As an international port on the Sea of Japan coast, Tsuruga Port changes and the future expands

Tsuruga Port, one of Japan's well-suited, natural ports and counted as one of the three most important ports, has been prospering as a trading base between Japan and the Asian Continent since the Nara era, and as transit base for 'Kitamaebune' ships since the middle of Edo era. Furthermore it is serves an important role as a hub port with the important geographic characteristics as the closest port on the Sea of Japan coast, from the two major Economic areas of Hanshin and Chukyo. Tsuruga Port boasts the second largest transactions of the Sea of Japan coast by the international trades with partnering overseas harbors and by the logistics utilizing the ferries and RORO ships and shipping lines.

In the Meiji era fixed shipping routes between Russia and Korea were set-up and Tsuruga Port served an important role as a gateway from the Japan Sea coast. In these days trading with South Korea,China and Southeast Asian nations is prosperous.

Cargo for coal, lumber, container, etc. are handled. 90% of trading cargo is by ferry and roll-on/roll-off ship.

Between Tsuruga and Busan,the largest port city in South Korea, a tri-weekly container line is in service and it is followed by a bi-weekly roll-on/roll-off ship service in the year of 2010. Now expanded to a five-times-a-week service,it provides a vital link between these two ports.

Tsuruga Port area has been prosperous since the old days, "Main Port area" the birthplace of Tsuruga Port, and "New Port area" has newly opened Mariyama area due to the expansion of the logistics function created by a revised harbor plan.

Main Port area, which has already prepared Kanegasakiryokuchi, Rinko tunnel, wharf with 7.5 meters of depth of water, is making a comfortable space where people can enjoy the port and the sea, and is striving to make it a place for safety and healthy recreation.

There are coal-powered power station and cement factory behind New Port area. Large ships often arrive in the port.

Within the complex there are the public wharf with 12 meters depth of water and 8 meters wide, a private wharf with 14 meters depth of water and 10 meters wide, and a common ferry wharf for large ferries compatible with facilities at Tomakomai (Hokkaido) port, Akita port and Niigata port. For enhancement of logistics function we are working developing the multi-purpose International Terminal and Mariyama breakwater to respond to the increasing numbers of container cargos and so on. In order to meet the demands of marine logistics and the handling of the cargo for the wider areas of Fukui Prefecture and around Fukui Prefecture, the multi-purpose International Terminal wharf has a deep depth of water (14 meters). The adjacent ground of approximately 25 ha boasts the largest size on the Sea of Japan coast.

There are convenient transportation links into the port, and it is accessible by the National Route 8 bypass and the expressway in 5 minutes.

Export to and import from China and South-East Asia 's leading ports is available by using Busan Port as hub port.

This terminal is expected to increase active trading with Asian countries through the Sea of Japan and develop further as an international logistics hub port.

We are aiming for opening new shipping lines with developments in the harbor facilities, inviting distribution companies and further growth.