| Anchorage Name | Location (Coordinates) | Area (km²) | Depth (m) | Bottom Type | Max Vessel DWT | Capacity | Primary Use | Holding Ground Quality | Tidal Current (knots) | Max Wave Height (m) | Restrictions & Safety Notes | Commercial Notes | Chart Reference | Last Survey Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsu Outer Anchorage A | 34°45’12″N, 136°32’18″E | 2.5 | 25-30 | Mud & clay | 150,000 | 6 vessels | VLCC waiting | Good (3-5:1 scope) | 1.5 max | 2.5 | Minimum 500m spacing required. No anchoring in NE monsoon >Beaufort 7. Mandatory dragging alarm | Bunkering available with 12hr notice. Fresh water supply | JP4221 (Zone A1) | 2023-09-15 |
| Tsu Inner Anchorage B | 34°44’06″N, 136°31’24″E | 1.8 | 15-18 | Sandy mud | 80,000 | 8 vessels | General cargo | Excellent (4:1 scope) | 1.2 max | 1.8 | Daylight operations only. Prohibited for hazardous cargo. Anchor watch mandatory | Fresh water delivery available. Provisions service | JP4221 (Zone B2) | 2023-08-22 |
| Tsu Emergency Anchorage C | 34°43’30″N, 136°30’42″E | 0.8 | 20-22 | Hard clay | 50,000 | 3 vessels | Emergency use | Fair (5:1 scope) | 2.0 max | 3.0 | Port Control permission required. Max 12hr stay. Emergency vessels only | No commercial services. Medical evacuation available | JP4221 (Zone C3) | 2023-10-05 |
| Tsu Bunker Anchorage D | 34°44’24″N, 136°33’36″E | 1.2 | 18-20 | Mud | 100,000 | 4 vessels | Fuel operations | Good (4:1 scope) | 1.0 max | 2.0 | Double hull tankers only. Static discharge only. No hot work permitted | 24hr bunker service. Gas-free certification available | JP4221 (Zone D4) | 2023-07-18 |
| Tsu Coastal Anchorage E | 34°46’00″N, 136°31’12″E | 1.5 | 12-15 | Sand | 30,000 | 5 vessels | Coastal vessels | Good (3:1 scope) | 0.8 max | 1.5 | Max length 150m. No night operations. Fishing gear clearance required | Limited provisions available. Waste disposal service | JP4221 (Zone E5) | 2023-11-02 |
| Tsu Quarantine Anchorage F | 34°43’48″N, 136°32’54″E | 0.6 | 10-12 | Clay | 20,000 | 2 vessels | Health inspections | Fair (4:1 scope) | 0.5 max | 1.2 | Medical clearance required. No crew transfer permitted | No commercial activities. Pilot transfer only | JP4221 (Zone F6) | 2023-09-30 |
Additional Anchorage Information
| Parameter | Detail | Regulatory Reference | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Markings | Yellow buoys with radar reflectors (IALA Region A). Light characteristics: Fl Y 5s | MLIT Notice 2023-15 IALA Recommendation O-139 |
2023-04-01 |
| Anchor Watch Requirement | Mandatory for all vessels >500 GT. Continuous position monitoring required | Japan Port Regulations Art. 42 SOLAS Ch.V Reg.19 |
2022-10-01 |
| Dragging Alarm | Required within 0.5nm of anchorage perimeter. Alarm threshold: 100m drift radius | SOLAS Ch.V Reg.19 OCIMF MEG4 7.2.3 |
2021-07-01 |
| Pilot Transfer | Available at all anchorages (min 1hr notice). Day/Night transfer capability | IMO Res.A.1045(27) MLIT Ordinance 15-3 |
2023-01-01 |
| VHF Channels | Ch 16 (Safety), Ch 12 (Port Ops), Ch 14 (Bunkering), Ch 09 (Pilot) | ITU-R M.1084 Japan Radio Law Art.27 |
2022-12-01 |
| Turnaround Time | Average 12-24hrs for berth allocation. Priority for perishable cargo | Port Operations Manual v4.3 MLIT Port Efficiency Act |
2023-06-15 |
| Storm Precautions | Typhoon warning: vessels must vacate within 6hrs. Design wave: 5m significant | Japan Meteorological Agency Rule 12-C ClassNK Guidelines |
2023-05-20 |
| Anchoring Prohibited Zones | 500m from submarine cables (marked on charts with red hatching) | Japan Telecommunications Business Act §38 IMO SN.1/Circ.336 |
2021-01-01 |
| Environmental Restrictions | No anchoring in marine protected areas (chart symbols MPA) | Japan Biodiversity Act Art.5 MEPC.1/Circ.833 |
2023-03-01 |
Technical Specifications
| Item | Specification | Standard | Verification Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor Chain Inspection | Annual ultrasonic testing required. Minimum safety factor 4:1 | ClassNK Rules Part N ISO 1704:2019 |
Certified service provider report |
| Mooring Line Strength | Minimum MBL 1.5x vessel displacement. Synthetic lines must be UV protected | OCIMF MEG4 3.2 ISO 2307:2017 |
Manufacturer certificate |
| Position Keeping | Max drift radius 200m from anchor position. GPS update every 2 minutes | Port Authority By-Law §7.2 IMO MSC.1/Circ.1455 |
VDR/AIS data recording |
| Emergency Towing | Vessels >20,000 DWT must display emergency towing gear at all times | IMO MSC.1/Circ.1250 MLIT Notice 2022-8 |
Port State Control inspection |
| Anchor Weight Requirements | Minimum weight = (LBP(m) x Beam(m))/100 (metric tons) | ClassNK Anchoring Guidelines OCIMF Anchoring Systems |
Equipment certificate |
Regulatory Compliance
- All anchorages comply with Japan’s Port Regulations Act Article 37-2 (2022 Revision, amended 2023-04)
- Holding ground tested per IMO MSC.1/Circ.1455 guidelines (2021 Edition) with 40-year storm conditions
- Environmental restrictions follow MEPC.1/Circ.833 (2020 Amendments) and Japan Biodiversity Act
- Depth surveys conducted quarterly (MLIT Hydrographic Dept 2023 Standards, ±0.1m accuracy)
- Anchorage lighting meets IALA Recommendation O-139 (2022) with backup power systems
- Emergency procedures comply with IMO Resolution A.1118(30) for quick evacuation
Operational Notes
- Anchoring prohibited in cable areas (marked on charts with red hatching) and marine protected areas
- Minimum underkeel clearance: 10% of draft or 2m (whichever greater) at lowest astronomical tide
- Anchorage fees: ¥15,000/day for vessels >10,000 DWT (Port Tariff No.2023-4, revised 2023-10)
- Mandatory AIS transmission within port limits (SOLAS Ch.V Reg.19.2.4) with 2-minute updates
- Vessels carrying Class 1 explosives prohibited at all anchorages (IMDG Code Special Provision 888)
- Anchorage holding power calculations must account for 40-year storm conditions (IACS Rec.10)
- Night anchoring requires all-round white lights at 6m above deck (COLREG Rule 30)
- Vessels >50,000 DWT must submit anchoring plan 24hrs in advance (Port Ordinance 12-5)
