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HACHINOHE

THE DECISION TO EVADE OR REMAIN IN PORT

General

There is no U. S. Navy authority assigned to Hachinohe, so decisions to evade or remain in port will necessarily be made independently by the ship's captain in accordance with appropriate directives issued by higher authority.

Evasion Rationale

It is important that each commander recognize the inherent dangers that exist when exposed to the possibility of hazardous weather. Proper utilization of meteorological products, especially the NOCC/JTWC Guam Tropical Cyclone Warnings, and a basic understanding of weather will enable the commander to act in the best interest of his unit, and complete his mission when the unfavorable weather subsides. To assist in preparation for the threat posed by an approaching tropical cyclone, the following time/action sequence aid, to be used in conjunction with Figures V-155 and V-156, is provided.

1. An existing tropical cyclone moves into or development takes place in Area A with long range forecast movement toward Hachinohe.
   
   1. Review material condition of ship.
   2. Reconsider any maintenance that would render the ship incapable of riding out a storm or typhoon with the electrical load on ship's power, or would render the ship incapable of getting underway, if need be, within 48 hours. Begin planning a course of action to be taken in case of sortie.
   3. Plot NOCC/JTWC Guam warnings when received and construct the danger area. Reconstruct the danger area for each new warning.
2. Tropical cyclone enters Area B with forecast movement toward Hachinohe recall that tropical cyclones tend to accelerate rapidly after they have recurved):
   
   1. Execute sortie plans made in previous steps. Sortie should be completed before storm enters Area C.
   2. Plot NOCC/JTWC Guam warnings when received and construct the danger area. Reconstruct the danger area for each new warning.
3. Tropical cyclone has entered Area C and is moving toward Hachinohe:
   
   1. If sortie was not accomplished by this time, evasion is no longer recommended. Anticipate the arrival of the tropical cyclone winds and take appropriate actions.
   2. Plot NOCC/JTWC Guam warnings when received and construct the danger area. Reconstruct the danger area for each new warning.

Remaining in Port

Hachinohe is not a hurricane haven under most scenarios. The safest course of action would be for seaworthy ships to sortie from the port prior to the arrival of strong winds and evade at sea. An exception to this recommendation is for fuel barges moored to the more protected berths at the fuel piers adjacent to the mouth of the Niida River. Although they should sortie if possible, their low profile would expose them to less danger from wind, and their relatively slow SOA capability would severely reduce evasion options.

If a vessel could not get underway, it should take normal precautions for high winds. The winds that pose the greatest danger to the port are from the eastern semicircle. Since the most likely berth for a U. S. Navy ship is 1-E, the longitudinal axis of the ship would be on a bearing of approximately 105°/285° true. North to northeast winds will be broad on the beam of the moored vessel, and tend to force the ship against her berth. Winds from southwest to south would also be broad on the ship's beam, but tend to force the ship off her berth. Easterly winds would be the most favorable as far as direct impact on the vessel and strain on its moorings because they would be more-or-less parallel with the longitudinal axis of the hull. Extra attention should be given to the brow and mooring lines during the passage of the storm. Ships should put out extra line and wire as deemed necessary and should be ready to tend mooring lines.

Evasion at Sea

Except for slow moving tug/fuel barge combinations, evasion at sea is considered to be the wisest and safest course of action under most scenarios. An early sortie from the harbor will provide the captain with several evasion options that would not be available if sortie is delayed. It must be borne in mind, however, that tropical cyclones are historically unpredictable, and the 48-hour forecast position error often exceeds 200 nmi, and the storm could be closer to (or farther from) Hachinohe than the forecast indicates, or be to the right or left of the forecast track. While not a common occurrence, tropical cyclones do cross the mountainous terrain of Honshu, moving from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan. Consequently, the prudent mariner will plan ahead, sortie early, and include back-up options in his planning in case the tropical cyclone does not follow the initial forecast track.

The cooler surface water and cool air found at higher latitudes cause tropical cyclones to lose their tropical characteristics, with a resultant weakening and ultimate dissipation of the storm as a tropical cyclone. Caution is necessary however; even though a circulation has lost its tropical identity it may still be accompanied by storm force (47 kt) winds.

Evasion routes at sea may be developed by the use of the NOCC/JTWC Guam tropical cyclone warnings, and Appendix A (the mean tropical cyclone tracks, track limits, and average speed of movements) for the month of interest in conjunction with Figures V-155 to V-156 (tropical cyclone threat axis and approach times to Hachinohe). In each specific case, Optimum Track Ship Routing (OTSR) should be consulted as to the best evasion route.

If the tropical cyclone is approaching Hachinohe from the south or southeast, a recommended evasion course would take the ship north from Hachinohe and west through the Tsugaru Strait into the Sea of Japan. Such an action would place the ship in northerly flow on the weaker left semicircle of the storm's circulation while moving away from the storm center. An evasion course that would keep the ship east of Japan is not recommended since it would place the ship in a vulnerable position north of the storm.

If the tropical cyclone is forecast to approach Hachinohe from the southwest across the Sea of Japan, a recommended evasion course would take the ship east and south along the coast of Honshu. If such an option were chosen, it must be initiated early because of the southerly head winds and seas that will only become stronger as the storm moves north.

Source: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/port_studies/thh-nc/japan/hachinoh/text/sect6.htm