The Osaka Port and Harbor Bureau is the port authority for the Port of Osaka. The Bureau has created many public corporations and subsidiary companies to efficiently manage port operations and facilities and to assure public accountability and port prosperity. Among these organizations is the Osaka Port Terminal Company Limited with responsibility for developing and operating Port of Osaka facilities related to grain, iron and steel, and coal. The city owns over 50% of the company, and its major facilities include the Osaka Silo.

The Osaka Harbor Timber Storage Company Limited was established in 1957 to operate the Nanko Lumber Center. In 1961, the city purchased 50% of the company that operates the lumber-marshaling pool and timber storage facilities in the Port of Osaka.

The city owns 100% of the Osaka Port Corporation, which was originally formed in 1971 and restructured in 1981 to manage the international container wharves and domestic ferry terminals in the Port of Osaka. The corporation operates and manages the Osaka Port Container Terminals, the Osaka Nanko Ferry Terminal, and the Osaka-Nanko Kamome Ferry Terminal.

The city owns almost 70% of the Port of Osaka's Port Transport System Company Limited. The company administers parking, warehouses, and intermodal terminals in the Port of Osaka. The World Trade Center Building (Osaka), Incorporated is almost completely owned by the city, and it was established to facilitate international trade and information exchange.

The city owns 25% of the Osaka Waterfront Development Company Limited which was established in 1988 to develop the Tempozan area in the Port of Osaka. The main faculties under its care are the Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium and the Tempozan Harbor Village.

The Port of Osaka supports a base of some 21 million consumers and plays a vital role in the country's economy. The Port of Osaka is linked directly to its huge hinterland by a complex system of roads and railways. With a central location in Japan and proximity to the Kansai International Airport, the Port of Osaka is a distribution hub for much of the country.

In 2010, the Port of Osaka handled a total of 85.3 million tons of cargo, including 35.12million tons of foreign trade and 50.1 million tons of domestic trade. Almost all of the foreign trade was containerized cargo (30.3 million tons).

In 2004, the Port of Osaka served almost 25.5 thousand vessels including 5901 ocean-going vessels and 19.6 thousand coastal vessels (including 2762 ferries). That year, cargoes handled in the Port of Osaka totaled 118.2 million gross tons and included 76.4 million gross tons of foreign trade and 41.8 million gross tons of domestic trade.

Foreign trade of 35.1 million tons in the Port of Osaka in 2010 included 10.1 million tons of exports and 25.1 million tons of imports, including containerized exports of 7.7 million tons and containerized imports of 22.5 million tons. Domestic trade of 50.1 million tons in the Port of Osaka 2010 included 21.8 million tons of outgoing cargo and 28.3 million tons of incoming cargo, including outbound ferry cargoes of 17 million tons and inbound ferry cargoes of 18.2 million tons.

In 2010, Port of Osaka 2004 foreign trade exports of ten million tons were dominated by metallic machine parts (5.1 million tons) and industrial chemicals (two million tons). Other foreign exports included light industry products (over 634.6 thousand tons), miscellaneous industrial products (530.9 thousand tons), agricultural produce (45.5 thousand tons), metallic products (20.8 thousand tons), and forestry products (6.5 thousand tons). Most foreign exports through the Port of Osaka were shipped to Asia (8.8 million tons), primarily to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea. Foreign exports of 861 thousand tons went to North America. Other areas receiving exports from the Port of Osaka were Australia, Europe, South America, and Africa.

