Mizushima

Size limits

LOA 340m, draught 16.5m, beam 60m, 318,990DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range (Mizushima) max 3.29m, min 0.57m; (Tamashima) max +4.76m, min -0.17m.

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

Approach

Mizushima Ko, is approached through Mizushima Traffic Route and entered ESE of Kami-Noji Shima (34°26.6'N 133°45.5'E).

The main fairway into Mizushima Ko is entered close within the harbour limit from the N end of Mizushima Traffic Route. It leads close E of Noji Shoto, close W of Katsura Shima 34°27.6'N 133°45.9'E. The fairway is marked by lightbuoys (port and starboard hand) and is maintained to a dredged depth of 16.0m shoaling to 6.0m at the head of the harbour.

The E Fairway, also marked by lightbuoys (port and starboard hand), diverges from the S end of the main fairway and leads E of the shoal water lying S of Katsura Shima, to Ube Kosan Jetty (34°28.0'N 133°46.0'E) and Seto Wharves. The depth in this fairway has been dredged to 12.0m.

A channel with a least depth of 10.9m and marked on its S side by lightbuoys (port hand) branches off the main fairway close N of Noji Shoto and leads between Kami Mizushima and the reclaimed area to the N; it joins a buoyed channel, dredged to depths of 11.5m and 11.0m, which leads to the mouth of Takashi Kawa and to Kawasaki Steel Shipment Quay (34°30.0'N 133°43.0'E).

Tamashima: The Tamashima East Shipping Channel has been dredged to 12.0m to the Container Terminal and then reduces to 10.0m, the Tamashima West Channel has been dredged to 7.5m.

Port limits

The limits enclose the whole port area, from the head of Mizushima Traffic Route to Bansho Hana, 7nm NW.

Anchorages

The quarantine anchorage lies close SW of Noji Shoto and can be used by vessels up to 50,000GT, depths of between 14.9-22.5m. Large vessels may have to wait for a berth or for daylight in Sakate Wan at the E entrance to Bisan Seto or off Kobe Ko.

Anchoring is prohibited in the N part of the main fairway and in the E Fairway S of Katsura Shima.

Restrictions

Entry or sailing after sunset is prohibited.

An overhead cable with a vertical clearance of 24m, spans the mouth of Takashi Kawa.

Care is required when navigating the Inner Harbour Passage especially where it narrows and course is adjusted NNW.

Tugs

Available.

Charts and publications

Japanese charts JP153, JP1127A, JP11227B. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should send ETA on departure from last port, 10 days, 4 days, 48 hours and 24 hours prior to arrival.

Details should be repeated 6 hours in advance of ETA. Any changes should be notified immediately.

Vessels should establish continuous listening watch on VHF Ch 16 when entering the range of Shimonoseki, Oita or Kobe port radios and, when in range, should confirm ETA.

Communications

Traffic Information is broadcast 25mins after every hour and gives schedules of vessels of 200m and over in length transiting Mizushima Traffic Route and other navigational information.

Urgent Information is broadcast on receipt.

PILOTS:

Seto Naikai (Inland Sea) Pilots:

Pilotage is provided for vessels entering and navigating in the Inland Seas as follows:

Seto Naikai (Inland Sea) Pilots, Moji for vessels entering from W, replacing Kanmom Kaikyo Pilots, or entering from S through Bungo Suido, call Inland Sea Pilot Moji Ch 16, 14, 68, Tel: +81 93 332 7191.

Seto Naikai (Inland Sea) Pilots, Kobe for vessels proceeding westward from Kobe, call Inland Sea Pilot Kobe, Ch 16, 68, Tel: 81 78 391 7191.

Osaka Wan Pilots for vessels entering from the S and E through Kii Suido, call Baypilot Kobe Ch 16, 13 (Intership) 68.

Documents

See Country information.

Health

See Country information for radio pratique.

Free pratique: Free pratique is available at Mizushima quarantine anchorage for vessels of less than 50,000DWT and LOA of less than 200m, otherwise radio pratique must be applied for.

Customs and immigration

Arrival formalities to customs/immigration are acceptable at the wharf after the vessel is alongside the inner harbour pier.

Notices and regulations

Japanese Port Regulations Law applies within the harbour, Mizushima Traffic Route is regulated by Japanese Maritime Traffic Safety Law.

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

Available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from shore pipelines.

Bunkering: Both domestic and bonded oil are available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Okayama, 32km.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Mizushima is situated on the central Inland Sea coast of Honshu.

The port

The port has extensive facilities for handling commodities such as steel, iron ore, grain, vehicles, crude oil and chemicals. Open port except for Mizushima Outer Harbour. Tamashima also forms part of Mizushima port, Mizushima District being the production hub and Tamashima District the distribution hub.

Traffic

Approx 73,000,000t of cargo, 165,000TEU and 28,000vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Mizushima?

Compulsory for vessels over 10,000GT.

What time zone is Mizushima in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Mizushima?

The deepest berth listed is at JFE Steel: 16.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Mizushima?

1025.

Which load line zone is Mizushima in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Mizushima?

Port State Control at Mizushima: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Mizushima?

The UN/LOCODE of Mizushima is JPMIZ.

What crews who called at Mizushima 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 Mizushima →