Yokohama

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 400m, beam 60m, draught 15.4m, 314,020DWT.

Offshore: LOA 300m, 98,747DWT.

Water density

1030. Average salinity of water is 30.35. The value changes from summer (Jun, Jul and Aug) when the water is less dense to winter (Jan, Feb, and Mar) when the water is denser.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range, max 2.5m; min 0.5m.

Waves under normal weather conditions: Waves in the port of Yokohama are minimally affected by wind because the distance to shore is relatively short. The wave size is generally determined by wind velocity and the distance to shore. On the basis of these two factors, wave heights observed by the Yokohama District Weather Bureau are most frequently 0.3-0.5m high under a wind velocity of over 10kts. The annual occurrence of waves higher than 0.5m is approx 17%, while those exceeding 1.4m are rarely observed. However, because this observation is related to only one third of the wave heights observed, there is the possibility that waves exist with maximum heights which are 60-80% higher.

Waves under abnormal weather conditions: The heights of waves under abnormal weather conditions such as typhoons in the last few decades, computed on the basis of average wind velocity and distance from shore, are as follows: Typhoon Kitty, 3.1m; Typhoon Isewan, 3.2m; Typhoon Catherine, 2.6m; Typhoon Makurazaki, 2.2m; Typhoon Muroto, 2.6m.

The highest wave was 3.2m, during Typhoon Isewan. Also, the max height of waves during this typhoon was 60-80% higher than the average height under normal weather conditions. It is therefore possible for waves 5.5-6.0m high to occur once every 10-20 minutes, although this would not occur continuously.

Swells: Bohso and Miura peninsulas virtually shelter the port from high seas swells. Even when there are 10m high swells in the Pacific, they are only 10cm high in the harbour, which is nearly insignificant.

Currents: The current in the port of Yokohama varies from day to day. Affected by weather conditions, the surface current is highly complex. At flood tide, sea water comes in from the outer breakwaters at an average rate of not more than 0.5m/sec. At ebb tide it goes out at a much slower rate. The currents in the navigation channels outside the outer breakwaters are the swiftest of all currents inside and outside the port, but they do not run at more than 2kts.

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

Approach

Yokohama is approached through the Naka-no-Se traffic separation scheme; the port has three principal entrance channels:

Negishi Fairway (35°23.2'N 139°40.8'E), depth 14.3m. Vessels must pass N of Uraga Suido traffic Route Middle No 6 Light Buoy.

Yokohama Passage (35°26.5'N 139°42.0'E), Y2 anchorage or Honmoku Fairway, depths 12.0-32m, (SE of Yokohama Bay Bridge). Vessels must pass NE of Naka-no-Se West Fairway Separation No 2 Light Buoy. Honmoku Fairway (35°25.2'N 139°41.5'E) provides the approach to the private basins and berths at the head of the fairway.

Tsurumi Passage (35°27.2'N 139°42.9'E), depths 13.0-19.0m (SE of Tsurumi-Tsubasa Bridge), 12.0m (N of Tsurumi-Tsubasa Bridge). Vessels must pass NE of Naka-no Se Traffic Route (East) No 7 Light Beacon.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Vessels of over 5,000GT and tankers of over 1,000GT intending to enter port via Yokohama passage should contact Yokohama Port Radio with, vessels ETA to fairway entrance and when intending to depart, by noon of the day before date of arrival or operation.

Anchorages

Quarantine Anchorage: Lies S of Daikoku Breakwater in position 35°27.3'N 139°42.3'E.

Quarantine anchorages: Situated in Yokohama No 3 area to seaward of Daikoku Breakwater and in Kawasaki No 2 area 0.6nm WSW of Tonen-Ogishima Sea Berth.

Prohibited anchorages: Anchorage is prohibited in Yokohama, Kanagawa and Tsurumi Fairways. Anchorage is also prohibited in the area between the outer harbour limit and the entrances to Yokohama Fairway and Tsurumi Fairway.

Yokohama Working Anchorage N4:

35°22.483'N 139°41.110'E

Restrictions

Port entry:

Detamachi Pier: Port entry: 0630-2000hrs (vessels must pass outer breakwater before 2000hrs. Port departure: Sunrise-2000hrs.

Yamashita, Shinko, Osanbashi Piers: Port entry: 0630-2200hrs (vessels must moor before 2200hrs).

Port departure: No time restrictions.

Daikoku, Honmoku container berths: No time restrictions on port entry or departure.

Daikoku, Honmoku conventional berths: Port entry: 0630-2200hrs (vessels must moor before 2200hrs).

Port departure: No time restrictions.

Private berths: Port entry: Sunrise to 1 hour before sunset (approx). Port departure: Sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset (approx).

Bridges:

Yokohama Bay Bridge: Spans the Yokohama Channel between Honmoku Jetty "A" and Daikoku Wharf, with a vertical clearance of 53-56m.