In 2010, foreign imports through the Port of Osaka of almost 25.1 million tons were dominated by miscellaneous industrial products (7.8 million tons) and metallic machine parts (7.9 million tons). Other foreign imports included metallic products (809.5 thousand tons), light industrial products (2.2 million tons), industrial chemicals (2.8 million tons), agricultural produce (over 1.8 million tons), and forestry products (634.8 thousand tons) as well as almost 1.1 million tons of other cargoes. Port of Osaka foreign imports were dominated by goods from China (13.1 million), and other imports in volumes over one million tons came from Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

The Port of Osaka covers 4.7 thousand hectares within the harbor limits and 1.9 hectares of waterfront area. Reclaimed land areas of 1860 hectares include 220 hectares in the Hokko North District (Maishima), 391 hectares in the Hokko South District (Yumeshima), 1045 hectares in the Nanko District (Sakishima), and 204 hectares in the New Island District stage one area. The Port of Osaka contains 181 berths with minimum depth of 5.5 meters including 70 berths dedicated to foreign trade (with 13 container berths) and 111 berths dedicated to domestic trade (with 9 ferry berths).

• Container terminals

In the Port of Osaka's Nanko District (Sakishima), containerized cargoes are handled at six public berths and five exclusive container berths. For the most part, these Port of Osaka berths serve international container vessels traveling to/from Southeast Asia, China, and Australia. They are also the container distribution base for the Port of Osaka.

The Nanko International Container Center and the Osaka Port Integrated Cargo Center work together to support shippers and ensure the efficient operations of the Port of Osaka distribution center. The Nanko International Container Center covers a total area of 7.4 hectares and includes 3.9 hectares of transit shed and a five hectares of marshaling yard. Covering 8.5 hectares in two buildings, the Osaka Port Integrated Cargo Distribution Center is a state-of-the-art facility with capacity to respond quickly to changes in materials, cargo volumes, and distribution routes.

Exclusive-use container wharf facilities in the Port of Osaka's Nanko District are managed by the Osaka Port Corporation. They include four 350-meter (1148 feet) berths with alongside depth of 13.5 meters (44.3 feet) that can accommodate vessels to 40 thousand gross tons and one 350-meter long berth with alongside depth of 14 meters (44.3 feet) that can accommodate vessels of 45 thousand gross tons. These Port of Osaka facilities include container yards of a total 56 hectares and container freight stations of a total 37.4 thousand square meters. Served by 12 gantry cranes, the berths offer 1277 outlets for reefers.

Nanko District Berths C-6 and C-7 in the Port of Osaka are each 300 meters long with alongside depth of 12 meters and can accommodate vessels to 60 thousand gross tons. Handling vessels to 45 thousand gross tons, Berth C9 is 350 meters long with alongside depth of 13 meters. Port of Osaka Berth C-9 includes 112.2 thousand square meters of container yards and 154 reefer outlets, and it is served by two 40-ton gantry cranes. The Port of Osaka's Berths R-2, -3, and -4 offer 143 reefer outlets and 116.4 thousand square meters of container yards. Berths C-6 and C-7 have 96 reefer outlets and offer 120 thousand square meters of container yards.

The Port of Osaka's Hokko South District (Yumeshima) container terminals the deep-berth container terminals with a total of 1350 meters (4429 feet) of wharves with depths from 12 to 16

Meters (39.4 to 52.5 feet). The Yumemai Bridge and Yumeshima Tunnel connect these Port of Osaka container terminals to the unloading and cargo-concentration areas in the Port of Osaka.

The Port of Osaka's Yumeshima Berths C-10 and C-11 in the Port of Osaka's Hokko South container terminals are each 350 meters long with alongside depth of 15 meters. Berth C-10 serves routes to/from Southeast Asia and China, while Berth C-11 serves routes to/from Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean region, and North America. Berths C-10 through C-12 have container yards totaling 55 hectares and have a total of 858 reefer outlets. These Port of Osaka berths are equipped with eight gantry cranes.

The Maishima Wharf and Liner Wharf in the Port of Osaka's Hokko North District handle imports and international container services. The Maishima Wharf is home to the Import Produce Center and also handles imports of automobiles and construction machinery. The Port of Osaka Maishima Wharf contains three berths of a total 720 meters (2362 feet) in length with alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4), each of which can accommodate vessels to 20 thousand gross tons. The Port of Osaka's Maishima Wharf contains 4.6 acres of warehouse and a total of 8.3 hectares of yards.

