The Port & Harbour Bureau of the Shimonoseki City Government, plans to construct a multi-purpose international terminal on the Shimonoseki Port Offshore Artificial Island. The terminal will boast distinctive features and have international competitive power based on Shimonoseki port's actual results to date.
Improvement of ports and harbors along Kanmon Strait is limited by the shortage of land behind these ports and harbors and the restrictions on navigation. Our Bureau is therefore constructing an offshore artificial island (Choshu Dejima) which has great potential for future growth, with fewer restrictions than in the Kanmon Strait ports, to cope with the increase of international container cargos and the trend toward larger ships.

As the first term construction work, we started construction of the Transport & Logistics Zone, including the core of the multi-purpose international terminal for handling foreign trade cargo, in 1995 (fiscal year of Heisei 7). The connecting bridge between the offshore artificial island and the mainland was completed in 2005 (fiscal year of Heisei 17). In 2006 (fiscal year of Heisei 18) rough construction of the -12m quay 1 berth was carried out, and reclamation work on the site behind the quay was completed. Construction is steadily progressing so that part of the Transport and Logistics Zone can begin service in the fiscal year of 2008 (fiscal year of Heisei 20).
The offshore artificial island (Choshu Dejima) is expected to play an important role both as a base for the shuttle service lines between Shimonoseki port and East Asia using high-speed RORO ships and container ships to meet current needs, and as an international hub port for all international ports in the Northern Kyushu region.

On the Shimonoseki Port Offshore Artificial Island, international cargo is handled more conveniently and speedily, and at lower cost!

The artificial island is outside the compulsory pilot service area, therefore, the compulsory pilot regulation obligatory for ships of 3,000G/T or more entering/departing from Kanmon ports, is not applicable here. Also, because the artificial island is not as close to international sea routes as is the present terminal in the Hananocho area, it does not receive any influence from tidal currents, making it possible to decrease the number of tugboats used.

2 berths (240m x 2) with a water depth of -12m will be constructed on the quay on the artificial island, and high-performance loading/unloading machinery will be installed. 30,000DWT class container ships and cargo ships can use these berths. In addition, we will maintain a 21ha terminal site, and a site of about 62ha dedicated to transport and logistics functions, so the artificial island can respond to high-quality logistics needs.

The artificial island is located outside of the Kanmon Strait, so the time needed per voyage from the Asian continent is shorter. Ships from the Asian continent can enter port and complete their mooring about 1 hour earlier than at the present terminal in Hananocho. Also, the artificial island is not affected by Kanmon Strait tidal currents; therefore, regardless of ship size, there are no limitations on entry to /departure from this new port.

Port & Harbor Bureau, Shimonoseki City
1-1 Nabecho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 750-8521, Japan
Tel:083-231-1111 Fax:083-233-0860
(from outside Japan: Tel:81-83-231-1111 Fax:81-83-233-0860)