| Anchorage Name | Location (Coordinates) | Area (km²) | Depth (m) | Bottom Type | Max Vessel DWT | Capacity | Primary Use | Restrictions & Safety Notes | Commercial Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niihama Outer Anchorage | 33°57’30″N 133°18’00″E | 1.2 | 20-25 | Mud/Sand (70/30 mix) | 50,000 | 3 vessels (min 500m spacing) | Waiting/Storm shelter | Exposed to NE winds; avoid during typhoon season (June-November); prohibited for vessels carrying Class 1 dangerous goods | Pilot boarding area (mandatory for vessels >10,000 GT); pilot transfer 0600-1800 only |
| Niihama Inner Anchorage | 33°56’00″N 133°16’30″E | 0.8 | 15-18 (chart datum) | Clay (good holding) | 30,000 | 5 vessels (max LOA 200m) | Cargo operations (general cargo only) | Limited swing room; tidal currents up to 2 knots; prohibited for LPG carriers; daylight operations only | Bunkering available (24-hour notice required); fresh water supply (50t/hr) |
| Emergency Anchorage A | 33°55’45″N 133°17’15″E | 0.5 | 12-15 | Sand/Shell (variable holding) | 20,000 | 1 vessel | Emergency repairs | Daylight use only; max stay 72 hours; requires continuous VHF watch on Ch16 | Requires prior permission from Port Control; no commercial operations allowed |
| Bunkering Anchorage B | 33°56’20″N 133°16’00″E | 0.3 | 18-20 | Firm Clay | 25,000 | 2 vessels | Fuel operations | Requires double-hulled bunker barge; static discharge rate max 300m³/hr | Advance booking 48hrs; approved suppliers only |
Operational Details:
- Anchorage holding power: Outer (good), Inner (excellent), Emergency (fair) – per JCG Anchor Holding Power Survey 2021
- All anchorages under Niihama Port Authority jurisdiction (NPA Regulation Article 14-3, amended 2023)
- VHF Channels: Ch16 (monitored 24/7), Ch12 (working), Ch14 (tugs)
- Daylight operations recommended (port approach has 1.5nm turning basin with 12° max bend)
- 24-hour anchor watch with engine readiness required (NPA Safety Code §5.2, revised 2022)
- Anchorage fees: ¥15,000/day (>10,000 DWT), ¥10,000/day (<10,000 DWT) – NPA Tariff No.2021-04
- Mandatory AIS transmission (Japan Coast Guard Ordinance 2018-7) and LRIT reporting
- Maximum anchoring duration: 7 days (extensions require application 72hrs in advance)
Navigation Warnings:
- Submarine cable area (33°57’15″N 133°17’30″E to 33°56’45″N 133°18’15″E) – 500m exclusion zone
- Seasonal fishing nets (October-March) marked by yellow buoys in anchorage approaches
- Tidal currents: Spring 3.5 knots (max), Neap 1.8 knots – refer to JCG Tidal Stream Atlas Seto Inland Sea
- Underwater obstructions: Uncharted wreck at 33°56’10″N 133°16’50″E (depth 8m)
- Magnetic anomaly: Variation 7°W (annual decrease 0.1°) – JCG Notice to Mariners 05/2023
Port Services:
- Tug requirements: 2 tugs (>20,000 DWT), 3 tugs (>40,000 DWT) – minimum bollard pull 40t
- Fresh water: Inner anchorage only (50t/hr), requires advance notice 12hrs
- Bunkering: Inner and Bunkering anchorages only (MGO/IFO available), spill boom mandatory
- Waste disposal: Garbage collection at all anchorages (24hr notice, MARPOL compliance required)
- Provisions: Available with 24hr notice (delivery by launch)
Regulatory Compliance:
- Lighting: COLREG Rule 30 compliance (all-round white light + deck illumination)
- Oil tankers >5,000 DWT: Standby oil spill response vessel required during operations
- LNG exclusion zone: 500m radius from 33°55’30″N 133°15’00″E (NPA Safety Zone Order 15/2022)
- Ballast water: Must comply with Japan BWM Regulations (2020) – sampling may be conducted
- COVID-19: Current medical declaration requirements per MHLW Ordinance 42 (2023)
Meteorological Considerations:
- Typhoon season: June-November (evacuation may be ordered for winds >25m/s)
- Winter NW winds: Frequent gusts to 30 knots December-February
- Visibility: Fog occurs 15-20 days/year (mainly April-May), reducing to <500m
- Wave height: Outer anchorage max 2.5m during winter storms