The Port of Osaka Liner Wharf in the Hokko North District is dedicated to international containerized cargoes. It has seven berths with a total length of 1560 meters (5118 feet) and alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), each of which can accommodate container vessels up to 15 thousand DWT. Berths L-1, -2, and -3 are each 200 meters (656.2 feet) long. Berths L-4 and L-5 are each 250 meters long, and each of them has a 6.9 thousand square meter transit shed. Berth L-4 has an 8.3 thousand square meter warehouse that is also used by Berth L-5. Berths L-6 and L-7 are each 230 meters long and can accommodate vessels to 15 thousand DWT. In total, the Liner Wharf has almost five hectares of warehouse space, and there is a 7500-ton silo at Berth L-3.

• Bulk and breakbulk terminals

The Port of Osaka contains 124 berths with depths of 5.5 meters and above that are a total of 18.1 kilometers long that handle non-containerized cargoes and are administered by the municipal government. These Port of Osaka facilities include 64 municipal sheds covering more than 20 hectares, six private sheds covering over five acres, and 59 hectares of private warehouses.

Wharfs #5 and #8 in the Port of Osaka handle cement cargoes. With three berths handling vessels from 500 to 600 thousand gross tons, Wharf #5 is 394 meters (1292 feet) long with alongside depth of 9 meters (29.5 feet). It also has over 5 thousand square meters (53.8 thousand square feet) of municipal sheds and almost 2.5 acres of private warehouses. Port of Osaka Wharf #8 has 3 berths totaling 336 meters (1102 feet) in length with alongside depth of 7.5 (24.6 feet) meters that handle vessels from 1000 to 3000 gross tons, and it has 5.6 thousand square meters (60.3 thousand square feet) of municipal sheds.

Handling cement and chemicals, the Umemachi West Wharf in the Port of Osaka has six berths totaling 720 meters (2362 feet) in length. Two of the berths have alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), handle 30 thousand gross ton vessels, and have almost 3 thousand square meters (32.3 thousand square feet) of municipal sheds and 12.3 acres of private warehouses. Two berths with alongside depth of 10-10.5 meters (32.8 to 34.4 feet) can handle vessels of 20 thousand gross tons, and two berths with alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4 feet) handle vessels of 10 thousand gross tons.

The Port of Osaka Ajikawa Wharf #3 specializes in handling only chemicals. It is 178 meters (584 feet) long with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), and its berth accommodates one 10-thousand gross ton vessel. The Wharf contains 3.4 thousand square meters (36.6 thousand square feet) of municipal sheds, 3.1 acres of private sheds, and 3.7 thousand square meters (39.8 thousand square feet) of private warehouse.

The Port of Osaka Hokko Wharf specializes in coke and nonmetallic minerals is 284 meters (932 feet) long, and it has two berths with alongside depths 7.5 and 10 meters (24.6 and 32.8 feet) that can accommodate vessels to five- and three-thousand gross tons.

The Port of Osaka's R Wharf, handling both containers and bulk cargoes, has five berths totaling 1035 meters (3396 feet) with depths from 10 to 12 meters (32.8 to 39.4 feet) that can accommodate vessels from 10- to 20-thousand gross tons. The R Wharf also has a 22-acre private warehouse.

The A Wharf in the Port of Osaka contains eight berths with a total length of 1040 meters (3412 feet) and alongside depth of 7.5 meters (24.6 feet). These general cargo berths can each handle vessels of three thousand gross tons, and they include 2.3 acres of municipal sheds and 5.4 thousand square meters (58.1 thousand square feet) of private warehouse.

The Port of Osaka's Tuneyoshi Wharf specializes in handling sand and gravel. It is 360 meters (1181 feet) long with alongside depth of 5.5 meters (18 feet), and it contains four berths with capacity for one thousand gross ton vessels.

The J Wharf in the Port of Osaka specializes in lumber and marine produce. With three berths with capacity for vessels of 20 thousand gross tons and a total of 720 meters (2362 feet) of berthing space with alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4 feet), the J Wharf has a 12.6 hectares of private warehouse.

