Jinhae Naval Base (Chinhae)

Jinhae, also written Chinhae, is the principal naval base of the Republic of Korea Navy. It stands at the head of the promontory separating Haengam Man from Jinhae Hang, on the south-east coast of the Korean peninsula, about 22 nautical miles west of the port of Busan.

The port admits naval vessels only and carries no commercial traffic. The Republic of Korea Navy controls access to the harbour and its facilities and is the coordinating authority for the use of the piers, which are shared with the United States Navy command at Chinhae. Surface ships and submarines lie at separate berths, submarines mooring at the Somo Do piers, where only one boat can be accommodated at a time because nesting is not permitted. The harbour takes vessels drawing up to 7.9 m. Ammunition is handled at its own piers at Taeil-Mal, just inside Haengam Man, to which the Republic of Korea Army controls access. Deep-draught Korean warships sortie from Jinhae and from Busan when a typhoon threatens.