safe place to head for, although the boat will be closer to the land than the plan suggests.
In September 2015 there is now buoyage (unlit) to help you into the anchorage: From the IO Crossing Guide waypoint, head S and then SE towards the first tall post with a red can top. Leave that post to port and then turn towards the anchorage. If you have good light, you’ll see a band of reef ahead of you.
Identify the smaller post with a green triangle on top as this marks the area of deeper water over the reef. Keep the post close on your starboard side. We found the depths to be either equal to or more than those marked on the Navionics Gold chart. There are lots of small reefs in the anchorage but they are all deep until close inshore.
Anchor west of the jetty to keep out of the ferry/recreation zone.