Three Ajikawa Piers in the Port of Osaka handle paper and pulpwood cargoes. With a 1.7 thousand square meter municipal shed, the North Wharf is 482 meters (1581 feet) long and 5.5 meters (18 feet) deep and can handle 1.7 thousand gross ton vessels. The West Wharf is 120 meters (394 feet) long with alongside depth of 5.5 meters (18 feet) and can handle vessels from 500 to one thousand gross tons.

The Port of Osaka's Ajikawa Pier South Wharf, which also handles general cargoes, is 312 meters (1024 feet) long with depths from 5.5 to 6.5 meters (18 to 21.3 feet), can accommodate vessels from one- to two-thousand gross tons, and has a 1.5 acre municipal warehouse.

The Port of Osaka's K Wharf handles paper and wood pulp and transport vehicles. The K Wharf is 370 meters (1214 feet) long and has two berths with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet) that can accommodate vessels of 10 thousand gross tons. It also has a 1.4 acre municipal shed.

The Port of Osaka's Ajikawa Wharf #2 has two berths of 360 meters (1181 feet) in length and alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet) that handle paper, wood pulp, and steel. The two berths can accommodate vessels of eight- and ten-thousand gross tons. This Port of Osaka wharf has 1.9 acres of municipal sheds and 1.9 acres of private warehouses.

The Hokko Shiratsu Wharf in the Port of Osaka handles paper, wood pulp, and produce. The Wharf has an 2.8 acre municipal shed and a 4.6 acre private warehouse. Three of the berths total 720 meters (2362 feet) in length, have alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4 feet), and can handle vessels of 20 thousand gross tons. Three berths have a total length of 390 meters (1279 feet) with alongside depth of 7.5 meters (24.9 feet) and can handle vessels of three thousand gross tons.

The Ajikawa Wharf #1 in the Port of Osaka, at 320 meters (1050 feet) long with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), specializes in handling produce. The berth can accommodate vessels to 10 thousand gross tons, and the wharf has a 2 acre municipal shed and a 1.3 acre private warehouse. Handling wheat cargoes, the Osaka Port Silo Wharf is 210 meters (689 feet) long with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet) and can handle vessels of 13 thousand gross tons.

Eight wharves containing 33 berths with a total length of 3642 meters (12 thousand feet) and alongside depths from 5.5 to 10 meters (18 to 32.8 feet) handle steel materials in the Port of Osaka. The wharves range in length from 720 to 270 meters (2362 to 886 feet) long and can handle vessels of from one thousand to ten thousand gross tons. These Port of Osaka wharves have a total of 5.7 hectares of municipal sheds, 2.2 acres of private sheds, and ten hectares of private warehouses. The Port of Osaka facilities include Wharf #1, Wharf #3, Wharf #7, Wharf #10, Wharf #11, Taisho Pier 1 No. Wharf, D Wharf, and I Wharf.

Other wharves handle steel materials as well as other cargoes in the Port of Osaka. The Sekrajima Wharf has three berths that handle steel materials and recycled materials. It is 535 meters (1755 feet) long alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), and it has three berths that can accommodate vessels of seven- and ten-thousand gross tons. These berths include a 1.4 acre municipal shed and a 2.4 acre private warehouse.

Wharf #6 in the Port of Osaka handles steel materials and rice. Its two berths are a total 359 meters (1178 feet) long with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), and they can accommodate vessels to 10 thousand gross tons. These Wharf #6 berths have 2.5 acres of municipal sheds and 2.3 acres of private warehouse.

The Port of Osaka's G Wharf handles steel materials and general cargo. Its eight berths total 720 meters (2362 feet) in length with alongside depth of 5.5 meters (18 feet), and they can handle vessels of one thousand gross tons. The G Wharf has 2.1 acres of municipal sheds.

