Kochi

Size limits

LOA 294m, beam 37.5m, draught 14m, 56,874DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range max 2.15m; min -0.29m. There is very little current in the bay but at the narrow bay mouth the max current is 6kts. In the approaches to Kochi Ko, the flood stream is SW going and the ebb stream is NE going. The rate does not exceed 0.5kt. In the harbour entrance the ebb stream is E going turning at the time of the HW and LW with a maximum rate of 3-4kts

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

Approach

Draught limitation in the channel: Actual depth of water: 7.0m (7.5m at high tide).

The main channel has a depth of 7.5m, length 4,945m and width 100m.

Approaches to Shimo-Ryuzu Saki: Shimo-Ryuzu Saki (33°30'N 131°34'E) is on the SE extremity of the promontory forming the S side of the entrance to Kochi Ko. Kochi Lighthouse stands near the top of the point. A red lookout tower stands on the summit of Shiro Yama, 60m high, situated 0.17nm NW of Shimo-Ryuzu Saki. Two radio towers. each 13m in height and marked by a red obstruction light, stands on high ground 3nm N of Shimo-Ryuzu Saki.

The port is entered between a breakwater extending E from Kami-Ryuzu Saki and a breakwater extending SE from Tanezaki Hama, which lies on the N side of the harbour entrance. A light tower stands at the head of each breakwater.

No 1 and No 2 Lightbuoys mark the fairway entrance and the harbour entrance is spanned by a fixed bridge with a vertical clearance of 38m. Katsura Hana signal station is situated near the root of the breakwater on the S side of the entrance and Urado signal station stands on the S side of the channel 0.35nm W of the bridge. The former displays by means of shapes, traffic signals to vessels entering the harbour and the latter to vessels leaving the harbour.

Urado Ko, a shallow basin, approx 1nm in diameter, lies inside and N of the entrance channel; there are several islets in the W part of the basin.

A channel, marked by lightbuoys, leads across Urado Ko and through a narrow passage at its N end.

Overhead cables span the narrows of the N part of Urado Ko; the S of these cables, which is the lowest, has a vertical clearance of approx 40m. A submarine pipeline is laid across the narrows close S of the overhead cables.

Caution: The fairway in the vicinity of the harbour entrance is regularly dredged but the channel is long and narrow and the tidal streams are strong. On occasions, in bad weather, silt is washed down from Tanezaki Hama and depths in the fairway may sometimes be less than charted. On the S and W sides of the channel, W of the bridge, there are three shallow bays enclosed by breakwaters. Light towers stands at the head of some of these breakwaters. A light tower stands on the SE extremity of Mima Se, a reef extending from the point of the N end of the W side of the entrance channel.

A submarine pipeline and cable cross the fairway a short distance N of Mima Se Light Tower. A beacon (white triangle topmark) marks each end.

Anchorages

Anchorage basin with a depth of 4.0-9.0m is sand or mud bottom.

Quarantine anchorage: A quarantine anchorage is centred 1nm SSE of Shimo-Ryuzu Saki. There is a spoil ground, marked by bamboo poles with white lights attached, close NE of the quarantine anchorage. There is a disused spoil ground farther to the NE.

Tugs

There are 3 tugs available; 2 x 2,200hp, 1 x 280hp.

Charts and publications

BA 995, 652. Admiralty NP42A. NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels over 1,000GT and tankers over 500GT intending to navigate in the fairway between the entrance and the parallel of Mima Se Light should send ETA at entrance (inbound) or ETD from berth (outound) to Captain of the Port by noon on the day prior to entry. Any amendments should be notified immediately.

Communications

VHF: Call "Kochi-Ho-An" on Ch 12, 16.

Coastguard: Calling Ch 12, 16. Working Ch 12.

Documents

See Country information.

Health

See Contact information for radio pratique.

Free Pratique: Formalities will be carried out at anchor in position 33°29'N 133°35.5'E.

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 by barge.

Bunkering: Domestic oil is available. Bonded oil can be brought from Kobe or Shimotsu, when required.

Stores: Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Kochi.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Stevedore's working hours: Normally 0830-1700hrs except Sundays and holidays.

Where it is

Kochi is located midway along the S coast of Shikoku Island, in the estuary of Kagami Kawa.

The port

The port has extensive public and private berthage. The main cargoes handled are cement, oil, steel and general household goods, There are also passenger/cruise facilities located at the port.

Traffic

Approx 4,400,000t of cargo and 14,000TEU handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Kochi?

Not compulsory but, due to strong currents, pilots are recommended.

What time zone is Kochi in?

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

What is the water density at Kochi?

1025.

Which load line zone is Kochi in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Kochi?

Port State Control at Kochi: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Kochi?

The UN/LOCODE of Kochi is JPKCZ.

What crews who called at Kochi 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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