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BackPleasure boat sailing with 1.7 times the capacity? Chartered for junior high school field trip - Japan Coast Guard investigates, interviews with captain - off the coast of Nagasaki and Iki Island
Pleasure boat sailing with 1.7 times the capacity? Chartered for junior high school field trip - Japan Coast Guard investigates, interviews with captain - off the coast of Nagasaki and Iki Island
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時事通信4 hours agoCrime3 min readJapanView original

Pleasure boat sailing with 1.7 times the capacity? Chartered for junior high school field trip - Japan Coast Guard investigates, interviews with captain - off the coast of Nagasaki and Iki Island

Sailing with more than 80 people on board compared to the capacity of 48 people, possible violation of the Ship Safety Act

pleasure boatOver capacityschool trip

Quick Look

  • In October, it was discovered that a chartered pleasure boat carrying junior high school students on a school trip was sailing off the coast of Iki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, with more than 80 people on board, compared to its capacity of 48 people.
  • The 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters is voluntarily questioning the ship's captain and others regarding possible violations of the Ship Safety Act.
  • There were no injuries to the students.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

In March, a boat carrying students from Doshisha Kokusai High School capsized off the coast of Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of two girls and two others. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has issued a notice requesting thorough measures to ensure safety.

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In October, off the coast of Iki Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, a chartered pleasure boat carrying junior high school students on a school trip was at one point sailing with about 1.7 times its capacity, according to interviews with people involved. The 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters is voluntarily questioning the ship's captain and others with a view to possible violations of the Ship Safety Act.

Doshisha Chairman ``Heartfelt Apology'' Seven and a half months after the accident, apologizes at first press conference - Henoko overturns

Regarding extracurricular activities, an accident occurred in March off the coast of Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, when a boat carrying students from Doshisha Kokusai High School on a study trip capsized, killing two girls and two others. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has issued a notice requesting thorough measures to ensure safety.

According to officials, those under investigation include the captain of the 17-ton excursion boat Emerald Iki, which tours the uninhabited island of Tatsunoshima and is operated by Iki Island's Katsumoto Town Fisheries Cooperative. In mid-October, it was chartered and carried third-year junior high school students and teachers from Hiroshima City, heading for Tatsunoshima Island, about 2 kilometers northwest of Katsumoto Port in the northern part of Iki Island.

While staying on Tatsunoshima, another guest who had arrived earlier complained of not feeling well, so the captain allowed him to board the chartered boat. However, other passengers boarded the ship one after another, and in the end, the ship departed with over 80 people on board, out of a capacity of 48 passengers.

The ship returned safely to port, and no students were injured.

Boarding the sightseeing boat was part of the group's itinerary and was arranged by major travel agency Nippon Travel (Tokyo), which was commissioned by the school. The company's tour conductor was accompanying another group that day and was not on board.

The 7th Bureau began an investigation earlier this month based on a tip.

In response to an interview, a representative from the Katsumoto Town Fisheries Association said, ``It is true that the vessel operated with overcapacity, but we are currently undergoing an investigation by the Japan Coast Guard, so we cannot discuss the details.'' The school said, ``We will refrain from commenting as the relevant organizations are investigating,'' and Nippon Travel said, ``It is true that we handled the school trip, but we cannot provide details.''

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters sends documents to the captain and others

    Likely · Within weeks

  • The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and related local governments will review safety standards for using pleasure boats on school trips.

    Possible · Within months

Open Questions

  • Will the captain and others be referred to prosecutors as a result of the voluntary interview by the Japan Coast Guard?
  • Specific causes and responsibility for exceeding capacity
  • How the absence of a tour guide on a trip to Japan affected safety management
  • Whether the school conducts safety checks when arranging excursion boats

Related Topics

pleasure boat
PeoplePerson in charge of Katsumoto Town Fisheries Cooperative Association
Organizations7th Regional Coast Guard HeadquartersKatsumoto Town Fisheries Cooperative AssociationJapan tripMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
PlacesIki IslandKatsumoto PortTatsunoshimaHiroshima city
TopicsOver capacityschool tripJapan Coast GuardShip safety lawIki IslandJapan trip
This article was originally published by 時事通信.

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