Wharf #2 in the Port of Osaka handles steel materials and sugar. Its two berths are a total 341 meters (1119 feet) long with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet), and they handle vessels of ten- and five-thousand gross tons. Port of Osaka Wharf #2 has 2.1 acres of municipal sheds. The Port of Osaka's Central Pier North Wharf also handles steel materials and sugar. It is 210 meters (689 feet) long with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet), and its one berth handles vessels to 13 thousand gross tons. It also has a 1.2 acre municipal shed.

The Port of Osaka's Umemachi Wharf has three berths specializing in raw salt and non-ferrous ore. They total 395 meters (1296 feet) in length with have alongside depths of 10 and 10.5 meters (32.8 and 34.4 feet) and can handle vessels to ten thousand gross tons. The Umemachi Wharf in the Port of Osaka has 11.9 hectares of private warehouse.

In addition to the wharves and piers in the Port of Osaka that are administered by the municipal government, 14 wharves with depths of 5.5 meters (18 feet) and above are operated by private companies. The Tatsumi Ajikawa Wharf, operated by Tatsumi Shokai, handles cement and chemicals at a 119-meter (390-foot) long berth with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet) that can handle vessels to 19 thousand gross tons.

The Osaka Gas Company Limited handles chemicals at five berths with a total length of 595 meters (1952 feet) with alongside depths from 6 to 7 meters (19.7 to 23 feet) that can accommodate vessels from 3300 to 3500 tons. They also operate two wharves that handle industrial products. The Osaka Gas West Pier is 64 meters (210 feet) long with alongside depth of 5 meters (16.4 feet), and its two berths can accommodate vessels of 2300 gross tons. The Osaka Gas East Wharf has three berths of 220 meters (722 feet) long with alongside depth of 7 meters (23 feet) that can handle vessels of five thousand gross tons.

Six privately-operated wharves in the Port of Osaka handle iron and steel products. These wharves are operated by Sumitomo Corporation, Century Service Co., Ltd., Tatsumi Shokai, Hanwa Co., Ltd., Osaka Steel Port Corporative Association. Ranging from 50 to 1000 meters (164 to 3281 feet) in length with alongside depths from 5.5 to 7 meters (18 to 23 feet), the wharves have a total of nine berths and 11.8 hectares of private warehouses.

The Port of Osaka's Nakayama Steel East Wharf and Nakayama Steel West Wharf handle iron ore and iron and steel. The East Wharf is 367 meters (1204 feet) long with alongside depth of 9 meters (29.5 feet), and it has two berths that can handle vessels of seven thousand gross tons. The West Wharf is 260 meters (853 feet) long with alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4 feet), and its berth can accommodate vessels of 25 thousand gross tons.

The Sumitomo Corporation's Nanko Wharf in the Port of Osaka handles lumber at a berth that is 318 meters (1043 feet) long with alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4 feet), and it can handle 30 thousand gross ton vessels.

The Port of Osaka's Kuribayashi Steamship Nanko Wharf specializes in paper, wood pulp, and assembled vehicles. The wharf has one 208-meter (682 feet) long berth with alongside depth of 12 meters (30.4 feet), and it can accommodate vessels of 30 thousand gross tons.

• Ro/Ro terminals

The Port of Osaka's E Wharf has seven berths specializing in handling assembled vehicles, and it is 821 meters (2694 feet) long with depths of 5.5 and 7.5 meters (18 and 24.6 feet). The E Wharf also contains 1.7 acres of municipal sheds.

• Cruise terminals

The Port of Osaka's Tempozan Passenger Terminal, located at the mouth of the Ajikawa River, hosts several cruise vessels each year. Several amusement parks and recreation facilities and the Tempozan Harbor Village are located at the Tempozan waterfront area.

The Tempozan Wharves in the Port of Osaka are a total 580 meters (1903 feet) long with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). The Passenger Terminal and passenger gangway serve berths W-3 and W-5. The small Tempozan passenger liner terminal in the Port of Osaka is served by two wharves. Tempozan West Wharf is 196 meters (643 feet) long with alongside depth of 3 meters (9.8 feet) and serves the Thalassa Corporation and the Port of Osaka Aqua-bus. Tempozan East Wharf is 110 meters (360.9 feet) long with alongside depth of 4 meters (13.1 feet), and it serves the Goto Sangyo Kisen Company Limited's routes from the Port of Osaka to Shodoshima and Kobe.

