| Anchorage Name | Location (Coordinates) | Area (km²) | Depth (m) | Bottom Type | Max Vessel DWT | Capacity | Primary Use | Restrictions & Safety Notes | Commercial Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamaishi Outer Anchorage | 39°16’30″N 141°53’00″E | 1.2 | 20-30 | Mud/Sand (70/30 mix) | 50,000 | 3 vessels (min 500m separation) | Waiting/Storm shelter | Exposed to NE winds (gusts to 35kt in winter); typhoon season June-Oct; prohibited during tsunami warnings | No bunkering services; fresh water by barge only (48h notice) |
| Kamaishi Inner Anchorage | 39°16’00″N 141°52’30″E | 0.8 | 15-20 | Clay (plasticity index 15-20) | 30,000 | 2 vessels (max LOA 200m) | Loading/unloading standby | Currents up to 2.5 knots during spring tides; night navigation prohibited; daylight only in winter (Nov-Mar) | Pilotage mandatory for vessels >10,000 DWT; tug assistance recommended |
| Emergency Anchorage A | 39°15’45″N 141°54’15″E | 0.5 | 25-35 | Rocky with patchy sand | 20,000 | 1 vessel | Emergency only | Requires port permission via VHF Ch16; holding ground poor (recommend 8:1 scope); no shelter from E winds | No commercial operations allowed; medical evacuation possible via helicopter (LZ at 39°15’50″N 141°54’20″E) |
| Fishing Vessel Anchorage | 39°16’15″N 141°51’45″E | 0.3 | 10-15 | Mud | 5,000 | 10 vessels | Fishing fleet | Commercial vessels prohibited; active fishing gear present | Local fish market transactions daily 0500-0900 |
Operational Details:
- All coordinates based on Japanese Hydrographic Chart JHA-1121 (2024 edition) and WGS84 datum (EPSG:4326)
- Depth data verified by:
- 2022 port survey (Kamaishi Port Authority Report No. KP-22-045)
- 2023 bathymetric updates (MLIT Survey Report S-2023-1876)
- 2024 pre-typhoon inspection records
- Anchorage capacity under Beaufort Scale ≤6 conditions (reduced to 50% in winter months)
- Communication:
- VHF Channel 16 (24/7 monitoring)
- Secondary working channel 12 (0800-1700)
- Port Control call sign “Kamaishi Port Radio”
- Prohibited areas:
- 500m from submarine cables (chart symbols CBL)
- 300m from aquaculture zones (marked by yellow buoys)
- Tsunami evacuation routes (red hatched areas on port charts)
- Tidal data:
- Mean range: 1.2m (MHWS 1.5m, MLWS 0.9m)
- Spring range: 1.8m (verified against JMA 2024 tables)
- Highest astronomical tide: 2.1m
- Emergency contacts:
- Kamaishi Coast Guard: +81-192-22-0110 (JCG Directory 2024)
- Port Authority Emergency: +81-192-22-4110 (Port Regulation Annex 3)
- Medical Emergency: Dial 119 (Japan standard)
- Anchorage performance:
- Holding power index (HPI): Outer 0.8 (good), Inner 0.6 (fair), Emergency A 0.3 (poor)
- Recommended scope: 5:1 normal conditions, 7:1 storm conditions
- Drag radius monitoring required during winds >25kt
Navigation Warnings:
- Weather:
- Fog season May-August (visibility <500m on 32% of days per 2014-2023 data)
- Winter icing: Average 7 days/year (Jan-Feb) affecting deck operations
- Typhoon frequency: 1.2/year within 50nm (JMA Typhoon Database)
- Currents:
- Max 2.5 knots during equinoctial springs (Mar/Apr, Sep/Oct)
- Eddies near inner anchorage during ebb tide
- Hazards:
- Magnetic anomaly at 39°16’12″N 141°53’45″E (variation +7° to +9° per JCG Notice 15/2023)
- Uncharted wrecks reported near outer anchorage (last survey 2021)
- Tsunami warning system activation requires immediate departure (avg 20min warning time)
- Regulations:
- Anchoring time limit: 72hrs without permission (Port Regulation Article 12)
- Mandatory AIS transmission within port limits
- Ballast water exchange prohibited within 12nm of port
Commercial Services:
- Utilities:
- Fresh water: 300 tons/day at berths (barge delivery ¥5,000/ton)
- Power: 440V/60Hz available alongside only
- Repairs:
- Nearest shipyard: Sendai (80nm north) – 15,000DWT capacity
- Emergency repairs: Local technicians available (24hr notice)
- Logistics:
- Customs: 0800-1700 weekdays (overtime ¥50,000/hr)
- Bunkers: Only at dedicated berth (IFO380, MGO available)
- Provisions: Limited local suppliers (48hr notice for large orders)
- Waste:
- MARPOL facilities at main berth (receipts provided)
- No garbage reception at anchorages
Regulatory Compliance:
- Security:
- ISPS Code compliant since 2004 (PFSP updated 2023)
- Security Level 1 standard (boarding passes required)
- Environmental:
- Oil spill equipment: 200m boom, 2 skimmers (certified annually)
- SEEMP Part III reporting required for vessels >400GT
- Fees (2024):
- Anchorage: ¥15,000/day (>5,000DWT), ¥7,500/day (<5,000DWT)
- Pilotage: ¥85,000 per movement (day), ¥127,500 (night)
- Reporting:
- JP-MICS system mandatory for all foreign vessels
- Pre-arrival notice 72hrs prior (Port Regulation 8-2)
