AmagasakiNishinomiyaAshiya (JPAMX)

As of 1st December 2007, Osaka, Sakai, Amagasaki-Nishinomiya-Ashiya and Kobe (see separate entries), have all been unified to form Hanshin Port. The principal imports at Amagasaki-Nishinomiya-Ashiya are gravel and steel with the main export being steel.

Summer.

Amagasaki-Nishinomiya-Ashiya port is situated on the NE coast of Osaka Bay between the ports of Osaka and Kobe.

LOA 210m, beam 27.6m, 11,579DWT.

A large anchorage area is available, with depths between 4.0m and 12.0m.

The approach is via an entrance channel 4.2km in length, 220m width with a depth of 12.0m. In the vicinity of Light Buoys No 7 and 8 the channel splits into two branches, one with a least depth of 10.0m and the other to Higashi-Kaigan which has a least depth of 12.0m. The South Breakwater, which is detached lies across the entrance to the harbour.

JP 1107, 1103, 150A, 106. BA 996, 2347. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).

1025.

Compulsory for vessels over 10,000GT. Pilots board 1nm off the harbour limit in the vicinity of No. 1 Buoy 34°39.3'N 135°20.8'E.

No. 1 Area lies between the mouth of Nakashima Kawa (34°41.0'N 135°24.0'E) and the mouth of Muko Kawa, 1.5nm W. No. 2 Area lies N of Nishinomiya Breakwater and E of Kobe Ko No. 6 Area.

Entry is prohibited in the area extending NE of South Breakwater to the SW tip of Higashi Kaigan; the area is marked by light beacons. Bridge: A bridge spans the basin SW of the lock gates with a vertical clearance of 25m, leading to Tsurumachi Berth. Locks: Amagasaki Lock No 1: Length 80m, width 12.5m, approx depth of 4.5m can accept vessels of up to 1,000DWT. Lock No 2: Length 62m, width 12m, approx depth 4.0m, is alongside Lock No 1.

Range, max 1.7m, min 0.1m.

There is one tug of 2,000hp available. Additional tugs are available from Kobe when required.

The most frequent winds are from the NNE, NE and W respectively. Winds are from the NW to NE more than 50% of the time. Seasonally, W to NE winds are frequent in Winter, N to NE winds in Spring and Autumn, and SW to W winds in Summer.

VHF: Pilots: Ch 16.

See Country information.

See Country information.

See Country information for radio pratique. Free Pratique: Usually vessels anchor in the port of Kobe or Osaka, where the authorities board and grant free pratique. Radio pratique is not available.