OtherHazardsatthePortofHachinohe
HACHINOHE
OTHER HAZARDS AT THE PORT OF HACHINOHE
Fog
Fog can be a problem for ships entering and leaving the port at Hachinohe. The Hachinohe Branch of the Maritime Safety Association has issued a brochure that addresses collision and grounding problems in situations of poor visibility. The brochure calls for reaffirmation of ordinary seamanship practices for the prevention of marine casualties infog, including the reinforcement of lookouts, appropriate use of radar, frequent confirmation of ship position, maintenance of safe speeds, earlier evasion in potentially hazardous situations and sounding proper fog signals.
Tsunami
Hachinohe has been subject to tsunamis resulting from earthquakes in various locations around the Pacific Ocean. While most of the effects have been relatively minor, some of the occurrences have been disastrous. In 1960, a severe earthquake in Chile (South America) caused a 17.4 ft (5.3 m) tsunami at Hachinohe, which is the largest water level rise since 1931. Lives were lost and ships were forced aground. Other, closer earthquakes have caused water level increases of 9.2 ft (2.8 m), 6.9 ft (2.1 m) and other lesser amounts. The infamous Good Friday earthquake in Alaska in late March 1964 caused a tsunami of 4.5 ft (1.4 m) at the port. Advice from the Captain of the Port of Hachinohe is to sortie from the port if a large earthquake is felt, or a weaker earthquake with a slow motion and of long duration is felt. Remaining in port places the ships at risk of being lifted by the rising water and placed ashore.
Source: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/port_studies/thh-nc/japan/hachinoh/text/sect5.htm
