Naha Port
Okinawa, Japan
26°13'N 127°41'E
Naha Port is located in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is home to the 835th Transportation Battalion. Naha, the principal port of Okinawa, is located on the southwestern coast of the island. The Director for Terminal Operations, US Army, is responsible for the operation of facilities and services in the military terminal complex of the port, while the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency (JMSA) controls the commercial complex.
American interest in Okinawa first developed over 130 years ago when President Millard Fillmore directed Commodore Perry to “secure one or more ports of refuge of easy access for American shipping and whaling vessels in the Western Pacific.” Naha was one of the ports selected by the Commodore. On 11 July 1854, Perry signed the Compact between the United States and the Kingdom of Loo Choo. The Compact provided for trading rights, and the provision of pilotage, wood, and water for American vessels. Of local historical interest was the founding of the International Cemetery concurrent with the negotiation of the Compact. Three members of Commodore Perry’s crew are buried in the cemetery located near Tomari Port, two miles north of Naha Port.
Although American interest in Naha Port diminished soon after Perry’s visit, its importance to local trade increased. The configuration of the present port complex was developed in 1880 when the width of the channel was increased to 73 meters, thereby permitting the berthing of vessels up to 1500 tons. During the period 1921-1925, a 145-meter wharf was constructed and the channel depth increased to 7.5 meters. The Port was bombarded into ruins during WWII and was rebuilt under US control.
After WWII, only a few structures on Okinawa remained intact. The Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters, honeycombed beneath the hill above Naha, was one structure that stood solid during constant US bombardment.
Naha Port is the second largest military port on Okinawa. White Beach Area in Katsuren town is the largest. During the Vietnam War before Okinawa's reversion, there were many port calls made to this port by various warships and nuclear submarines. However, after the reversion, the port was no longer visited by nuclear vessels and is being used less and less. With a land area of 567,000m^2c, there are a total of 993 land owners paid a yearly rental fee of 1.748 billion yen. In the May 1995, the US -Japan Joint Committee approved the recommendation from the Naha Port Special Working Group to completely return the port on the condition that a replacement facility (approx. 35.3 ha) be built at the Urasoe Pier Area.
Located at the gateway to Naha city, Naha Port is a part of Naha's harbor. Due to the fact it is in vicinity of Naha airport, the area would be extremely suitable for industrial development. In 1974, its return was agreed upon at the Security Consultative Committee (SCC). However, even though many years have passed since then, it return has yet to be realized.
The United States and Japan released the Final Report of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa on December 2, 1996. The report made 27 recommendations to reduce the impact of the US military presence on the Okinawan people. This included an agreement to jointly continue best efforts to accelerate the return of Naha Port (approx. 57 ha/140 acres) in connection to its relocation to the Urasoe Pier area (approx. 35 ha/87 acres).
In October 2005 the US and Japan reached an agreement on relocating a pair of US military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. The US will return to Japan port facilities at the Naha Naval Port in Naha and the Makiminato Service Area. The bases' functions will be consolidated with those at Camp Courtney on Okinawa. Sme of the units currently stationed at Makiminato would be moved to Guam. To speed the transfer, Japan may help fund the construction of new military facilities.
Naha is the capital city of Okinawa. A trip to the markets of downtown Naha and is an exciting experience as well as a great chance to pick up souvenirs. Several stores offer samples of traditional Okinawan liquors and foods.
The Naha Port complex consists of a commercial port on the north side, and the US Military Port on the south side. The commercial port was under the control of the US Government from 1945 to 1954, at which time it was transferred to the Government of the Ryukyu Islands. Since 1972, the commercial port has been administered by the City of Naha. The US Military Port consists of 140 acres, of which 126 acres are used for military operations. It includes seven deep water berths, a watercraft landing area, and 160,000 square feet of covered in-transit storage.
Naha Harbor consists of an outer harbor, with outer and inner anchorages, and two inner harbors . The main inner harbor (Naha Ko) is used by ocean-going vessels with a draft up to 31.5 ft, while the new inner harbor is used by coastal vessels under 3,000 tons. The main inner harbor is divided into a commercial area (northern part) and an Army area (southern part) which has eight piers. The commercial wharfs are letter designated A through L. Piers A-D and J-L are "small craft" piers while pier E is not used. The inner and outer anchorages are not individually charted and several sunken wrecks within the anchorages are hazards to those vessels lacking local knowledge. The anchorages are exposed to wind and sea and the bottom is considered very poor holding ground. The tidal range in the harbor is about 6 ft while mean currents do not exceed 2.5 kt.
