◆Maya Wharf

(C)PORT OF KOBE

The construction of the Maya Piers was started in 1959 and completed in 1967. The Piers consisted of four piers in a comb shape. Maya Pier No.4 was the first container terminal in Japan. For greater container cargo handling efficiency, redevelopment commenced in 1987 on Pier No.4, and by reclaiming a 9.5 ha area between Piers No.3 and 4, a full scale container terminal was completed in 1991 for public use. Further redevelopment projects are also proceeding by through reclamation. The area between the other three piers (about 18.5ha)was reclaimed using rubble generated by the earthquake transforming it into a modern wharf with a total area of 103ha At the rear of the Wharf is a distribution center for foodstuffs and general merchandise. Accordingly,the Wharf is now developing as a waterfront distribution base with excellent accessibility.

◆Shinko-Higashi Wharf

(C)PORT OF KOBE

The first phase of Shinko Piers (No.1 to No.4) was completed in 1922. Piers No.5 and No.6, constructed in the second phase and completed in 1939, made Kobe Port Japan's leading trade port. Piers No.7 and No.8 were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Pier No.4 which has the Port Terminal, is used for ocean-going passenger ships and international ferry services, and is bustling with domestic and overseas cruise ships. The area between Piers No.5 to No.8(approx. 34.5 ha)was reclaimed according to the redevelopment plan, which aims to construct more modern port facilities. This 96ha area is now called Shinko Higashi Wharf. In addition to enterprises that deal with foodstuffs, a storage facility and auction site for used cars are located at Shinko-Higashi Whaf. PCC can also use the wharf, developit into a new hub for marine transport. The opening of the Minatojima Tunnel(July,1999), together with the completion in the near future of a new access road linking the Wharf to Route2 and Route43, will further improve the accessibility of Shinko Higashi Wharf.

◆Minatojima Tunnel

	Kobe Minatojima Tunnel is an underwater tunnel, which connects Port Island and Shinko-Higashi Wharf. The construction started in 1992 to cope with the increasing volume of traffic from the expansion of Port Island. It was completed at the end of June in 1999,and opened at the end of July.
Gateway on Port Island side

The length is about 1.6km,of which 580m is under the bottom of the sea. The construction was carried out by the submerged method to minimize disturbance to marine transportation. Six submerged caissons were assembled in a dredged area on the sea bottom. The tunnel employs a host of the latest technologies, such the world's first full-sandwich-structured tube. The opening of the Minatojima tunnel further improves access between Port Island and downtown Kobe.

The inside of tunnel

As a pioneering poject to revitalize the urban area of Kobe,the Eastern Water Redevelopment project is now being carried out. This project covers an extensive area of about 120ha in Chuo-ku and Nada-ku. The closing down of large plants and other industrial facilities in the waterfront area have produced about 75ha of idle land, which is now under redevelopment as part of the port improvement and land readjustment project. This area already accommodates municipally-owned housing for earthquake victims, schools, the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, and various other cultural and educational facilities, as well as international and research facilities such as WHO Kobe Center and the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution.
The waterfront area has a 2.4km harbor walk and other relaxing faciliies which make this area popular among citizens. It also serves as a disaster mitigation center for the harbor area providing space for rescue materials distribution and evacuation in case of emergency.
In march 1988, the New Metropolis in the Eastern Part of Kobe(HAT Kobe) was officially opened and various facilities such as a green area, a landing pier, and a harbor road, successively began service. In May 2001,Nagisa Park(about 4.4ha) was opened to the public as a symbol of Kobe.　

(C)PORT OF KOBE

◆Osaka Bay Phenix Project
(Kobe Offshore Reclamation Disposal site)

　The Kinki region is one of the most densely populated and industrialized areas in Japan and its dynamic human and industrial activities have inevitably led to increased waste generation. While local governments in this region are working hard to reduce waste and recycle,there still remains a huge amount of waste that needs to be disposed of somewhere. As a solution to this waste problem, we have been carrying out the Osaka Bay Phoenix Project for some time. This project aims to reclaim the sea and build permanent offshore final disposal sites for waste extensively collected from various parts of the Kinki region. The reclaimed land is also used to supplement and enhance port functions.As the first phase of the project, waste disposal sites were operated off the shores of Amagasaki and Izumiotsu. But as the capacity of these controlled land fill sites reached their limit, the second-phase of the project was launched to reclaim the sea off the shore of Kobe, at the southern part of Rokko Island. The bank protection work in this Kobe landfill site had already been completed and the waste collected from the 195 municipalities in the six prefectures in the Kinki region was deposited here from December 21,2001. This landfill site has since contributed much to the preservation of the local living enviroment through proper waste treatment.