PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Wakayama
Key data
updated Nov 2024Size limits
LOA 319.58m, beam 54m, draught 14m, 229,013DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range max 2.1m; min 0.3m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Metal (North Port) | 14.00 m | 320 m | 6 |
| Sumitomo Kinzoku Terminal | 10.90 m | 240 m | 2 |
| Nishihama (South Port) | 10.80 m | 316 m | 3 |
| Hokko Oki | 9.00 m | 169 m | 1 |
| Naka Wharf Centre Pier Area (South Port) | 9.00 m | 180 m | 6 |
| Saikazaki | 6.80 m | 98 m | 3 |
| Yakushubata Jetty | 6.30 m | 108 m | 1 |
| Chitto Wharves | — | 69 m | 1 |
| Sumitomo Osaka Cement Terminal | — | 80 m | 1 |
| Taiheiyo Cement | — | 77 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 Nov 2024Approach
Draught limitation in the South Port channel is 10.8m.
Restrictions
Entry or sailing after sunset: No restrictions, but pilots are only available from sunrise to sunset.
A bridge, vertical clearance 19m, spans the channel at the NE side of No 1 Area; lights indicate the channel.
A bridge, with 14m vertical clearance, spans the river 1nm above the entrance.
Overhead power cables with vertical clearances of 28m and 24m respectively span the basins in the E and the SE ends of the harbour. Another overhead cable, vertical clearance 40m, spans the channel leading N in the E part of the harbour.
Tugs
There are 9 tugs available; 1 x 3,900hp, 1 x 3,300hp, 5 x 3,200hp, 1 x 2,900hp, 1 x 1,200hp.
Charts and publications
JP 77, 106, 150C, 1150. BA 996, 2347. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Mar 2019ETA and pre-arrival notices
See Country information.
Communications
VHF: Port Authority: Ch 16.
Tel: +81 73 441 3153, Fax: +81 73 443 4839.
Wakayama-Shimotsu Pilots Association: Tel: +81 73 431 8713. Fax: +81 73 432 3438.
Documents
See Country information.
Health
See Country information for radio pratique.
Free pratique: Formalities will be carried out at Shimotsu quarantine anchorage.
Flags
Flags signals assigning an alongside berth comprise the berthing flag above the berth number or letter.
Vessels should acknowledge the berthing signal with a flag hoist substituting the answering pendant for the designation or berthing flag.
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 May 2010Repairs
Minor repairs can be undertaken.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available from shore or by barge.
Bunkering: Available by barge. Domestic and bonded oil can be brought from Shimotsu, Sakai, Kobe, etc.
Medical
There are hospital facilities in Wakayama.
Transport
Nearest airport: Osaka International.
Nearest railway: Nankai Railway (for Osaka).
Working hours
Normally 0800-1700hrs.
Sumitomo Metal, for steel products (loading): Throughout 24 hours excluding New Year's holidays. For logs/generals (discharging): Normally 0830-1630hrs every day except Sun and New Year's holidays (Dec 30-Jan 3).
Log gangs: Available (6 gangs).
About Wakayama
updated Jan 2022Where it is
Wakayama is situated in South Honshu, 45nm SSW of Osaka at the mouth of Kino River, where the eastern end of the Inland Sea opens into the Kii Suido.
The port
The port of Wakayama 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. Wakayama has merged traffic figure with Kainan and Shimotsu. (See also Kainan and Shimotsu port information).
Cargoes handled at the port include LPG, coal, iron ore and steel.
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 Wakayama
What time zone is Wakayama in?
Local time at Wakayama is UTC+9. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Wakayama?
The deepest berth listed is at Sumitomo Metal (North Port): 14.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Wakayama?
1025.
Which load line zone is Wakayama in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Wakayama?
Port State Control at Wakayama: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Wakayama?
The UN/LOCODE of Wakayama is JPWAK.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Wakayama 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.