| Anchorage Name | Location (Coordinates) | Area (km²) | Depth (m) | Bottom Type | Max Vessel DWT | Capacity | Primary Use | Restrictions & Safety Notes | Commercial Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monbetsu Outer Anchorage | 44°21’30″N 143°21’00″E | 2.5 | 15-20 | Mud/Sand (70/30 mix) | 50,000 | 5 vessels (min 500m spacing) | Waiting/Storm shelter | Exposed to NE winds; ice risk Dec-Mar; Minimum safe distance 500m between vessels; Prohibited for vessels carrying Class 1 explosives | Pilotage compulsory >10,000 DWT; 24-hour notice required for vessels >30,000 DWT; Bunkering requires special permit |
| Monbetsu Inner Anchorage | 44°20’15″N 143°20’30″E | 1.2 | 10-12 | Clay (bearing capacity 50kPa) | 20,000 | 3 vessels (max LOA 180m) | Loading/Unloading | Tidal currents up to 2 knots; Prohibited for LPG carriers; Daytime use only for vessels >15,000 DWT | Bunkering available (max 500T transfer); Fresh water supply limited to 100T/day; Requires tugs for vessels >10,000 DWT |
| Monbetsu Emergency Anchorage | 44°22’00″N 143°19’45″E | 0.8 | 18-22 | Hard Sand (bearing capacity 80kPa) | 30,000 | 2 vessels | Emergency use only | Requires Port Master approval; No commercial operations permitted; Maximum stay 72 hours | No bunkering/services available; Priority given to vessels in distress |
| Monbetsu Quarantine Anchorage | 44°21’00″N 143°22’00″E | 0.5 | 12-15 | Sandy Clay | 15,000 | 1 vessel | Quarantine inspection | Mandatory for all foreign vessels; Radio silence required during inspection | Medical waste disposal available; No crew changes permitted |
Operational Details:
- Icebreaking service available December-March (advance notice 48hrs required; fee ¥150,000/day)
- Anchorage holding power ratings (Japan Coast Guard 2023 survey):
- Outer: Good (Holding coefficient 3.5)
- Inner: Fair (Holding coefficient 2.8)
- Emergency: Excellent (Holding coefficient 4.2)
- Communication:
- VHF Channel 16 (24/7 monitoring)
- Working channel: Ch 12 (Port Operations)
- Pilot request: Ch 09 (1 hour advance notice)
- Medical facilities:
- Monbetsu City Hospital (3km): Decompression chamber available
- Port clinic: Basic first aid only (08:00-17:00)
- Port authority: Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau (Northern Ports Office), under Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
- Mandatory requirements:
- AIS transmission within 12nm of port (Japan Maritime Safety Law Article 52-3)
- Garbage logbook for all vessels >100GT
- Ballast water reporting 24hrs before arrival
- Port fees (2024 schedule):
- Anchorage dues: ¥0.25/GT/day (first 3 days), then ¥0.5/GT/day
- Icebreaker escort: ¥300,000 per movement
- Pilotage: ¥85,000 for vessels 10,000-30,000 DWT
Navigation Safety Information:
- Hazards:
- Fishing nets (May-September): Concentrated NW of outer anchorage
- Floating ice (December-April): Average thickness 30-50cm
- Submarine cable area: 2nm NE of outer anchorage (marked on charts)
- Weather restrictions:
- Anchoring prohibited when winds exceed 25m/s (Beaufort 10)
- Port closed to all traffic when visibility <500m
- Winter operations: Minimum safe freeboard 30cm for ice navigation
- Tidal information:
- Mean tidal range: 1.2m
- Highest astronomical tide: +1.8m (datum: Tokyo Peil)
- Tidal current direction follows coastline (flood: NE, ebb: SW)
Meteorological Data (10-year averages):
- Wind:
- Prevailing: NW (winter), SE (summer)
- Gale frequency: 8 days/month (winter), 2 days/month (summer)
- Waves:
- Max recorded height: 8.5m during typhoons
- Significant wave height >3m occurs 15% of winter days
- Temperature:
- Water: -1.5°C (Feb) to 18°C (Aug)
- Air: -10°C (Jan) to 25°C (Aug)
- Visibility:
- Fog (<1km): 30% of days May-July
- Snow (>5cm): 20 days/month December-February
