The Port of Kushiro is located in northeast of Japan.
The President of Port Authority is Mayor of Kushiro City.
Originally it was called "Kusuribasyo", the lord of Matsumae clan dispatched ships to trade with Ainu in the Tokugawa Shougunate, about 370 years ago.
It was officially opened in 1899 and designed as a major port in 1951, the port celebrated the 100th anniversary of its opening in 1999.
After the budget for the renovation of Kushiro Port was approved by the Imperial Diet in 1909, full-scale improvement work began in the East Port.
The construction of West Port began in 1969, and at present, improvement work up to the 3rd wharf has been completed.
We established sister port relationship with the Port of Seward in 1982 and the Port of New Orleans in 1984.
In the same year we also participated in The International Association of Ports and Harbors.
The Port has been taking an important part in this district as an international port.
The east port, which opening long ago, has been undergoing waterfront redevelopment under the "Fisherman's Wharf" project, which was launched before any similar projects elsewhere in the country.
Annual cargo volume handled at Kushiro Port has been increasing in proportion to progress in port facility improvement programs, the volume exceeded 23 million tons in 1997.
To deal with ever-increasing cargo volume and vessel size, Kushiro Port is implementing facility improvement programs whose target year is 2008.
Deeper quay walls and new wharves designed for 50000-ton cargo vessels will be construct for speeder, lower cost service to help local businesses grow further.