EntranceChannel
IWAKUNI/KURE
ENTRANCE CHANNEL
See Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 7, and Figure 16 for the approaches to the Iwakuni and Kure Anchorages and the Harbors. Based on the Site Visit in October 2009, it was noted that MSC and U.S. military ships normally enter the Inland Sea and Hiroshima Bay via the Bongo Strait.
Iwakuni
Iwakuni-ko, in general terms refers to the Iwakuni Harbor area, the limits of which are charted on Figure 5. The Marine Corps Air Station is comprised of an airport with an Inner Harbor (piers and berths) positioned between Imazu Gawa (river) and Monzen Gawa in the southern part of Iwakuni-ko. The Port of Iwakuni (commercial) lies northwest between Imazu Gawa and Oze Gawa. There are several seaweed cultivation grounds in this area, some of which are marked by a large number of buoys showing orange lights. Note also that a submarine pipeline and cable lie between Otake-ko and Atata-jima, and may be viewed on the chart.
The approach to the General Purpose Pier, Ammunition Wharf and Fuel Pier has been dredged to a depth of 42 ft (m). The entrance to the Inner Harbor is 1,000 ft (m) wide and 68.95 ft deep (10.7 m). Ships should pass through the Harbor Entrance (Figure 24) on a bearing of 105° T to the Port Facility located on the General Purpose Pier. Once clear of the entrance, ships may proceed to their assigned berths. Figure 25 and Figure 26 show the left and right breakwaters respectively as you look from seaward towards the Inner Harbor.
Iwakuni Port breakwater entrance bears 5,100 m on a bearing of 105° T to Kabuto Island Lighthouse.
A seadrome area, which is charted as prohibited area, lies inside the MCAS Iwakuni Harbor limits. The seaplane runways inside the seadrome are marked by special purpose lighted buoys. There are three 1,524 m sea-lanes (10-28, 04-22, 16-34) used during seaplane operations. Buoy lights are used along the duty sea-line.
The following landmarks are available:
Himeko-jima is a rock 13 m high that stands on a shoal 2 nmi northwest of Kabuto-shima. An isolated shoal, with a depth of 17 m, lies 0.75 nmi southeast of the rock.
Atata-jima lies on the east side of Iwakuni-ko. Except for an occasional sandy beach, the shore of the island is mainly cliffy and reef-fringed. The bights of the north and south sides of Atata-jima are suitable only for small vessels.
Kabuto-shima is about 4 nmi south of Atata-jima and is composed of red soil. The pointed summit of Kabuto-shima is a good landmark.
Otake-ko, a local harbor, lies close north of Iwakuni-ko. The harbor is mostly calm.
As per the Port Visit Report in February 2007 by USS Patriot (MCM 7), "Patriot utilized multi-purpose wharf at MCAS Iwakuni. Patriot entered in low visibility (1 nmi) and approached from south of Kabuto-shima, per pilot recommendation. Port Personnel reported ships will frequently transit between Kabuto-shima and Hime-shima for straight approach into basin. This was confirmed by outbound pilot in unrestricted visibility, but inbound pilot did not utilize during low visibility conditions due to several marker buoys. Patriot utilized pilot and two tractor tugs. English speaking pilot was provided. Pilot pick-up point IVO 34°06'N 134°18'E. Depth of water ranged from 95 ft in basin to 42 ft pierside. "
All ships operating boats in and around MCAS waters require permission from Port Facility. Authorized boat landings are Pontoon #1 - behind the Building -3420 (Port Facility) and Pontoon #2 adjacent to Building – 3420. MCAS Inner Harbor is a NO WAKE zone, and all boats shall proceed at a safe and reasonable speed at all times in MCAS Restricted Waters, and when passing ships at anchor or at berths or tows. Boats passing by ships displaying the code ALFA flag (indicating divers are down) shall proceed at a speed no greater than that required to maintain steerageway and shall not pass closer than 100 yards to the area of operations. Safety, good seamanship, and courtesy shall govern speeds elsewhere. Boats will stay clear of the landing except when embarking or debarking personnel. Small boat operations in the Inner and Outer Harbor must stay clear during JMSDF Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
Kure
O-Urume-jima and Ko-Urume-jima are conspicuous islets which lie on the shoal that extends about 0.5 nmi southwest from the south entrance point to Yosiura Wan. The high cable towers, which stand on the islets, and the lighthouse and signal station of Ko-Urume-jima are good landmarks. A shipyard at the head of Kure-ko is conspicuous. Mitugo Shima, about 2.5 nmi south of Ko-Urume-jima, is prominent from a distance.
A signal station on Ko-Urume-jima relays instructions from the Harbormaster with reference to berthing and to the movement of vessels entering and departing the Port. Vessels should retain onboard the most recent edition of Japan Maritime Safety Laws and Regulations, obtainable through the Japanese Coast Guard. This publication should be kept as a reference for signal station communiqués and their meanings, appropriate answering signals, and other local or specific regulations. Radiotelephone may be used to contact the Harbormaster.
Weather signals are shown from the station on Ko-Urume-jima and from the roof of the Harbor Office on the east side of the mouth of Niko Gawa, about 1.5 nmi east of Ko-urume-jima (Figure 16).
As per the Port Visit Report in February 2007 by USS Patriot (MCM 7), "One pilot embarked at 34°09'N 132°30.5'E. Small islands and shoal water are marked. Entrance easy to navigate with minimum traffic. Numerous mooring IVO Kure-ko. Channel was marked. Channel was adequate size for MCM-class. No anchorages utilized. Existing obstructions as charted and marked. Winds were variable at 5 kt. Skies possessed scattered clouds with a full moon during night transit. Moored port side to USS Guardian, bow in, at JMSDF Kure. Pier is a floating pier approximately 700 ft long, with a depth of 37 ft and in good material condition. One medium-sized tug provided to assist with mooring. Harbor frequency is VHF Bridge-to-Bridge Channel 16 guarded by JMSDF. Tugs were requested in LOGREQ."
Source: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/port_studies/thh-nc/japan/iwakuni_kure/text/entrance_channel.htm
