Niihama

1. Niihama Ko pilotage Pilot boards33°59.6′N 133°16.3′E

Size limits

LOA 250m, beam 43m, draught 14.0m, 93,318DWT.

Water density

1021-1023.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range max 3.5m; min 0.2m. Tidal streams outside the breakwaters at Niihama Ku are E going on the rising tide and W going on the falling tide with a max rate of 0.75kts, inside the breakwaters the streams are weak.

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

Approach

The access channel is 180-310m in width, 3,900m in length and has a depth of 8.0-16.0m. Min depth of water in No 1 Passage 7.4m (at LW).

No 1 Area, the inner harbour is entered between two breakwaters situated on the E side of the former islet of Miyo Shima. A light is exhibited at the head of each of the breakwaters.

No 1 Fairway leads into the inner harbour. No 2 Fairway, leading to Nishi-cho Hakuchi, branches off from No 1 Fairway approx 0.5nm S of the harbour entrance.

Anchorages

Quarantine anchorage: The quarantine anchorage is situated in Niihama Ku No 2 Area; a lightbuoy is moored on the SW edge of the anchorage.

The dangerous cargo anchorage is in No 3 Area.

There is good anchorage, sheltered from S to W winds, in depths of 4.9 to 20m, mud, between )-jima and the cost of Takihama Ku.

Restrictions

An overhead power cable with a vertical clearance of 46m spans the S part of the inner harbour.

Tugs

There is one tug of 2,600hp capacity, (tugs from Mizushima and Sakaide are also available).

Charts and publications

BA 698, 3604. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

See Country information.

Communications

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

Documents

See Country information.

Health

See Country information for radio pratique.

Free pratique: Usually vessels anchor at the quarantine anchorage, where the authorities board and grant free pratique.

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 repair facilities are available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available by barge (280tpd), and from shore at Berths No K-4 and K-6 (10tph).

Bunkering: Bonded and domestic oil is available and can be brought from Kobe and Osaka, Hiroshima, Tokuyama or Matsuyama with sufficient advance notice.

Transport

Nearest airport: Niihama.

Nearest railway: Niihama.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Niihama is situated on the N coast of Shikoku in the Inland Sea.

The port

The port offers good sheltered anchorage and comprises private and public wharves.

The port handles dry bulk, breakbulk, containers, passenger and liquid facilities.

Traffic

Approx 10,000,000t of cargo, 54,000TEU and 12,000vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Niihama?

The pilot boards at Niihama Ko pilotage, 33°59.6′N 133°16.3′E.

What time zone is Niihama in?

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

What is the water density at Niihama?

1021-1023.

Which load line zone is Niihama in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Niihama?

Port State Control at Niihama: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Niihama?

The UN/LOCODE of Niihama is JPIHA.

What crews who called at Niihama 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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