Port of Chiba

Port of Chiba 千葉港
Southeast view from Chiba Port Tower
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
Location
Country	Japan
Location	Chiba Prefecture
Coordinates	35.607627°N 140.103836°E / 35.607627; 140.103836
Details
Opened	1953
Operated by	Chiba Prefecture
Land area	24,800 hectares (61,000 acres)
Statistics
Vessel arrivals	65,200
Annual cargo tonnage	166,964,000 metric revenue tons
Annual container volume	41,780 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU)
Website http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/cs-chiba-k/index.html(in Japanese)

The Port of Chiba (千葉港, Chiba-kō) is the largest seaport in Japan, located in Chiba Prefecture on the interior of Tokyo Bay. The Port spans 24,800 hectares (61,000 acres) across the cities of Ichikawa, Funabashi, Narashino, Chiba, Ichihara, and Sodegaura.^[1][2]

History

Port activity has existed in the area since the Kamakura period. By the end of the Edo period the port had an active trade in salt and grain with the Port of Yokohama. Land reclamation for port facilities began in 1910. The port sustained extensive damage in aerial bombing during World War II. The modern Port of Chiba opened in August 1953, and played a large part in the building of the import/export economy following the war.^[2] The port became an integral part of the Keiyō Industrial Zone.

Cargo

The Port of Chiba handles 166,964,000 tons of cargo annually, ranking it second in Japan in terms of cargo handling. 65,200 vessels are handled annually.

94% of its cargo is industrial in nature.^[3] It imports crude petroleum, Liquefied Natural Gas, and other oil products, and exports chemical and steel products, and vehicles.^[4] Chiba is a minor port for marine containers, handling 41,780 TEU of marine containers, eighth in Japan.

Management

The Port of Chiba is managed by the prefectural government, and is open continuously throughout the year. The central office of the port is in the Chūō-ku ward of the City of Chiba, with branch offices in Ichihara and Sodegaura. The port is accessed by rail via the JR East Keiyō Line (1 kilometre (0.62 mi)) and Narita International Airport (30 kilometres (19 mi)). ^[5]

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  Port of Chiba
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  Chiba Port Park
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  Keiyo Line as seen from Chiba Port Tower

References

1. Lloyd's list ports of the world. London: Informa Pub. Group, 2011. P. 738-739.
2. "千葉港" [Port of Chiba]. Dijitaru daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
3. "The Port of Chiba". Archived from the original on 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
4. Ports & terminals guide. Redhill, Surrey, United Kingdom: IHS Fairplay, 2011. P. 2-1066-2-1067.
5. 千葉港湾事務所 [Port of Chiba Office] (in Japanese). Chiba, Chiba Prefecture: Chiba Prefectural Government. c. 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.