Chinhae, ROK
35?08'N 128?38'E
The Port of Chinhae is located in Chinhae Harbor on the southeast coast of the Republic of Korea. The Port is approximately 22 nmi west of much larger and busier port of Pusan. In addition to being the site of the United States Navy command of Commander Fleet Activities (COMFLEACTS), Chinhae is also the principal Naval Base of the Republic of Korea (ROK) fleet.

Fleet Activities, Chinhae comprising approximately 84 acres, is adjacent to the Republic of Korea Naval Base, Chinhae, Korea. CNFK DET & NAVCOMM DET are located on the adjacent ROK Base approximately 1 kilometer away. Chinhae is a port city with a population 130,000, located in the province of Kyong Sang Nam Do on the southeast coast of Korea.

NAVCOMM Det Chinhae, Korea was officially established in October 1995. The detachment of approx. 30 personnel is currently headed by ENS Steve Irvine as Officer in Charge and ETC(SW) Mike Holley as the Assistant Officer in Charge. The mission of the detachment is to provide incoming and outgoing message services to both mobile and ashore units of Commander in Chief Republic of Korea Fleet, Commander Naval Forces Korea, Commander Seventh Fleet , and all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps commands within the Republic of Korea. This includes the upkeep and proper operations of all facilities, equipment and circuitry. NAVCOMM Det Chinhae is located in South Korea, 30 miles west of Pusan on the Republic of Korea Navy base. NTCC Chinhae is the newest member of NAVCOMTELSTA Far East and was established in 1995. It continues in its long tradition of providing valuable communications support to Commander, U.S. Forces Korea; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, the Republic of Korea Navy and transiting units. In addition, with the transition to Message Distribution Terminals (MDTs) and GATEGUARD, it brings the Republic of Korea improved state-of-the-art communications support.

The primary mission of COMFLEACT Chinhae is to maintain and operate facilities, to provide services and materials in support of tenant shore activities and units of the Operating Forces of the US Navy, and to perform such other functions or tasks as maybe directed by higher authority. The mission includes the responsibility to serve as an effective instrument of US foreign policy, by initiating and continuing action programs which promote positive relations between the command and foreign nationals; and assisting individual Naval personnel and their family members to work effectively, live with dignity and satisfaction, and function as positive representatives of the Navy and of the United States while overseas.

Fleet Activities, Chinhae had its origin as a US Naval Advisory Group in 1946. This Command was subsequently established as a detachment of the Naval Component of the US Naval Advisory Group for the Republic of Korea. Upon reorganization in July 1969, the Command became the first Fleet Detachment, Naval Station, JUSMAG-K. In 1972, the Command was reorganized as the Chinhae Facility. US Naval Forces Korea and Fleet Detachment, Naval Section, JUSMAG-K broke out to become a tenant activity. The activity, renamed in 1972 as Field Logistics Center, Chinhae, was disestablished in 1988. Chinhae Facility was reorganized as Commander, US Naval Forces, Korea Detachment, Chinhae in 1978. Reorganization in 1984 established Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae with Commander, US Naval Forces, Detachment Chinhae as a tenant activity.

Command, Fleet Activities, Chinhae provides Morale, Welfare and Recreation services to the military through weekend trips to Osan, Pusan, Taegu, and other recreational points of interest; provides discounts for numerous recreational activities throughout Korea; provides television and VCR rental, as well as camcorders, camping gear, and bicycles. In addition, there is a base library, chapel, a small commissary and exchange, a gymnasium, and a bowling alley. The base has a DODDS school for the first through sixth grades. Children in grades 7-12 are bussed to U.S. military schools in Pusan. Movies are shown twice weekly at Robinson Center and are free for the entire family. Three clubs on base offer formal and informal dining, and Duffy's Club provides general entertainment including stateside bands, karaoke, and bingo several nights a month. Medical facilities are limited, as there is only a branch clinic. The nearest hospital is the 121st General Hospital in Seoul, 250 miles to the north. The local Korean residents are very friendly and helpful. Base housing is furnished and all the BEQ/BOQ facilities have been recently renovated.

