PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Kainan
Pilot
updated Aug 2010Not compulsory but recommended. Pilots are available I hour after sunrise to 1 hour before sunset. Two pilots are compulsory for vessels over 30,000DWT. If required, pilots board at the quarantine anchorage in Shimotsu or the entrance to the buoyed channel (34°09.20'N 135°06.83'E), or, in a position designated by the port captain.
Key data
updated Oct 2024Size limits
LOA 185.99m, beam 32.2m, draught 11.8m, 53,143DWT.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range max 3.00m; min -0.06m. Stream N to S but is weak. In the quarantine anchorage at HW and LW, the stream is, respectively, N going and S going at a rate of 0.5-1kt.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Metal Kainan | — | 183 m | 2 |
| Wakayama Petroleum Terminal | 11.80 m | 186 m | 6 |
| Kainan Cargo Terminal | — | 78 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jun 2021Approach
The port is situated in the SE corner of the Kainan Wan and is approached through a buoyed channel dredged to 12.0m. No 1 and No 2 Lightbuoys (lateral) are moored 2nm ENE of Ara Saki. A lightbuoy (special) marks the seaward end of submarine water pipeline laid N of the buoyed channel. Draught limitation in the channel is 11.8m at HW.
The harbour is entered through 2 lighted breakwaters.
Anchorages
The quarantine anchorage is to the S of the port, off the entrance to Shimotsu Ku.
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on entry or sailing after sunset. However, the pilots are only available from approx sunrise to sunset.
Overhead Cables: The entrance to the harbour is spanned by an overhead cable with a vertical clearance of 52m, supported on each side by a tower (metal framework, red and white) 127m in height.
An overhead cable with a vertical clearance of 28m and 24m respectively span the basin at the E and the SE ends of the harbour.
Another overhead power cable, vertical clearance 40m, spans the channel leading N in the E part of the harbour.
Tugs
There are 9 tugs available; 1 x 3,600hp, 7 x 3,200hp, 1 x 1,500hp.
Charts and publications
JP106, JP 77. BA 996, 2347. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
See Country information.
Communications
VHF: Pilots & Port: Ch 16, call Wakayama.
Documents
See Country information.
Health
See Country information for radio pratique.
Free pratique: Vessels anchor in the port of Shimotsu (quarantine anchorage 34°07.4'N 135°06.75'E), where the authorities board and grant free pratique.
Customs and immigration
The immigration authorities will attend from Wakayama when required.
Inspections
Port State Control here: Tokyo MOU.
Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Position: Section Chief.
Address: 2-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8918, Japan.
Tel: +81 3 5253 8070.
Fax: +81 3 5253 8134.
Email: [email protected]
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Jun 2021Repairs
Unavailable at present.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available by barge from Shimotsu.
Bunkering: Most grades of domestic and bonded oil are available.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Kainan Medical Care Centre, 0.5km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Kansai International Airport, 35km.
About Kainan
updated Jan 2022Where it is
Kainan is situated on the southern peninsula of Honshu Island between Wakayama and Shimotsu, facing Kii-suido.
The port
The port of Kainan is part of the larger Wakayama-Shimotsu port complex which are divided into different port area from North to South, there are Wakayama, Kainan, Shimotsu and Arida. Kainan has merged traffic figure with Wakayama and Shimotsu, however the containers TEU and passengers annual figure included are handled only in Wakayama. (See also Wakayama and Shimotsu port information).
Kainan has a heavy industrial base and imports large quantities of oil and crude oil while iron and steel products are exported.
Traffic
Approx 28,000,000t of cargo, 6,000TEU, 150,000 passengers and 10,000 vessels (merged traffic figure with Kainan, Shimotsu & Wakayama Port) handled annually.
Questions about Kainan
What are the pilot arrangements at Kainan?
Not compulsory but recommended.
What time zone is Kainan in?
Local time at Kainan is UTC+9. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Kainan?
The deepest berth listed is at Wakayama Petroleum Terminal: 11.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Kainan in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Kainan?
Port State Control at Kainan: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Kainan?
The UN/LOCODE of Kainan is JPKAI.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Kainan say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.