PortFacilities
PUSAN
PORT FACILITIES
The North Inner Harbor is composed of several piers, quays, and deep-draft anchorages. Most of the facilities are privately owned and not available for use by U. S. Navy ships. Pier 8, indicated on Figure 4 and Figure 5 is controlled by the U. S. Military Sealift Command and is frequently used by U. S. Navy vessels. An aerial view is provided in Figure 6. Pier 8 is large enough to handle very large ships and the northwest side consisting of Berths #81, #82, and #83 (Figure 7 and Figure 8) has a length of 1,780 ft (543 m) and a depth alongside ranging from 29.5 to 32.8 ft (9 to 10 m). If greater depths are needed, ships are breasted out as necessary to deeper water. The breasting barge is 32 ft x 100 ft (9.75 x 30.5 m). Berth #84 is 532 ft (162 m) and Berth #85 is 892 ft (272 m). These berths are not used for deep-draft vessels. Depths alongside are less than 27.9 ft (8.5 m) and can be checked on Figure 5.
Pier 8 is structurally sound and the hard rubber fendering can be viewed in Figure 9 and Figure 10. Figure 11 shows some of the Yokohama fenders available for use by U.S. Navy, MSC, and Maritime Prepositioned ships.
As depicted in Figure 4 and displayed on a portion of the ROK navigational chart in Figure 12, the ROKN has new base facilities and ship berths located in the North Outer Harbor just inside the Oryukdo Breakwater. All of the berthing areas are structurally sound and U.S. Navy ships, including aircraft carriers, have previously tied up within this harbor area. The ROKN Naval Base and facilities can be viewed in Figure 13 and Figure 14. Berth #1 is located just inside the ROKN Base Harbor on the west side. Berths #2, #3, and #4 are on the quay wall on the north side and Berth #5 is on the east side. Land is being reclaimed west of the ROKN Base Harbor and should be completed in 2012.
Pilotage is compulsory for vessels over 500 grt. Pilots board vessels at the following positions:
No. 1 - Position 35°04'N 129°08.9'E
No. 2 - Position 35°01.5'N 129°02.5'E
No. 3 - Position 35°00'N 129°48.2'E (New Port)
There are 42 pilots providing day and night service. Thirty-two commercial tugs with 1,500 to 4,500 hp operate in the Port. Pilots from the Busan Harbour Pilots' Association stated during the Site Visit in May 2009 that aircraft carriers normally use four tugs and DDG's normally use two tugs during ship visits. Requests for pilots and vessel's ETA are sent 72 hours and 24 hours in advance and VHF contact with Pusan Port Services is made 2 hours prior to arrival on VHF Channel 12. During typhoons, tugs tie up at the Gamman Simin Pier within the North Inner Harbor.
As of the Site Visit in May 2009, the main working frequency for the Busan Vessel Traffic Service Center, call sign "Busan VTS", is VHF Channel 12. The secondary working frequency is VHF Channel 9. The emergency channel is VHF Channel 16. Initial calls are also made on Channel 16. They can also be contacted by phone at 051-405-2735. If calling from the USA, the phone number would be 011-82-51-405-2735. Alternate numbers for the VTSC are 051-405-6550/1/2/3/4/5 or 051-405-6096. The working frequency for the Pilot Association, call sign "Busan Pilot", is VHF Channel 13. They can also be contacted by phone at 051-465-1651 or 051-633-2733. The phone numbers for tugs are 051-633-2733 or 051-466-1138. The Busan Regional Maritime Affairs and Port (Fisheries) Office is located at 601-726 Chugjangro 201 (1116-1 Jwacheon-dong) Dong-Gu, Busan, South Korea and can be contacted by phone at 051-405-2735/051-609-6551 or Fax at 051-404-2623. The pilots indicated that they can operate with up to about 30 kt of wind and will normally cease operations in 13.1-16.4 ft (4-5 m) seas depending on the wind direction.
The Military Sealift Command Office (Operations) in Pusan, Korea from USA is DSN 763-3119 or 011-82-505-763-3119. The CDO cell phone is 011-579-6018.
As per a Port Visit After Action Report in October 2008 by USS McCampbell (DDG-85), "The pilot pick up point is IVO TSS Racon Buoy. Pilots spoke good English. MCB contacted pilot on VHF Bridge-to-bridge Channel 12 using call sign "Busan Pilot" 2 hours prior to pick up time to confirm tugs and pilot." USS McCampbell moored at Pier #83 in the northeast portion of the North Inner Harbor. "Charted depth pier side was 9.3 m. MCB fathometer indicated 12 ft beneath the dome while approaching pier and at the pier. MCB conducted lead line soundings on 9 October (1.2 ft falling tide). MCB observed 42 ft at the bow, 41 ft along MCB starboard (outboard) side, and 40 ft along MCB port (inboard) side between MCB and the pier."
Other facilities at the port include heavy lift cranes, dry docks, and other equipment normally associated with a busy, deep-water port.
Source: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/port_studies/thh-nc/korea/pusan/text/port_facilities.htm