Co-located with the largest Korean Navy base, Fleet Activities Chinhae is the only US Navy installation in the country. Outside the gates, the city of Chinhae is growing rapidly as more than 130,000 residents work to support the Korean Navy shipyard and growing industrial enterprises. The base and the city overlook a bay dotted with islands and surrounded by pine-studded mountains.

The harbor is entered from the southeast through Gadeog Channel. The channel varies in width from 2,600 yd at its seaward entrance to 1,000 yd where it splits just north of Koje Do (Island). The channel is reported to be difficult to navigate in strong winds due to shoal water between Pu Do and Kureisser Cho (Rock). Because of the shoal water, large ships (28 ft draft) enter the harbor through a relatively narrow passage between Kureisser Cho and a promontory just to the west-northwest. When using this passage, there is a danger of being forced onto the rocks of the promontory during periods of strong northerly flow. Therefore, local port authorities recommend that large vessels not try to enter the port during strong northerly winds.

The harbor has several piers and quays that are used by the ROK Navy. The ROK Navy is also the coordinating authority for pier usage at the port. When U. S. Navy surface vessels visit the port and do not anchor, they are usually assigned to berth at Pier 9. Only the south 700 ft of Pier 9 is considered usable by local U. S. Navy authorities because of suspected shoal water (depths less than 13 ft (4 m)) about 800 ft from the south end of the pier.

Submarines moor to the pier on Somo Do. Some surface ships have also moored at Somo Do, and noted greater alongside depths than Pier 9. Only one vessel of any type can be accommodated at Somo Do at any one time because nesting is not permitted. As of September 1993, the ROK Navy was constructing a submarine base in Chinhae Harbor. Extensive filling has been completed on the north, east, and south sides of Somo Do. Because of the filling, Somo Do is in reality no longer an island; it is now connected to the mainland. When construction is completed, the new submarine facility should afford excellent protection to moored submarines from winds and seas from southeast clockwise through west. In addition to its protected location, the design of the facility is unique because the builders have erected two wind fences to protect the submarine piers from strong winds. One, oriented east-west on the western half of the newly constructed breakwater is located just south of the piers. The other is oriented north-northwest to south-southeast near the west end of the piers. It is located across the filled area between Somo Do and what used to be (before filling connected it to Somo Do) the small island of Song Do to the south. Each fence is estimated to be 32-38 ft (10-12 m) high, and is constructed of steel vertical supports and fixed, horizontal, sturdy, fiberglass panels. The panels are mounted venetian blind-style so that any wind impacting the fences from south through west will be deflected upward before reaching the piers. Although southerly through westerly winds will undoubtedly reach the pier area, the horizontal wind force should be significantly diminished by the deflecting effect of the wind fences.

Several anchorages are available in the harbor. The designated nuclear anchorage for U. S. Navy ships is now bisected by the long, east-west breakwater that was constructed just south of the new ROK submarine base. The anchorage now has portions north and south of the breakwater. By OPNAV instruction, the designated anchorage is the only anchorage nuclear ships may use. Due to the restricted size of the southern segment, nuclear ships are now limited to using the northern section. However, a potentially hazardous situation exists for ships using the northern section in northerly wind situations. If anchor dragging occurred, the ship would be forced toward the breakwater. Consequently, local port authorities recommend that ships not use the anchorage if a tropical cyclone is forecast to pass east of the port and bring northerly winds to the port area.

The bottom of the northern portion is mud with good holding in water depths of 29.5 to 36 ft (9 to 11 m). The bottom type and holding quality of the southern section is unspecified, but water depths range from 38 to 41 ft (11.5 to 12.5 m).

Several mooring buoys are located in the anchorages. The largest buoys in the northern part are secured to 10-ton concrete blocks as well as having an anchor line attached to a navy anchor. The smaller buoys have 6-ton blocks, also with an anchor line. Local personnel state that the safest buoys for small ships to use are buoys 5 and 8. According to local personnel the buoys were moved during the ROK Submarine Base construction. Consequently, buoy positions marked on harbor charts may not be accurate.

