PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Kisarazu
Pilot
updated May 2010Compulsory Bay pilots for vessels over 10,000GT. Request for pilots should be sent to Yokohama 24 hours in advance, through the agent. Pilotage is provided by the Tokyo Wan District Pilot Association.
Pilots are available at the quarantine anchorage or at the entrance of approach passage, between 0600-1900hrs for berthing and 0600-2000hrs for unberthing, but vessels over 60,000DWT may only enter until 1 hour before sunset.
Bay pilots, required on entering Uraga Suido Traffic Route and Nakanose Traffic Route or shifting in Tokyo Bay, are compulsory for foreign trade vessels of over 10,000GT and are available any time at the position 5nm x 161° from Kannonsaki Lighthouse, with 24 hours advance notice by cable to "Anjin Yokosuka", through Agent or direct. Any delay must be advised by cable to "Anjin Yokosuka". On leaving, application must again be made as for entry. Pilot boards in position 35°24.7'N 139°48.3'E.
Key data
updated Sep 2025Size limits
LOA 340m, beam 60m, draught 18m, 327,017DWT.
Water density
1021-1025.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range, max 1.81m; min 0.18m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Steel Kimitsu Works | 18.00 m | 340 m | 33 |
| JERA Co.,Inc. Futtsu Termal Power Station | 12.50 m | 315 m | 2 |
| Kisarazu Port Southern Area | — | 200 m | 11 |
| Kisarazu Timber Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| ITEC Tokyo Terminal | — | 97 m | 1 |
| Futtsu Terminal | 7.00 m | 86 m | 6 |
| Shiohama | — | 86 m | 5 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Oct 2025Approach
Kisarazu Ko is approached through the Naka-no-Se Traffic Route; the port has two principal entrance channels:
Futtsu Passage (35°22.8'N 139°48.2'E).
Kisarazu Passage (35°29.3'N 139°48.0'E).
Kimitsu Fairway (35°22.1'N 139°49.8'E) provides access to West Quay.
Kisarazu Fairway is entered 5nm WSW of Banzu Hana and 1nm E of the N end of Naka-no-se traffic route. Draught limitation in the channel is 19.0-17.0m for Raw Material Wharves, 11.0-6.5m at Loading Wharves.
Futtsu Fairway is entered 4nm NNE of Futtsu Saki; it leads 2.75nm SSE to a turning basin off Futtsu LNG Tanker Berth (35°20.3'N 130°49.6'E) situated on the W side of an area of reclaimed land. A breakwater extends NW and then NNW, from close to the NW corner of the reclaimed land, and protects the LNG Tanker Berth. A light is exhibited from the head of this breakwater. The fairway and turning basin are dredged to 14.0m; lightbuoys mark the limits of the dredged area.
Leading marks (35°19.2'N 139°49.7'E) 0.3nm apart (yellow towers; triangular topmarks), in line, bearing 162.75° lead through Kisarazu Fairway to the turning basin.
A basin which is protected by two breakwaters and which is dredged to 7.5m is situated SE of the turning basin. A light is exhibited from the end of the W breakwater.
Port limits
The seaward limit is a line extending NW from a position 35°19.0'N 139°49.3'E on the N side of Futtsu Misaki to a position close SE of Naka-no-Se Traffic Route No 6 Light Beacon (35°23.2'N 139°46.1'E), then NNE to the vicinity of Naka-no-Se Traffic Route No 8 Light Beacon (35°24.4'N 139°46.6'E), then NE 2.5nm, then ESE 4.5nm to a position 35°24.3'N 139°54.1'E on the coast close S of Obitsi Kawa.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Vessels required to follow Uraga Suido and Naka-no-Se traffic schemes within Tokyo Bay.
Anchorages
Quarantine anchorage: The quarantine anchorage 35°24.7'N 139°50.5'E lies W of Banzu Hana in depths from 14.2-23.0m.
Restrictions
Entry or sailing after sunset is prohibited.
Vertical clearance: Nakanoshima O Hashi Bridge, vertical clearance 20-22m. Fixed bridge for pedestrian use.
Tugs
There are 4 tugs belonging to Kimitsu tug boat station; There are another 13 tugs belonging to Yokohama tug boat station; Tugs lines may be used free of charge.
Charts and publications
JP80, JP87, JP90. Admiralty Pilot NP42A, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Feb 2013Communications
VHF: Port: Ch 16, 11, 12, 14, 18, 20, 22. Callsign Chiba Port Radio.
Tokyo District Pilot Association: Ch 16; 12, 68. Call Uraga Channel Pilot/Uraga Suido Pilot, Tel: +81 45 650 3180.
Traffic Advisory Service (TAS): Ch 16, 13, 14, 22 regional frequency for VTS (AIS).
Uraga Suido pilots required for vessels over 10,000GT arranged through Yokohama Pilots.
Documents
See Country information.
Health
See Country information for radio pratique.
Free Pratique: Formalities will be carried out at the quarantine anchorage, 1.5nm off No 1 entrance buoy (position 35°21.9'N 139°50.6'E).
Notices and regulations
Vessels leaving the harbour: Vessels proceeding to sea must, on clearing Kisurazu port limit, join the N end of Naka-no-Se West Fairway, passing N of Kisarazu Offing Light Beacon, and leave Tokyo Wan through the Naka-no-Se and Uraga Suido traffic separation schemes.
Harbour regulations: Tankers carrying flammable dangerous cargoes will have a prohibited area established around them when berthed; the area extends 30m from the vessel. The vessel will exhibit the notice "Loaded Flammable Dangerous Substance" which should be illuminated at night.
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 May 2010Repairs
Minor repairs can be undertaken.
Dry docks
Drydock at Chiba for vessels up to 500,000DWT.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available from shore (40-50tph).
Bunkering: Available.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Kimitsu Chuo (Central) Hospital.
Crew change
Repatriation possible.
Transport
Nearest airport: New Tokyo International.
Nearest railway: Uchibo.
Working hours
Normally 0800-1700hrs.
About Kisarazu
updated Oct 2025Where it is
Kisarazu (also known as Kimitsu) is located in Chiba Prefecture, facing Tokyo Bay.
The port
The port, which is divided into Inner Harbour, Kisarazu South and Futtsu districts, has extensive public and private berthage serving the local steel, chemical and lumber industries. The port handles mainly bulk aggregates, general cargo, timber, raw materials and LNG for the Futtsu Thermal Power Station.
Traffic
Approx 58,000,000t of cargo (including 8,000,000t of coal and 12,000,000t of iron ore) and 14,000 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Kisarazu
What are the pilot arrangements at Kisarazu?
Compulsory Bay pilots for vessels over 10,000GT.
What time zone is Kisarazu in?
Local time at Kisarazu is UTC+9. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Kisarazu?
The deepest berth listed is at Nippon Steel Kimitsu Works: 18.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Kisarazu?
1021-1025.
Which load line zone is Kisarazu in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Kisarazu?
Port State Control at Kisarazu: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Kisarazu?
The UN/LOCODE of Kisarazu is JPKZU.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Kisarazu 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.