Tomakomai

1. 苫小牧水先区 苫小牧港第1、2、3区 Pilot boards42°35.6′N 141°36.8′E
2. 苫小牧水先区 苫小牧港第4区・東港 Pilot boards42°34.0′N 141°43.4′E

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 245m, beam 43m, draught 12.6m, 104,086DWT.

Offshore: LOA 340m, draught 20.5m, 313,989DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range max 1.78m; min 0.25m.

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

Approach

Draught limitation in the Tomakomai channel is 12.5m. The recommended track leads from seaward of the harbour limit: 012° on W Breakwater Light (42°37.1'N 141°37.4'E) to a position 0.6nm 192° from that light, then 024°, passing between Lightbuoys No 1 and 2, moored on each side of the fairway in the S part of Area No 2, then as required for berthing.

For Tomakomai Higashi Ko the approach channel is dredged to 17.5m then at the entrance to 16.0m, which includes a turning area off the berth, a branch channel leading to the basin is dredged to 14m.

Leading beacons bearing 059° lead towards the basin and leading beacons bearing 082.75° lead towards the tanker berth.

No 1 Lightbuoy moored 0.35nm WNW of the W end of the detached breakwater marks the entrance to the dredged channel. The channel to the tanker berth and the limits of the turning area are marked by lightbuoys.

A below water wave meter lies nearly 2nm S of the detached breakwater to which it is connected by a submarine cable.

Port limits

The harbour limit extends SSE for about 2.8nm from the shore 1.5nm W of the harbour entrance, then SSE for 11.5nm to enclose Tomakomai Higashi Ko, then NNE to the shore.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Port traffic control applies to vessels of 500GT or more. Signal stations situated 0.5nm NNE and 2.8nm NE of the West Breakwater Light control shipping movements in the Tomakomai and Yufutsu waterways.

Anchorages

A quarantine anchorage, approx 0.5nm in diameter, lies 0.25nm SW of the head of Tomakomai Ko West Breakwater.

Vessels carrying dangerous cargoes must anchor in Area 4 of the port.

Anchorage in Areas No 1 and 2 is subject to restrictions.

The holding ground is poor off Tomakomai Harbour, vessels have dragged anchor. Vessels should take necessary precautions and keep a listening watch on Ch 16 for information broadcast by the Captain of the Port, especially if strong S winds are expected.

Restrictions

Vertical clearance: In Tomakomai Ko, a power cable with a safe overhead clearance of 55m crosses the fairway from the E end of No 4 Berth, Central North Wharf, ESE to the N end of No 3 Berth, Central South Wharf.

Tugs

There are 9 tugs available; 2 x 4,000hp, 2 x 3,600hp, 2 x 3,400hp, 1 x 3,200hp, 1 x 2,200hp, 1 x 1,960hp.

Charts and publications

Japanese Charts JP1033A, JP1034, JP1036, JP1030. Admiralty Pilot NP41, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

See Country information.

Documents

See Country information.

Health

See Country information for radio pratique.

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

Customs and immigration

Customs facilities are available at the same address as the port authority.

Notices and regulations

Security zone for vessels with flammable and dangerous cargoes: Vessels moored within either harbour which are carrying flammable and dangerous cargo must not be approached closed than within 30m by other vessels.

Mooring for vessels other than tankers is restricted in Area 1 and 2 of Tomokomai Ko.

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.

Dry docks

Available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from shore except Denka, Hinode and Chemical Pier.

Bunkering: Domestic oil is available; bonded oil can be brought from Hakodate with sufficient advance notice, when required.

Medical

General Hospital in Tomakomai Town, (10 min by car from the Western District).

Transport

Nearest airport: Chitose, 20km.

Working hours

Normally 0830-1630hrs.

Where it is

Tomakomai is situated on the S coast of Hokkaido approx 65km S of Sapporo.

The port

The port plays an important role as a distribution base for Hokkaido, handling the most cargo in northern Japan. There are two harbours, the large western harbour, Tomakomai Ko, which is protected by two breakwaters and provides almost 1,800,000m² of anchorage area in depths 14m to 9.0m, is divided into Honkoh area, Makomai area and Yufutsu area. The new eastern harbour, Tomakomai Higashi Ko with 11,000ha of industrial area is protected by three breakwaters. The eastern breakwater also protects a berth for large tankers and is divided into Hamaatsuma area and Benten area, 8nm E of Tomakomai Ko.

Traffic

Approx 105,000,000t of cargo (including 4,000,000t of coal), 320,000TEU, 10,000 vessels and 500,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Tomakomai?

The pilot boards at 苫小牧水先区 苫小牧港第1、2、3区, 42°35.6′N 141°36.8′E. Tomakomai has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Tomakomai in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Tomakomai?

The deepest berth listed is at Idemitsu Kosan Hokkaido (Tomakomai): 20.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Tomakomai?

1025.

Which load line zone is Tomakomai in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Tomakomai?

Port State Control at Tomakomai: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Tomakomai?

The UN/LOCODE of Tomakomai is JPTMK.

What crews who called at Tomakomai 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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