Tsurumi Tsubasa Bridge: A bridge joining Ohgishima East with Daikoku Pier over the Tsurumi Channel, vertical clearance 49m.

Daikoku Ohashi Bridge: A bridge with a vertical clearance of 16-19m, spans the channel between Sekiyu Pier and the N side of Daikoku Wharf.

Yokohama LNG Berths:

Tokyo Gas Ohgishima LNG Berth, 0.7nm NW of Yokohama Sea Berth, consisting of a central platform flanked by dolphins and Tokyo Electric Ogishima LNG Berth 1.25nm NNE of Yokohama Sea Berth, also consisting of a platform flanked by dolphins.

Prohibited area: An area into which entry is prohibited extends 1.0nm seaward, fronting the coast between the E end of International Wharf and the shipyard 1nm NE. The N, E and S corners of the area are marked by lightbuoys (special). Reclamation is taking place in this area developing the new Minami-Honmoku Container Terminal.

Tugs

Various tugs are available.

Charts and publications

BA 996, 4510. JP66, JP67, JP87, JP90, JP1062, JP1085. Admiralty Pilot NP42A, NP286(6).

Documents

See Country information.

Health

See Country information for radio pratique.

Free Pratique: Usually vessels anchor in the outer anchorage where the authorities board and grant free pratique, if not obtained in advance.

Reports to Shore Authorities: All vessels over 200m or carrying dangerous cargoes must report to Tokyo Traffic Advisory Centre before navigating in any of the traffic routes prescribed in the Maritime Traffic Safety Law.

Notices and regulations

Traffic regulations: The following apply to vessels approaching the port:

Navigation: Vessels proceeding to Negishi Fairway must pass N of Uruga Suido Traffic Route Middle No 6 Lightbuoy (35°19.8'N 139°42.8'E).

Vessels proceeding to Yokohama Passage, Y2 anchorage or Honmoku Fairway must pass NE of Naka-no-Se West Fairway Separation No 2 Lightbuoy (35°24.4'N 139°43.3'E).

Vessels proceeding to Tsurumi Passage must pass NE of Naka-on-Se Traffic Route No 7 Light Beacon (35°24.5'N 139°46.1'E).

Signals: Vessels proceeding to Negishi Fairway continue to exhibit International Code Flags First Substitute over Papa on passing Uraga Suido Traffic Route Middle No 6 Lightbuoy.

Vessels proceeding to Tsurumi Passage continue to exhibit International Code Flags Second Substitute over Papa on passing Uraga Suido Traffic Route No 7 Light Beacon.

Regulations concerning entry: Normally vessels of 1,000GT or greater proceeding to Keihin Unga during daylight must enter through Tsurumi Passage and depart through Kawasaki Passage. However vessels of this classification proceeding to Yokohama-Ku Section 4 or Daishi Unga may be permitted to enter through Kawasaki Passage.

Vessels of 5,000GT or greater and oil tankers proceeding to Yokohama-Ku Section 3 may be authorised to enter through Kawasaki Passage. Other vessels may be specifically authorised to enter through Kawasaki Passage.

Harbour regulations: Tankers loading or discharging liquefied gasses will have a prohibited area established around them when berthed; and the area extending 30m from the vessel.

Vessels without flame/spark arresters or operating any form of naked heat source or with inadequate fire prevention measures are prohibited from entering an area extending 30m from any facility handling petroleum products and 30m from any vessel berthed at them.

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

Large scale fitting out and repair work is carried out.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from shore and barges.

Bunkering: Most companies are represented and all required grades of domestic and bonded oil are available.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Kowan Hospital, Yokohama.

Transport

Nearest airport: Haneda Airport lies 15km NE and Narita Airport lies 83km NE of the port.

Nearest railway: The port and city are fully rail connected.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Stevedore's Working Hours: Mon-Fri: Daytime, 0830-1200hrs, 1300-1630hrs. Night, 1900-0001hrs, 0100-0400hrs. Sat: 0830-1200hrs. Sundays, Dec 31, Jan 1-3, Jul 20 (Marine Day): Unavailable.

Where it is

Yokohama is situated on the north western side of Tokyo Bay, approx 16nm from Tokyo.

The port

Yokohama is Japan's principal cruise liner terminal.

Breakwaters inside and outside the port protect its deep waters against winds and high waves.

There is good anchorage and vessels can lie at mooring buoys operated by the Port Authority. All services and repairs are available.

The port is being developed to be a major container hub port, with separate facilities for intercontinental and Asian container traffic.

Traffic

Approx 105,000,000t of cargo, 2,900,000TEU and 30,000 vessels handled annually.

What time zone is Yokohama in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Yokohama?

The deepest berth listed is at Ogishima Oil Terminal: 19.70 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Yokohama?

1030. Average salinity of water is 30.35.

Which load line zone is Yokohama in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Yokohama?

Port State Control at Yokohama: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Yokohama?

The UN/LOCODE of Yokohama is JPYOK.

What crews who called at Yokohama 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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