PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Shimotsu
Pilot
updated May 2010Not compulsory but recommended. Pilots board in position 34°07.70'N 135°03.33'E, at quarantine anchorage, from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.
Key data
updated Oct 2024Size limits
Harbour Max: LOA 339.5m, beam 60m, draught 18.8m, 319,180DWT.
Off Shore Max: LOA 340m, BCM 170m, draught 20m, 260,000DWT.
Water density
1012.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range max 1.93m; min 0.21m.
Tidal streams: The tidal streams in Shimotsu set mainly N or S, but they are weak. In the vicinity of the quarantine anchorage at the time of HW and LW at Shimotsu, the stream is, respectively, N going and S going at a rate of 0.5-1kt.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohsaki Oil Storage Terminal | 20.00 m | 340 m | 2 |
| ENEOS Wakayama Refinery Terminal | 18.80 m | 340 m | 10 |
| Sumitomo Osaka Cement | — | 96 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Oct 2024Approach
Shimotsu Fairway, with a least depth of 12.3m and a navigable width of approx 250m, leads to the quays at the inner end of Shimotsu Ku. Draught limitation in the channel is 12.0m.
Directions: Entering the fairway from seaward, steer 123° with the summit of Sotose Yama (34°06.5'N 135°08.5'E), 42m high, situated on Ushiga Kubi at the inner end of the harbour, ahead.
Anchorages
Quarantine anchorage: The quarantine anchorage is in the S part of the port off the entrance to Shimotsu Ku in position 34°07'N 135°07'E.
Restrictions
Entry or sailing after sunset: Possible (subject to harbour master's approval), except berthing and unberthing.
Tugs
There are 9 tugs available; 1 x 3,600hp, 7 x 3,200hp, 1 x 1,500hp.
Charts and publications
JP1144, JP150C, JP106, JP77. BA 996, 2347. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
See Country information.
Communications
VHF: None.
Documents
See Country information.
Health
See Country information for radio pratique
Free Pratique: Formalities will be carried out at the quarantine anchorage (within a radius of 500m of 34°07.19'N 135°06.72'E) or at the other anchorage which will be designated by harbour master.
Customs and immigration
Immigration officers are not stationed but will attend to Wakayama if required.
Inspections
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
Port services
updated Jun 2021Repairs
Small repairs can be undertaken, but no repair is allowed while in berth.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available from shore (except Ohsaki Sea Berth) and by barge (130t and 170t).
Bunkering: Most grades of domestic and bonded oil are available. If bunkering is carried out at anchorage, watch boat and oil fence will be required by harbour regulations.
Medical
Arida Sakuragaoka Hospital, 5km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Kansai International Airport, 40km.
Nearest railway: Shimotsu JNR.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours for tankers.
About Shimotsu
updated Jan 2022Where it is
Shimotsu is located on the Inland Sea coast of Honshu, in the southern part of Wakayama.
The port
The port of Shimotsu is part of the larger Wakayama-Shimotsu port complex which are divided into different port area from North to South, there are Wakayama, Kainan, Shimotsu and Arida. Shimotsu has merged traffic figure with Wakayama and Kainan, however the containers TEU and passengers annual figure included are handled only in Wakayama. (See also Wakayama and Kainan port information).
The port comprise of petroleum refining facilities with pipeline connected to the tanker jetties from the refinery storage tank. There are also cement jetties, small tanker terminal and steel related companies within the port area. Main commodity handled at port are crude oil, oil products and chemicals.
Traffic
Approx 28,000,000t of cargo, 6,000TEU, 150,000 passengers and 10,000 vessels (merged traffic figure with Kainan, Shimotsu & Wakayama Port) handled annually.
Questions about Shimotsu
What are the pilot arrangements at Shimotsu?
Not compulsory but recommended.
What time zone is Shimotsu in?
Local time at Shimotsu is UTC+9. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Shimotsu?
The deepest berth listed is at Ohsaki Oil Storage Terminal: 20.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Shimotsu?
1012.
Which load line zone is Shimotsu in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Shimotsu?
Port State Control at Shimotsu: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Shimotsu?
The UN/LOCODE of Shimotsu is JPSMT.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Shimotsu 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.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.