Nakagusuku Bay: Difference between revisions

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{{Nihongo|'''Nakagusuku Bay'''|中城湾|Nakagusuku-wan|[[Okinawan language|Okinawan]]: ''Nakagushiku-widu''}} is a bay on the southern coast of [[Okinawa Island]] on the [[Pacific Ocean]] in [[Japan]]. The bay covers {{convert|220|km2|mi2}} and ranges between {{Convert|10|m|ft}} to {{Convert|15|m|ft}} deep.<ref name="d"/> The bay is surrounded by the municipalities of [[Uruma, Okinawa|Uruma]], [[Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa|Kitanakagusuku]], [[Nakagusuku, Okinawa|Nakagusuku]], [[Nishihara, Okinawa|Nishihara]], [[Yonabaru, Okinawa|Yonabaru]], [[Nanjō, Okinawa|Nanjō]], all in [[Okinawa Prefecture]]. In 1852, while visiting the [[Ryukyu Kingdom]], [[Commodore Matthew Perry]] mapped Okinawa and labeled Nakagusuku Bay as "Perry's Bay". During the final months of [[World War II]], the bay became a [[United States Navy]] forward base and was nicknamed "Buckner Bay".

The Army Pier is an asphalt-surfaced causeway connecting to a steel pier reinforced with concrete and with a solid facing to the sea floor. The approximate total dimensions of the pier and the causeway are 1,224 &nbsp;ft (373 m) long by 100 &nbsp;ft (30.5 m) wide. The portion of the pier for berthing is approximately 525 &nbsp;ft (160 m) long with a deck height of 10 &nbsp;ft (3.1 m). Ships are required to be bow in at the Army Pier.

The ''Naha Pilot Association'' providescontracts pilots.pilot The Association has four pilotsservice. SixSufficient hoursadvance notice must be given for scheduling a pilot and to allow time for the pilot to travel from Naha to Buckner Bay. Three Japanese commercial tugs rated at 3,200 &nbsp;hp are available for White Beach. A pilot is mandatory for U.S. Navy vessels berthing at the White Beach piers but is not required when anchoring. Pilots will not normally board ships with northerly winds greater than 30 kt or southerly winds greater than 26 kt. Wave heights greater than 4.9 &nbsp;ft (1.5 m) make it too difficult to get on or off the ship. All pilots possess adequate English language ability to convey helm and engine orders. Additionally, a qualified Japanese speaking dockmaster will be stationed pierside to assist in docking evolutions. The pilot and working tug primarily use Channel 13 VHF-FM but can be initially contacted via Channel 16 VHF-FM. The pilot pickup point is in the vicinity of 26°14'N 127°55'E. If required, a second tug will normally meet the ship at 26°16.4'N 127°54.3'E.

Anchorage and berthing assignments for Navy vessels are made by the Navy Port Control Officer located at White Beach on a 24-hour a day basis. However, arrival and departure at both piers is recommended between the hours of 0800 and 1600, except in an emergency. Navy Port Control can be contacted via Channel 16 VHF-FM or on 2716 &nbsp;kHz USB. The local phone numbers for Port Operations are 622-1371/1362. The OIC White Beach Port Operations can also be contacted by cell at 090-9789-9623.

Tengan Pier is 82connected to land by a 35&nbsp;ft (m) wide and 806by 1,300&nbsp;ft (m) long withcauseway. Ship reinforceddocking concreteshould solidbe constructionself-sustaining. TheThere pierare canno accommodateelectric twoshore shipspower withoutlets, oneCHT onlines, eachor side.fuel lines for bunkering.

<ref name="d">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Dijitaru Daijisen | title = 中城湾 | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | accessdateaccess-date = 2013-06-14 | year = 2013 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = Japaneseja | trans_titletrans-title = Nakagusuku Bay | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 25 August 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[Category:GeographyLandforms of Okinawa Prefecture]]

[[Category:PacificJapan theatre of World War IIcampaign]]

[[Category:JapaneseInstallations homeof islandsthe campaignU.S. Department of Defense in Japan]]