Kanmon Ko (JPKNM)

The whole of Kanmon Kaikyo (Straits) consists of 6 harbours: Nishuyama, Wakamatsu and Kokura in the W part of the strait W of O Seto; Shimonoseki, Moji and Tanaoura in the E part. Refer to separate entries for Wakamatsu, Kokura, Shimonoseki and Moji.

Summer.

Kanmon Kaikyo (Straits) is the stretch of water separating Honshu and Kyushu, two of Japan's four main islands.

Transit: Max LOA 330m, draught 11.4m. Max airdraught 61m. UKC shall be 15% of the draft.

Two quarantine anchorages lie off the W entrance to Kanmon Kaikyo, E of Mutsure Shima (33°58.0'N 130°52.0'E). There are shoals with depths of less than 10.0m in the E anchorage. A quarantine anchorage lies off the E entrance to Kanmon Kaikyo, SE of He Saki (33°57.0'N 131°02.0'E). There are anchorage areas N of Mutsure Shima for vessels with a draught of 10.0m or more, or over 30,000GT, as follows: Vessels arriving by day: N of a line drawn 090° from Koshiki Iwa (33°59.0'N 130°50.0'E). Vessels arriving at night: The area between lines drawn 310° and 000° from a position 2,600m 000° from Mutsure Shima Light. In order to prevent marine accidents in the approaches to the quarantine anchorage, vessels are requested not to anchor in the main fairway known as a Voluntarily Restricted Fairway which is approx 0.25nm wide; it is entered 0.9nm NE of Mutsure Shima Light and leads S and SSW along the E side of the W quarantine anchorage to the harbour limit extending NW from Daiba Hana (33° 56.8'N 130°52.6'E). Anchorages for vessels carrying dangerous cargoes have been established at Nishiyama Ku, Wakamatsu Ku, Kokura Ku and Tanoura Ku. Transfer of liquid cargo between tankers takes place E of Mutsure Shima. A wreck with a depth of 1.5m over it, lies in the N part of the anchorage. Fish havens lie close W of the W limit of the anchorage. Anchorage is prohibited in an area over the Kanmon railway tunnel, 0.7nm NE of Yamasokono Hana (33°54.7'N 130°55.5'E).

JP135, 127. Admiralty Pilot NP42B, NP286(6).

Pilotage for vessels of 10,000GT or over passing through Kanmon Kaikyo is compulsory, but pilotage is recommended for all vessels without local knowledge. Pilotage is compulsory in all the port areas outside the specified channels and fairways in Kanmon Kaikyo. Harbour pilots are not available after sunset. The pilot boards vessels from W in the vicinity of Mutsure Shima (33°58.0'N 130°52.0'E) and those from E off He Saki (33°57.0'N 131°02.0'E). Two pilots will board vessels of 30,000GT or more, except when passing through the Kanmon Passage. The pilot boat is painted black with "Pilot" in white on the sides. Naikai (Inland Sea) pilots take over from Kanmon Kaikyo pilots off He Saki. A Traffic Advisory Service is in operation for Kanmon Kaikyo, which provides information on a vessel's position, the movement of other vessels, collisions, visibility and other situations as they occur. The traffic Advisory Service Centre is situated on the S side of Kanmon Kaikyo (33°53.6'N 130°55.0'E). Pilotage may be suspended when due to heavy weather the embarkation/disembarkation of pilots is considered dangerous, where the navigation of the pilot boat is considered dangerous or where the visibility is restricted due to dense fog/heavy snow and the vessels navigation is considered dangerous. For vessels 10,000GT and less visibility to be 1km, for large and huge vessels visibility to be 1nm.

Port limits include all Kanmon Kaikyo from Mutsure Shima in the W to Chofu Ku in the E; also included within the limits is Hibiki-Shinko Ku.

