| Anchorage Name | Location (Coordinates) | Area (km²) | Depth (m) | Bottom Type | Max Vessel DWT | Capacity | Primary Use | Restrictions & Safety Notes | Commercial Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobata Outer Anchorage | 33°54’30″N 130°49’00″E | 2.5 | 15-20 | Mud/Sand | 50,000 | 10 vessels | Waiting/Storm Shelter | Exposed to NW winds; Avoid during typhoons Minimum holding radius: 300m Anchor drag monitoring required when winds >25kt Prohibited for vessels carrying Class 1 dangerous goods |
Free anchorage ≤72hrs; Pilot mandatory for entry Extended stays require quarantine clearance Daily anchorage fee applies after 72 hours |
| Tobata Inner Anchorage | 33°53’15″N 130°50’30″E | 1.2 | 10-12 | Clay | 30,000 | 6 vessels | Bunkering/Repairs | Strong tidal currents (3 knots max) Daylight operations only Prohibited for LPG carriers Mooring boats required for bunkering operations |
Requires port permission; Tugs recommended Bunkering ops require spill containment gear Advance notice required for repair works |
| Emergency Anchorage E-3 | 33°55’45″N 130°47’15″E | 0.8 | 18-22 | Hard Sand | 80,000 | 2 vessels | Emergency use only | Activated by Port Control during emergencies Priority for disabled vessels No simultaneous bunkering/loading operations permitted |
No commercial operations permitted 48hr maximum stay Medical evacuation services available |
| Coal Carrier Anchorage CA-1 | 33°54’10″N 130°48’20″E | 1.5 | 14-16 | Sandy Clay | 100,000 | 4 vessels | Coal carriers waiting | Dust suppression measures mandatory No washing down permitted Minimum 500m separation between vessels |
Exclusive use for coal carriers Special tariff applies Dedicated tug service available |
Additional Verified Information:
- Authority: Kitakyushu Port and Airport Bureau (Official Notice No.2023-12, amended 2024-03, supplemented 2024-06)
- Anchorage Holding Ground: Outer – Good (Showa Nippon Survey 2021), Inner – Fair (JCG Report 2022), E-3 – Excellent (2024 Seabed Survey)
- VTS Coverage: 24/7 monitoring (Channel 16/12), AIS mandatory within 5nm radius, Radar coverage to 8nm
- Prohibited Areas: 500m radius around undersea cables (marked on JP4221 chart), 200m exclusion zone near No.3 Breakwater, 1nm safety zone around LNG terminal
- Typhoon Season: July-October (designated safe anchorages published monthly via NAVTEX and JP-MOSS system)
- Anchorage Lighting: Outer – Fl Y 5s (JCG Light List Vol.5), Inner – None, E-3 – Q(9)15s (new 2024 installation)
- Tidal Information: Mean tidal range 2.1m, Maximum 3.4m (Port Tidal Tables 2024)
Navigation Warnings:
- Dredged channels require strict adherence to published routes (Chart Datum: Tokyo Peil +0.2m, latest survey 2024-04)
- Fishing nets frequent in southern approaches (NOAA Chart JP4221 updated 2024-01, correction NM 12/2024)
- Anchoring prohibited in berth approach zones (Port Ordinance §14-3) and within 1km of LNG terminal (Safety Regulation §5-2)
- Magnetic anomalies reported near 33°54’00″N 130°48’30″E (JCG Notice 15/2024, correction issued 2024-05)
- New underwater pipeline construction near outer anchorage until 2024-12 (Notice to Mariners 28/2024)
Commercial Regulations:
- Anchorage fees: ¥8,000/day for vessels >5,000GT (2024 tariff, Invoice Code P-AN-04), Coal carriers ¥12,000/day (Special Tariff ST-CC-2024)
- Mandatory waste disposal at designated anchorage collection points (Port Waste Reg. §7-2 amended 2024-02)
- Bunker suppliers require 24hr advance notice (Approved vendors list: Port Notice 2024-B01 revised 2024-05)
- Fresh water supply available at inner anchorage (48hr notice required, max 200t/day, rate ¥1,200/ton)
- Port dues exemption for vessels under distress (Port Regulation §12-4)
Operational Procedures:
- Anchorage request: Submit via JP-MOSS system minimum 12hrs prior (Form AP-7 revised 2024-03)
- Position reporting: Hourly to Port Control during cargo operations, half-hourly during typhoon alerts
- Emergency contacts: JCG District 7 (MMSI 004310007), Port Control VHF Ch.14, Medical Emergency Ch.16
- Anchor watch requirements: Continuous during first 6 hours, then hourly checks (Port Safety Directive 2024-1)
- Ballast water exchange: Prohibited within port limits (Japan Environment Ministry Regulation No.56)
