Kesennuma

Size limits

Draught 7.0m, 5,000DWT.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Max 3.33m, min -0.15m. Tidal range does not exceed 1.5m.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The port is approached through Kesennuma Wan, which is entered between Iwai Saki, 3.75nm NE. The port may be approached W of Oshima through Sei Wan or E of Oshima through To Wan and Oshima Seto. The approach through To Wan is narrow and constrained with many small vessels in the approach way.

Directions to enter the port: From a position on the coastal route, the track leads NW, NNW and N passing, with position from Nishino Saki;

E of O Ne, (2.4nm SSE), a rocky patch with least depth 11m, E of Kesennuma Fairway Buoy No.1 (2.1nm SSE), then,

W of Kurosaki Shima (1.4nm SSE) an island at the extremity of a shoal which connects to Tatsumai Saki, then,

E of Iwai Saki (1.2nm SSW), the W entrance to Kesennuma Wan for which a light (white round concrete tower, 17m in height) is exhibited, then,

W of Tatsumai Saki (1.1nm SSE), the E entrance point to Kesennuma Wan from which a light, (white tower, 13 in height), is exhibited then,

midway between Kesennuma No 3 and 4 Fairway Buoys (0.5nm SSW), W of Nishino Saki, a prominent headland on the W side of O Shima, E of Kesennuma No. 5 Fairway Buoy (0.75nm NNW).

Leading Lights: Front light: White metal framework tower, 12m in height, 38°53.7'N 141°35.7'E

Rear Light: Similar structure, 18m in height, 690m from front light.

The alignment of Kesennuma Ko Leading Lights leads through the centre of the fairway passing;

E of Ashi Ne, (1.1nm NNW), an isolated rock with a depth of 2.5m over it.

E of Soro Ne, (1.4nm NNW), an isolated rock with a depth of 1.0m over it.

W of Jodan, (2nm N), the E extremity of the harbour limit, marked by a light (white tower, 6.0m in height).

Then the track leads into Kesennuma Ko and NW through the narrows at Hachiga Saki to Kesennuma Gyoko, an isolated rock with depth of 1.0m over it.

Limiting factors: The least depth in the fairway through Kesennuma Port and Kanega Cove is 7.0m, but this fairway is barely 100m in width in the narrows SW of Hachiga Saki.

Hazards: Oyster beds are laid up to 150m off the E side of Kesennuma Port, and up to 450m off the W side in the vicinity of the harbour limits.

Submarine cables: Cables cross the fairway at Lat 38°51.5'N and water pipes cross at approx Lat 38°52.2'N.

Port limits

The harbour limits are bounded by a line extending W from Ushi Kora to the opposite shore of Sei Wan.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: The quarantine anchorage is situated in To Wan, E of O Shima at 38°51.4'N 141°38.7'E.

Mud bottomed anchorages available in Kanega Cove in depths ranging from 5.0-9.0m.

Restrictions

An overhead cable stretches across the narrows at Hachega Saki, (38°53.6'N 141°35.6'E), with a vertical clearance of approx 38m; channel width at this point is approx 100m.

Tugs

Tug is available. Larger tugs can be brought in from Kamaishi.

Charts and publications

BA 806, JP54. Admiralty Pilot NP41, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

See Country information.

Communications

Port Radio Station: Vessels should communicate via Nagasaki Radio.

Documents

See Country information.

Health

See Country information for radio pratique.

Free pratique: Quarantine formalities carried out at anchorage in Ofunato. However, on Tuesdays and Fridays, formalities may be carried out at Kesennuma.

The quarantine anchorage is situated in To Wan, E of O Shima, at 38°51.4'N 141°38.7'E.

Customs and immigration

Immigration officials will attend from Sendai.

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

Repairs

Minor repairs can be undertaken.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from berths, 20tph.

Bunkering: Domestic fuel only available.

Working hours

Normally 0830-1700hrs.

Where it is

Kesennuma is situated on the Rikuchu coast of northern Honshui in Miyagi prefecture.

The port

The port is a coastal harbour and an important fishing port. The principal exports are fish, fertilisers, rice and spirits.

What are the pilot arrangements at Kesennuma?

Not compulsory, but recommended.

What time zone is Kesennuma in?

Local time at Kesennuma is UTC+9. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Kesennuma?

The deepest berth listed is at Kesennuma Terminal: 7.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Kesennuma in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Kesennuma?

Port State Control at Kesennuma: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Kesennuma?

The UN/LOCODE of Kesennuma is JPKSN.

What crews who called at Kesennuma 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.

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