Kokura

Size limits

LOA 292.2m, beam 47m, draught 11m, 185,805DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Mean spring range approx 1.2m, mean neap range approx 0.4m, in both Hiagari Basin and Sunatsu Hakuchi.

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 to Sumitomo Works is 11.0m HW.

Sakaikawa Basin situated 0.5nm S of Seitetsu-Tobata Hakuchi, lies in the N part of Kokura Ku.

Sakaikawa Fairway, leading into this basin from Kanmon Fairway, is entered between No 1 and No 2 Lightbuoys (port hand and starboard hand).

Port limits

The port embraces all the quayed basins between the dredged channel leading to Sakaikawa Wharf (33°54.3'N 130°51.0'E) and Akasaka 2.5nm SE.

Anchorages

Mutsure anchorage is open port, Hesaki anchorage is closed port.

Restrictions

Entry or sailing after sunset is possible until 2200hrs subject to following restrictions:

Vessels under 10,000GT for Hiagari W No 5-7 and only to pass through Buzaki.

Otherwise limited to under 2,000GT for Hiagari W No 1-7 and Sumitomo West.

Tidal current under 5kts.

Tugs

Tugs belonging to the ports of Wakamatsu and Moji are available with sufficient notice.

Charts and publications

JP1263,135. Admiralty Pilot NP42B.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

See Country information.

Communications

VHF: Ch 16.

Documents

See Country information.

Notices and regulations

A vessel under way in Kanmon fairway has right of way over a vessel under way in Kokura Ku fairways.

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

Shipyards and various repair shops are capable of carrying out all kinds of ship fitting-out and repair work.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from shore and by barge.

Bunkering: Available by barge; most grades of domestic and bonded oil are available.

Stores: Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Fukuoka, 70km.

Where it is

Kokura lies SE of Wakamatsu Ku within the Port of Kita-Kyushu.

The port

Kokura is part of the Kitakyushu complex. It is a commercial and industrial harbour handling steel, cement, petroleum, LNG, container and general cargoes. It is also an import ferry terminal.

Traffic

Approx 7,600,000t of cargo, 13,000TEU, 7,000 vessels and 980,000 passengers (Kokura & Shinmoji merged passengers figure) handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Kokura?

Compulsory. Pilot boards at the 3 quarantine anchorages.

What time zone is Kokura in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Kokura?

The deepest berth listed is at Kokura Wharf (Hiagari Wharf): 11.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Kokura?

1025.

Which load line zone is Kokura in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Kokura?

Port State Control at Kokura: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Kokura?

The UN/LOCODE of Kokura is JPKOK.

What crews who called at Kokura 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.

Read and add tips for Kokura →