..... Standard draught and ship's type for entering into and/or departing from Kanmon port: With regard to tidal period and the velocity of tidal current in Kanmon Straits, the former is based on the "TIDE TABLE Volume No 1 (Japan and environs)" issued by Japan Coast Guard and the latter is based on indication of the velocity of tidal current by Hayatomo Seto Tidal Steam Signal Station. 1. Maximum draught a. UKC is 15% of ship's draught b. Maximum permissible draught is 11.4m, but vessel's draught between 10.4m and 11.4m shall take advantage of favourable tidal condition for passing. 2. Ship's speed When a vessel is navigating in Hayatomo Seto against the tidal current, it shall maintain its speed more than 5kts above the rate of current. 3. Restriction on navigation of a vessel of > 30,000GT, and a vessel < 30,000GT with a draught of > 10m. Irrespective of E bound or W bound, a vessel shall pass through the Straits only when the rate of current is less than 5kts. (This is applied for the events of both E'ly and W'ly currents). 4. Restriction on passing the Straits at night a. General vessel: > 60,000GT prohibited. (Refer to Note 1 below) b. Dangerous cargo carrier: > 10,000GT prohibited. (Refer to Note 2 below) c. Pure car carrier (PCC): International tonnage of > 60,000GT prohibited. d. A vessel of > 30,000GT, which intends to pass the Straits at night, shall be accompanied by an escort boat (high speed or tug boat), throughout navigating the Straits, between the eastern entrance and Mutsure anchorage of Kanmon Passage. e. Such vessels as their LOA are much longer than the standard, insufficient forward visibility from the bridge or special construction vessels, etc may be restricted to pass through the Straits at night. 5. Vessel of > LOA 250m A vessel of > LOA 250m shall be accompanied by an escort boat (high speed or tug boat) throughout navigating the Straits, between the eastern entrance and Mutsure anchorage of Kanmon Passage. 6. The height allowance for vessel navigating under the Kanmon Bridge is 61m. But when the height of a vessel exceeds 56m, prior permission should be obtained from the pilot association. 7. Dangerous cargo carrier of > 10,000GT. A dangerous cargo carrier of > 10,000GT shall be accompanied by an escort boat (high speed or tug boat), throughout navigating the Straits, between the eastern entrance and Mutsure anchorage of Kanmon Passage. 8. Vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, etc. The prior consultation is required for such vessels as restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, special vessels, etc as their transit times are selected depending upon conditions of tide and type of vessel. Notes: (1). A vessel greater than 38,000GT which intends to pass the Straits at night, had passed previously once or more in daytime and/or similar experience will be accepted as well as same type of a sister ship. (2). Possibility of fire or explosion is assured by master, such vessels are excluded from application of this rule.

A mandatory reporting scheme is in place for Oil tankers of 3,000GT and over or other vessels of 10,000GT or over intending to navigate through the Hayatomo Seto Channel or vessels of 1,000GT or over entering or leaving Tobata Seitetsu Hakuchi through Tobata Passage. Vessels should report more than 3 hours before the first reporting point to Kanmon Martis via agent or direct to Telex: 7213 28 kmtasc, Tel: +81 93 372 0099 or Fax: +81 93 381 4499. The report should be prefixed Notification On Entering or Notification On Passing Through and should include the following information: ..... 1. Vessel's name, callsign, nationality, GT, draught and name of agent. 2. ETA off Mutsure Shima or He Saki. 3. Estimated date and time of entering Kanmon Ko and berth allocated or estimated time of entering Kanmon Kaikyo and final destination. 4. Amount and type of any dangerous cargo. 5. Whether the vessel will be undergoing pilotage. 6. Whether Japanese charts are carried. Vessels using the anchorage areas N of Mutsure Shima or the quarantine anchorages, should report the time and position of anchoring or of shifting berth.

Available. In order to prevent any maritime casualties, and to secure the safety of vessel berthing and unberthing as well as the facilities in Kanmon Ko, the standards for the use of tugboats for vessels of 1.000GT or more is hereby provided. However, the number of tugboats maybe in creased at the pilot's discretion, depending on the sea and weather conditions, the vessel's ability to maneuver, circumstances of the berth, and others.

KANMON KAIKYO For details see: KANMON KAIKYO PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

Emergency at Sea: Tel: 118. VHF: Kanmon Martis VTS: Ch 16, 14, 22. Moji Sea Patrol Radio: Ch 16. Shimonoseki Port Pilot: Ch 16. AIS: Operated in the area, vessels should display correct information.

Arrival reports: Reports should be made to Kanmon Martis by noon the day before scheduled entry for vessels of 10,000GT (oil tankers of 3,000GT) or over and for vessels of 3,000GT or over, at least three hours prior to arrival at first reporting point. See Navigation section/Traffic schemes for further information. Changes of ETA of more than 15 minutes to be reported to Kanmon Martis.

Navigation in Kanmon Kaikyo (Straits): There are special local rules of the road in the area of Kanmon Passage and the meeting of Kanmon Passage No 2, also the meeting of Anse Passage with Kanmon Passage No 2 and Wakamatsu Passage/Tobata Passage with Kanmon Passage. Traffic Signals for Hayatomo Seto Channel: Traffic control letter light signals are displayed under Kanmon Bridge to indicate right of way for large vessels, at 3nm distance, if meeting in this area. 'H' (Hesaki bound) East bound or 'T' (Takenokoshima bound) West bound. If 'H' and 'T' are shown together this indicates that vessels over 10,000GT (oil tankers 3,000GT) should reduce speed to avoid meeting another vessel on reciprocal course in narrow channel. Passing distance: Except with the permission of the captain of the port, no vessel may approach within 30m of a tanker loading flammable materials, nor within 50m of a tanker loaded with LNG.