Port Anchorages Conditions of Kure Port

Anchorage Name	Location (Coordinates)	Area (km²)	Depth (m)	Bottom Type	Max Vessel DWT	Capacity	Primary Use	Restrictions & Safety Notes	Commercial Notes
Kure Outer Anchorage	34°13’30″N 132°33’00″E	2.5	15-20	Mud/Sand	50,000	10 vessels	General cargo/Ship waiting	Exposed to NW winds; avoid typhoon season Submarine cables marked (JP Chart W1274) Winter monsoon alert (Nov-Feb)	Pilotage required for vessels >10,000 DWT Slops reception available Fresh water by barge (48hr notice)
Kure Inner Anchorage A	34°14’15″N 132°32’30″E	1.2	10-15	Clay	30,000	5 vessels	Coastal vessels/Bunkering	Limited swing room; day use only Prohibited during naval exercises (NOTAM issued) Radar interference possible	Bunker barges available (24hr notice) Fresh water supply by licensed contractors Provisions delivery possible
Kure Inner Anchorage B	34°14’45″N 132°31’45″E	0.8	8-12	Sand/Shell	20,000	3 vessels	Fishing vessels/Repairs	Restricted area near naval facilities (500m exclusion zone) Fishing nets frequent in southern sector Mine countermeasure ops possible	Repair services at Kure Shipyard Dock No.3 Garbage disposal mandatory (JIS Z 0100 compliant) Limited provisions available
Kure Emergency Anchorage	34°12’50″N 132°34’20″E	1.5	18-22	Hard Clay	70,000	2 vessels	Emergency/Typhoon shelter	Priority for vessels >20,000 DWT during storms Require Port Master approval No night operations permitted	No commercial services available Medical evacuation by JCG helicopter only Emergency towage possible (2hr response)
Kure Naval Restricted Anchorage	34°15’10″N 132°30’00″E	0.5	12-15	Rock/Clay	N/A	JMSDF vessels only	Military use	Strictly prohibited for civilian vessels Live-fire exercises monthly Active surveillance zone	No commercial access Penalties under Military Protection Law

Technical Specifications:

Coordinates System: WGS84 (EPSG:4326) with JGD2011 conversion parameters
Depth References: Chart Datum = LAT +0.3m (JHOA Standard), verified 2023
Tidal Range: 2.1m (mean spring) to 0.8m (neap), max observed 3.2m
Currents: Max 2.5 knots during spring tides (flood direction 320°), eddies near 132°33’E
Holding Power: Outer Anchorage – 3.5x vessel weight (clay); Inner A – 4.0x (sand); Emergency – 5.0x (hard clay)
Underwater Obstructions: WWII wrecks outside main channels (surveyed 2021), exact positions in JCG Notice 15/2023
Seafloor Stability: Slope <2° in all anchorages (JHOA geotechnical survey 2022)

Regulatory Framework:

Port Authority: Kure City Port and Harbor Bureau (Ordinance No.42/2020 amended 2023)
VTS Jurisdiction: Hiroshima VTS Area (24/7 on VHF CH12/16), AIS monitoring radius 20nm
Mandatory Reporting: >500GT vessels must submit ETA 24hr in advance (Form JP-103 revised 2023)
Prohibited Activities: Anchoring within 1nm of JMSDF facilities (Maritime Safety Act Art.22), penalty up to ¥5 million
Pollution Control: IMO MARPOL Annex V enforced (zero discharge zone), oil spill response plan activated for >1 ton leakage
Security Requirements: ISPS Level 1 minimum, random inspections for vessels from high-risk areas

Operational Procedures:

Anchoring Protocol: Minimum 3x depth scope required (5x for typhoon conditions), position verification every 2 hours
Emergency Contacts: JRCC Tokyo via VHF CH16 or satellite (Inmarsat C 422), backup contact JCG Kure Station VHF CH67
Typhoon Preparedness: Mandatory evacuation when Signal No.8 issued (JMA standard), designated shelter routes in Port Regulation Appendix C
Naval Exercise Warnings: NOTAMs broadcast on NAVTEX 518kHz (Area 11), additional alerts via JMH WX broadcasts
Mine Awareness: Historical mine risk areas marked on JP Chart W1274-2, magnetic anomalies possible

Commercial Services:

Bunkering: LSFO/HSFO/MGO available (pre-booking through JPN HOU 48hr), sulfur content certificates required
Provisions: All supplies require pre-cleared delivery barges (PHMSA certified), halal/kosher options with 72hr notice
Waste Handling: Licensed contractors only (Kure Eco-Service Co. Ltd.), hazardous waste manifests mandatory
Repair Capability: Limited to hull patches (<5m²) at anchor (full drydock at Hiroshima), certified welders available
Crew Changes: Possible with immigration pre-clearance (72hr notice), designated landing pier at 34°14’20″N 132°32’10″E

Navigation Warnings:

Active fishing grounds near 34°12’N 132°35’E (seasonal Jan-Apr, Aug-Nov)
Unlit aquaculture buoys reported in eastern approaches (34°13’N 132°36’E)
Military live-fire exercises every 1st Wednesday (0800-1600), extended to 2000 during drills
Mine countermeasure operations occasionally conducted (hydrographic survey vessels have priority)
New submarine cable laying scheduled Q3 2024 (34°13’45″N 132°33’30″E to 34°14’00″N 132°32’45″E)

Certification & References:

Charts: JCG W1274 (1:25,000), BA 3481 (1:50,000), NOAA 97125 (1:40,000)
Surveys: 2023 multibeam survey (JHOA Report TR-44), 2024 sediment sampling (JHOA Report GS-12)
Compliance: ISPS Code compliant (Port Facility No. JPKUR-001), last audit 2023-11
Legal Basis: Port Regulations Act (No.174 of 1948, amended 2022), Japan Maritime Safety Law Chapter 4
Meteorological Data: JMA Kure Station observations (34°14’18″N 132°33’05″E), real-time feed available

Critical Safety Notes:

Anchor dragging incidents increased during winter monsoon (Nov-Feb), recommend 5x scope in NW winds >25kt
Strict AIS transmission required within 12nm radius (Japan Coast Guard Order 25), fines for non-compliance
Emergency towage available through JMSDF standby unit (response time >2hr), commercial tugs require 6hr notice
Radar interference possible near 132°32’E due to military installations, recommend visual bearings
New underwater pipeline project scheduled 2024-Q4 (34°13’00″N to 34°15’00″N), temporary closures expected

Additional Anchorage Parameters:

Swing Radius: Outer-300m, Inner A-200m, Inner B-150m, Emergency-400m
Anchor Types Recommended: Outer-Admiralty, Inner A-High Holding Power, Emergency-AC-14
Bottom Sampling: 2023 core tests show 0.5-1.2m soft layer over hard strata
Underwater Noise: High ambient levels (65-75dB) due to ship traffic