Hokkaido Bureau

Harbor Development

Harbors connect the daily life to the sea and the world.

  • People welcoming a cruise ship entering into harbor.

    People welcoming a cruise ship entering into harbor.

   Surrounded by ocean, more than 90% of cargo service from Hokkaido with Honshu is shipped by sea, and almost all overseas cargo is sent by ocean transport. As the gateway of cargo transport, harbors are very important infrastructure supporting Hokkaido's logistic, industrial and daily life, so harbors play a very important role in the development of Hokkaido.
  There are 37 harbors in Hokkaido. Dividing harbors according to rank, there are two specially designated harbors, 10 designated harbors and 25 local harbors. The total handling cargo volume of these harbors was 227 million tons in 2003.

[Harbor Development Project]
   "Hokkaido harbor vision of the 21st century," as a basic policy for the development of Hokkaido harbors decided in April 2002 is advancing efficiently and effectively. With this vision, the basic roles of Hokkaido harbors are "supporting Japan's daily life," "support the independence of Hokkaido," and "lead next century Japan and Hokkaido," these three are considered to be basic role of Hokkaido harbors.
  The Harbor development project has four basic targets:
   1.  Strengthening network functions
   2.  Local revitalization enrichment of local individual character
   3.  Fusion of daily life, nature, and landscape
   4.  Realizing a safe and secure daily life
   This project promotes the development of harbors with strong network functions connecting Hokkaido to domestic and foreign countries. Such a network is needed to effectively and stably insure customer goods which are necessary for industrial growth and daily life in Hokkaido.

  • Foreign trade container terminal service supports Hokkai international logistics (Port of Tomakomai)

    Foreign trade container terminal service supports Hokkai international logistics (Port of Tomakomai)

  This project promotes the development of harbors to support the revitalization and enrichment of the individuality of local areas and enhances the special characteristics of the seacoast regions of attractive Hokkaido.
  In addition, this project promotes the development of comfortable and lovable harbors where daily life, nature and landscape come together.

  • North breakwater dome is a place where local citizens go to relax. (Port of Wakkanai).

    North breakwater dome is a place where local citizens go to relax. (Port of Wakkanai).

  In Hokkaido where disasters are frequent, this project promotes the development of harbors which support the comfortable and safe life of Hokkaido people.

  • The quay that suffered severe damage in the Tokachi offshore earthquake (Port of Kushiro)

    The quay that suffered severe damage in the Tokachi offshore earthquake (Port of Kushiro)

   Hokkaido harbor development is progressing in cooperation with local residents who use these harbors, fully taking into consideration local opinions.
  Social economy and harbor use conditions have greatly changed, ships are larger, cargo handling methods have advanced. Effective use is made of existing piers and fittings in prosperity space, new industry space, quays for relaxation, etc. in accordance with the needs of the area.

  • District harbor supporting local industry (cargo handling of paper) (Port of Shiraoi)

    District harbor supporting local industry (cargo handling of paper) (Port of Shiraoi)

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