The Port of Osaka's Tempozan Wharf is also the location for services to the general public including shuttle boats to the Universal Studios Japan, cruise ships touring Osaka Bay, and high-speed boats providing access to the Shodoshima area from the East Wharf.

In the Port of Osaka Nanko District, the International Ferry Terminal is located in the northern Sakishima Cosmosquare District. The terminal operates twice-weekly ferry services to the Port of Shanghai and thrice-weekly services to the Port of Busan in Korea. This Port of Osaka ferry terminal is a hub for international trade and exchange in the Port of Osaka. The two berths at the International Ferry Terminal are a total 450 meters (1476 feet) long with alongside depth of 10 meters (32.8 feet). Berth KF-1 serves the Shanghai route, and Berth KF-2 serves the Busan route.

With a central location in Japan, the Port of Osaka serves not only the surrounding region but the country as a whole. The Osaka Nanko Ferry Terminal and the Osaka Nanko Kamome Ferry Terminal are among the biggest mid- and long-distance ferry bases in the country, and they serve nine large ferry services destined for ports throughout western Japan. These are the main Port of Osaka terminals serving domestic cargoes, and they can link efficiently with international trade networks as well. Domestic ferry services are operated by seven shipping companies operating from Berths F-1 through F-8 and from Berth B-1.

Also operating from the Port of Osaka's Nanko and Nanko Kamome ferry terminals are routes for roll-on/roll-off and container cargoes to other major ports in Japan. Berths A-3, A-4, A-7, J-4, and K-2 handle roll-on/roll-off cargoes. Berths G-7 and HS-5 handle containers.

• Port services

To ensure safe navigation in the Port of Osaka, the Osaka Japan Coast Guard is responsible for placing and maintaining channel markers, helping vessels that are having problems, and maintaining radar information for vessels using the Port of Osaka.

The Kinki District Transport Bureau supervises and provides guidance to marine transport operators and administers examinations for the various seamen's qualifications and certifications.

The Port of Osaka Quarantine Station operates 24 hours a day to protect against disease. The Port of Osaka Quarantine Station conducts hygiene inspections on ships, surveys sanitary conditions in the harbor, and administers quarantine periods on imported goods. The Port of Osaka branch of the Kobe Plant Quarantine Office is charged with preventing the entry of diseases and pests into the port. The Kobe office inspects all imported plant products including fruit, vegetables, grain, and lumber. The Animal Quarantine Kobe Station inspects and quarantines all animal products and livestock.

The Port of Osaka branch of the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau is responsible for all immigration procedures for ship crews and passengers coming to and leaving the Port of Osaka.

Safety and security are top priorities in the Port of Osaka. The Osaka Water Police Station maintains 24-hour surveillance of the Port of Osaka and targets smuggling in the Osaka Bay area. The Osaka Marine Fire Station has two boats for fire-fighting and three rescue boats that are prepared to respond to fires and other emergencies on a 24-hour a day basis.

The Port of Osaka has two tugboats and three line-handling boats to help vessels arriving and departing the port. Working with private companies, the Port of Osaka provides 24-hour service for navigation help within the port.

The Port of Osaka also provides services to help vessel crews. Facilities include the Osaka International Seamen's Center, the Osaka Port Seamen's Waiting Room, and the Mariners' Inn Osaka (known as the Seagull Hotel). In the Port of Osaka, there are seven welfare centers, 589 apartments, and 24 rest houses for port workers. The Port of Osaka also provides vocational training at the Osaka Prefectural Port Workers' Training Institute, the Port of Osaka Polytechnic Center, and the Osaka Maritime Technique Training Institute. Finally, medical facilities for crew and workers include the Osaka Seamen's Insurance Hospital, the Osaka Health Control Center, and the Osaka Ekisai Hospital.

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