Oarai

Size limits

Max LOA 199.70m, beam 27.20m, draught 6.6m and 8,000DWT.

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

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkers: LNG fuel available via road tankers via Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) and Hokkaido Gas.

Fresh Water: Available at Wharf 4; 45t/h x 4.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Oaraikaigan Clinics (1.6km), Tomae Hospital (5km) and Mito Chuo Hospital (7.2km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Ibaraki Airport (20km).

Nearest railway: Oarai Station (1.2km).

Nearest public transport: Bus routes throughout Oarai. Complementary shuttle buses are provided for cruise ship passengers.

Nearest highway: The port has access to National Route 51, connecting Chuo-ku, Chiba and Mito, Ibaraki. The port is also closely located to the Kita-Kanto Expressway. The expressway, 87.3km long, connects Maebashi, Utsunomiya, and Mito, the capitals of the three northern prefectures in the Kanto region.

Where it is

Oarai, part of Ibaraki Port Office, is located on the E coast of Honshu Island, approx 17nm SSW of Hitachi, Japan.

The port

Oarai is a modern passenger port and used as a gateway for the Northern Kanto Area. The port is one of three, including Hitachi and Hitachinaka, that are operated by Ibaraki Prefecture and make up the Port of Ibaraki.

The port has catered for car ferries since 1985 and then cruise vessels following the completion of the fourth wharf in 1995. In 2022, the port resumed domestic cruise ships, following the COVID-19 pandemic. The port is made up of four wharves able to cater fishing vessels and with services to Tokyo and Hokkaido. LNG bunkering is available at the port following an agreement between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) and Hokkaido Gas. Two LNG fuelled ferries operated by MOL Ferry will be supplied in each port on the Oarai-Tomakomai route.

In 2022, the port took part in an autonomous berthing system pilot, a world's first using a coastal car ferry. The unmanned journey took 18hrs and covered a distance of 750km from Tomakomai Port to Oarai Port. The test and results will potentially lead to further autonomous berthing/unberthing of other types of vessels, aiming to improve the technology available.

Traffic

Approx 15,000,000t of cargo, 1,000 vessels and 150,000 passengers handled annually.

What time zone is Oarai in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Oarai?

The deepest berth listed is at Wharf 4: 6.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Who carries out Port State Control at Oarai?

Port State Control at Oarai: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Oarai?

The UN/LOCODE of Oarai is JPOAR.

What crews who called at Oarai 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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