PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Kinwan
Pilot
updated Aug 2010- Kin Wan inner pilot station Pilot26°24.0′N 127°58.0′E
- Kin Wan steering position (approach) Pilot boards26°26.0′N 128°04.0′E
Compulsory for vessels over 5,000DWT. Vessels approach the boarding area steering due W, the pilot boards when the Menguisho Reef Light beacon is abeam to port at a distance of approx 1.25nm.
Key data
updated Mar 2021Size limits
Harbour: LOA 240m, draught 13.5m, 70,000DWT.
Offshore: LOA 380m, draught 32m, 500,000DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
HW: 1.34m
LW:0.43m
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okinawa Central Terminal Stn. Corp. | 32.00 m | 380 m | 2 |
| Okinawa Terminal Co. Ltd | 25.00 m | 385 m | 2 |
| Navy Base | 15.24 m | 305 m | 1 |
| Gushikawa Thermal Power Station | — | 230 m | 1 |
| Ishikawa Coal Fired Power Plant | — | — | 1 |
| Kin Thermal Power Station | — | 230 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 Mar 2021Approach
The channel leading through the entrance to Kinwan and the area on the NW sides of Miyagi Shima and Heianza Shima have been swept to a depth of 30.0m.
Okinawa Terminal Lightbuoy (26°23.4'N 127°59.2'E), moored 0.7nm WSW of Ikei Shima light tower, and Nos 3, 5 and 7 Lightbuoys moored farther SW, mark the SE side of the swept area. No 8 Lightbuoy marks the E limit of the shoal bordering the W side of the swept area. To the W of No 4 Lightbuoy, a shoal, depth 17.4m is reported.
No 10 Lightbuoy marks the S side of a shoal, swept to 2.4m, lying 1.25nm ENE of the direction light.
A mooring buoy is located 1.5nm E of the head of Tengan Pier and a submarine pipeline is laid from the buoy WSW to the coast.
Caution: Numerous fish havens are in Nakagusuku Wan. Most are located close to the shore or reefs except the SW part which is particularly congested.
Traffic schemes and VTS
A traffic separation route has been established in the approach to Kin Wan, joining the following positions:
26°26.0'N 128°02.0'E
26°25.3'N 128°00.0'E
26°23.5'N 127°58.0'E
Vessels entering or leaving should keep to the starboard side of this line.
Anchorages
The holding ground is good in the anchorages.
Prohibited anchorage: Anchorage is prohibited SE of a line joining Okinawa Terminal Sea berth and the head of Okinawa Sekiyu Refinery Jetty.
Caution: There are six submarine pipeline laid between the berths and Heianza Shima.
Restrictions
Vessels should vacate berths and recommended to proceed to sea when typhoons are imminent.
Tugs
4 x 3,200hp, 1 x 600hp, 2 x 450hp, 1 x 400hp available.
Charts and publications
BA 2024 Admiralty pilot NP42(C), NP286(6)
Reporting before arrival
updated Nov 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels should send ETA 72, 48, and 24 hours and confirm 12 hours in advance through the agent.
Communications
VHF: Pilots and tugs: Ch 13. Terminal Ch 16, 67. Tel: +81 98 977 8341.
Latest storm conditions from the berthing master on Ch 13.
Documents
See Country information.
Health
See Country information for radio pratique.
Free Pratique: Authorities board ship at quarantine anchorage and grant free pratique.
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 Mar 2021Repairs
Minor repairs can be undertaken.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available by tugboat.
Bunkering: Available at Okinawa Seyiku Refinery Jetty.
Stores: Provisions are available.
Medical
Nearest hospital: USNH Bush Branch medical clinic and dental (200m), Okinawa Chubu Central Hospital (5km)
Transport
Nearest airport: Naha Airport (35km)
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours. Stevedores working hours: 08.00-1700hrs.
About Kinwan
updated Nov 2010Where it is
Kinwan is situated in Kinwan Bay on the E coast, in the prefecture of Okinawa.
The port
The port consists of Okinawa Terminal (OTC), OCC Sea Berths, Okinawa Sekiya (OSK) Sea Berths, products berths and Tengan Pier, the latter is believed to be only for military use. The approaches to Kinwan are governed by traffic separation regulations, and seven anchorage areas have been specified, with these being allocated by the port authority prior to anchoring. Lightering operations are possible.
Kinwan is an area of Nakagusuku (see separate entry).
Questions about Kinwan
Where does the pilot board at Kinwan?
The pilot boards at Kin Wan inner pilot station, 26°24.0′N 127°58.0′E. Kinwan has 2 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Kinwan in?
Local time at Kinwan is UTC+9. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Kinwan?
The deepest berth listed is at Okinawa Central Terminal Stn. Corp.: 32.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Kinwan?
1025.
Which load line zone is Kinwan in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Kinwan?
Port State Control at Kinwan: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Kinwan?
The UN/LOCODE of Kinwan is JPKIN.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Kinwan 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.