Photo/Illutration The Kazu I tour boat, which sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula on April 23, is lifted to the sea surface off the town of Shari in Hokkaido on May 26. Fourteen people aboard the boat died, and the remaining 12 remain unaccounted for. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

A transport ministry expert panel has released an interim report on proposed measures to improve the safety of tour boats following a deadly accident off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.

Investigators have uncovered the ministry’s failure to oversee the operator and detect its slipshod operations, which resulted in the sinking of the Kazu I tour boat on April 23.

The ministry is called upon to implement the proposed steps rapidly and rigorously with a keen sense of responsibility to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

On the day of the accident, the operator decided to allow the boat to venture out even though the weather was expected to become rough.

In addition, the radio antenna at the company office as well as the satellite phone were broken, and the cellphone, a backup means of communication, was out of the service range along most of the planned route.

The ministry bureau conducted a special inspection of the company after it was involved in two accidents last year, but the operator failed to keep the boat’s logbook properly.

The ministry’s emergency safety inspections of tour boat operators around the nation found a total of 346 cases of noncompliance at 162 businesses. The figures are simply surprising.

The finding indicates that the latest case should not be seen as a freakish accident caused by an atypical operator. It is necessary to raise the entire industry’s standards.

The expert panel also raised questions about the government’s inspection system and the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework.

Of the 47 proposed steps, 16 will be taken in the current fiscal year. They include enhancing oversight through unannounced inspections and remote technology, setting up a point of contact to accept reports on violations and publishing records of administrative directions issued to operators.

The report also says 31 steps that require revisions to laws and regulations should be implemented as soon as possible. They include a renewal requirement for business licenses, a provision of imprisonment for security order violations and qualification requirements for a skipper.

All these proposals make sense. But there are concerns about whether they can be implemented as planned.

One issue, which was also cited by experts, is manpower shortages in the government and the ship inspection organization.

Efforts should be made to improve operational efficiency and review manpower assignments, but increasing staff numbers and budgetary allocations where necessary will still be required. Since this is a matter of passenger safety, there should be no room for cutting corners.

Another concern is the fact that many boat operators are small businesses and have also been hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In line with the panel’s recommendations, boats operating in areas with low water temperatures will be required to be equipped with an emergency life raft, which costs hundreds of thousands of yen.

It is vital to bolster support measures, such as a loan program, to help cash-strapped operators comply with the requirement.

The expert panel will continue discussions to compile a final report by the end of the year.

We hope it will come up with effective and convincing proposals based on the latest scientific knowledge and information as well as the realities of the industry.

For the panel to accomplish its mission, it is crucial to clarify all the facts about the accident off the Shiretoko Peninsula.

The Japan Transport Safety Board and Japan Coast Guard need to accelerate their efforts to identify the causes of the accident without sacrificing the accuracy of their investigations.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 17

Related News