A large anchorage is located in the southern portion of Chinhae Harbor. A total of 18 anchorage positions, designated Y-1 through Y-18, are identified. Large U. S. Navy vessels are usually assigned to positions Y-1 or Y-2. A second large anchorage, is located in the southeast part of Chinhae Harbor, and is normally used by ROK Navy vessels. A total of 20 anchorage positions, designated Z-2 through Z-21, are identified. Tidal range is normally about 6 ft, with a 7-ft extreme tide occasionally observed. Currents in the harbor are minimal.

Piers at Chinhae are in good repair. A total of seven non-floodable Yokohama fenders are available for use by U. S. Navy ships: four with diameters of 4.9 ft (1.5 m) and three with diameters of 8.2 ft (2.5 m). In addition, two vertical, rubber fenders are available for use by submarines at the Somo Do pier. Each is 25 ft (7.6 m) long, with 8 ft (2.4 m) extending above the water surface. The harbor has two dry docks, neither of which is used by US Navy ships. In addition, one 50-ton and two 30-ton floating cranes, as well as 15- and 20-ton mobile cranes are available for service to visiting ships. Tug boats are available, but operate out of Masan. Advance notice of requirements at Chinhae is necessary because it is a 40-minute run from Masan to Chinhae. Pilotage is mandatory in Chinhae Harbor.

USTRANSCOM tested the ROK's capability to transport munitions filled containers to various bases with two TURBO CADS (TC) worldwide munitions movement exercises. Primarily as a result of USTRANSCOM sponsored exercises, some infrastructure improvements to the system have been effected. The most important improvement was the refit of the ROK's Chinhae port facility. Completed in April 1998, this successful modernization effort lowered the pier draft thus enabling large container ships to dock and off-load. The pier was equipped with a state-of-the-art off-load capability complete with a permanent ISO gantry system, a land-based ISO handling portable crane, four truck lanes, and two railroad lines. These improvements, along with the latest 45 ton overhead handlers allow the port facility to off-load 15 twenty-foot equivalent units an hour. For example, it now takes just over three days to download an APF ship carrying 1,103 ISO containers loaded with USAF air- to-ground munitions.25 This capability, in conjunction with its remote location, makes Chinhae the ROK's only sited port capable of rapidly transloading explosive-filled ISOs from a container ship directly to railcars or trucks. Although air transport constitutes another option for intermodal transfers from ships docking at the Chinhae port, the closest military runway is two hours away at Taegu AB. Relocating the ISOs to Taegu AB would still involve transfer by rail or truck and therefore air transport is not feasible. This is the primary reason that there are no plans to airlift APF ammunition in ISOs to USAF bases directly from Chinhae.

Korea's second largest island, Kojedo, lies just south of Chinhae and is an hour-and-a-half ferry ride away. Once a POW camp during the Korean War, the island now hosts a thriving fishing and shipbuilding industry, along with first-class beaches and resorts.

The city of Chinhae is located in the province of Kyongsang Nam Do, on the southeast coast of South Korea. Chinhae is a small city with a population estimated at 130,000. It is essentially residential with a growing downtown area. The city is primarily supported by the Korean Naval personnel and their families or people working for the ROK Navy shipyard and base facilities. There is a large chemical fertilizer plant, and a petrochemical plastics plant at the far end of the city. Chinhae is two hours from Seoul via air/ground transportation, and six hours by train. It occupies one of the most attractive areas in South Korea. The city fronts on a sheltered, island-studded bay, and is almost completely surrounded by mountains covered with pine trees. The city is especially noted for its beautiful cherry trees, which when blossoming in the spring, brings tourists from all over the peninsula for a festival.

The landscape of the Republic of Korea, or South Korea, varies from the rugged Taebaek Mountains running the length of the eastern coast to the gentle slopes and plains of the west and south. Located on the southeast tip of the Korean peninsula, Fleet Activities Chinhae is only a short distance from the bustling marketplaces which make up the islands urban center of Pusan and minutes away from the beaches of the Southern Coast. In fact, by American standards anywhere in South Korea is a short distance away. Seoul, the nation s capital, is only seven hours by car.