Onomichi

Size limits

LOA 179.99m, beam 29.5m, draught 6.9m, 34,800 DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

The tidal streams are influenced by the weather and in particular by W winds.

In Mihara Wan the tidal streams are weak and vary between 0.5-1.0kt.

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

Approach

Onomichi-Itozaki: Mihara Wan, Area 6 (W Part): Located on the W side of the port, Mihara Wan is in Area No 6 which affords sheltered anchorage to vessels, in depths of up to 20.0m.

A buoyed channel leads from the NW corner of Mihara Wan to an inner harbour. A lightbuoy (port hand) is moored close SE of the entrance to this channel.

A detached breakwater lies parallel to and close off the NE shore of the bay; a light is exhibited at the SE end of this breakwater.

Onomichi-Itozaki: Onomichji Seto Area No 1 (E Part): Onomichji Seto makes up the E of the port. The fairway leads through the centre of the strait from the W entrance close NW of Iwashi Shima to the E entrance approx 5nm E. Large vessels normally use the W entrance.

Caution: There is heavy traffic crossing Onomichji Seto, therefore care should be exercised in the area.

Kokujira Shima and Okujira Shima lie across the W entrance to Onomichi Seto, 0.2 and 0,35nm NW of the NW extremity of Iwashi Shima. The channel between Iwashi Shima and Kokujira Shima is foul and the channel between Kokujira Shima and Okujira Shima is narrow and is not recommended for large vessels.

No 3 Fairway is entered N of Okujira Shima and leads N to Onomichi and passes through No 5, 4 and 3 Areas.

The E entrance to Onomichi Seto is obstructed by shoals but No 1 Fairway, a buoyed channel approx 0.05nm wide leads N into No 2 Fairway and joins No 3 Fairway off Onomichi. It passes through No 1 and No 2 Areas.

Anchorages

Anchorage is available, in depths of up to 20.0m, in sandy-clay bottom for up to 43 vessels of 10,000GT. There are 2 moored anchorage positions available in Matsunaga Bay at a depth of 10m: "A" for vessels up to 13,000GT and "C" for vessels up to 13,000GT.

Matsunaga Wan (34°24.49'N 133°14.74'E) affords anchorage in depths of 5.0-10.0m in its S part. Large vessels intending to enter Matsunaga Bay usually anchor and wait for berth in waters located to the N and S of Ka Sima. Vessels waiting for repairs at dockyards and those carrying dangerous cargoes anchor off Kihara. Vessels intending to go alongside Itozaki wharves and large vessels anchor in Mihara Bay, depending on the situation. The anchorage at Itozaki has a depth of 7.5m and capacity of 30,000GT.

Restrictions

There are no restrictions on entry or sailing. However, pilots are only available from sunrise to one hour before sunset.

Bridges and overhead cables: Onomichi Bridge: with a vertical clearance of 34m, crosses the strait 1nm W of the E entrance.

An overhead cable with a vertical clearance of 40m crosses the strait 1nm W of the entrance bridge.

Close W, is a second bridge with a vertical clearance of 36m. Both bridges show fixed red and green lights on their N and S end respectively and fixed white central lights.

A lit bridge with a vertical clearance of 13m spans the S part of Miyuku Seto. Close S of this bridge, an overhead cable with a vertical clearance of 28m spans the passage.

Another cable with an overhead clearance of 14m spans Wakuhara Kawa, close within it's mouth, in Area No 6.

Mirahara Wan: An overhead cable with vertical clearance of 17m spans the Miphara Wan channel head.

Kokujira Shima and Okujira Shima: An overhead cable with vertical clearance of 87m crosses the strait 0.75nm E of the W entrance.

Tugs

Tugs are available.

Charts and publications

BA JP153. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).

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

Small repairs can be undertaken.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at Hataori Wharf and by barge (4 x 300t-400t).

Bunkering: Domestic oil is available. Bonded oil can be brought from Kobe, Osaka, Sakai, Tokuyama, Moji or Oita and can only be taken from the wharf.

Stores: Provisions can be obtained,

Medical

Nearest hospital : Mitsubishi Mihara Hospital, 1.4km (Itozaki) ; Nishifukuyama Clinics, 4.2km (Matsunaga)

Transport

Nearest airport: Hiroshima airport, 23.0 km from Itozaki; 40.4km from Matsunaga,

Nearest railway: Itozaki station, 1.5km (Itozaki); Matsunaga station, 4.2km (Matsunaga).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Onomichi-Itozaki port is situated at the centre of the Seto Inland Sea Coast, in Hiroshima Prefecture.

The port

Onomichi is a long narrow port covering cities of Mihara, Itozaki and the islands of Mukaishima and Matsunaga. The port stretches 18km from E to W and are divided into 6 areas, with Area No 6 in the W and Area No 1 in the E. There are buoy moorings for two vessels at the anchorage, which is sheltered from strong winds in the island of Shikoku. Large vessels often enter Matsunaga Bay in Area 1 or Itozaki Wharf in Area 6 for drydocking in Onomichi Dockyard or Hitachi Zosen Corporation.

Traffic

Approx 4,300,000 t of cargo and 40,700 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Onomichi?

Compulsory for vessels over 10,000GT in Inland Sea, pilots are available at Wada Misaki (off Kobe), Sekisaki or Hesaki.

What time zone is Onomichi in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Onomichi?

The deepest berth listed is at Itozaki: 9.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Onomichi?

1025.

Which load line zone is Onomichi in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Onomichi?

Port State Control at Onomichi: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Onomichi?

The UN/LOCODE of Onomichi is JPONX.

What crews who called at Onomichi 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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