In the accident where a tour boat sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, there were multiple blanks in the past radio communication record book about this ship kept by the operating company, and wireless communication was not properly performed from before. Interviews with the people concerned revealed that there was suspicion.
The Japan Coast Guard Headquarters is also believed to have seized this record book in previous searches, and is proceeding with an investigation to see if sloppy flight management has become a norm by voluntarily asking the president of the operating company about the situation.
On the 23rd of last month, 14 passengers were killed and 12 people are still missing in the accident where the sightseeing boat "KAZU 1" (19 tons) carrying 26 passengers and crew sank off the coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula.
According to the operating standards established by the operating company "Shiretoko Tour Boat" based on the law, tourist boats must inform the office of the passing time and weather conditions each time they reach a fixed point on the navigation route. However, Seiichi Katsura, the president of the company, explained to the passengers' families that he had left the office to go to the hospital on the day of the accident and was not in contact with the ship due to problems with the radio.
Multiple blanks in the record book of past wireless communication
However, according to the people concerned, there are multiple blanks in the past radio communication record book about "KAZU 1" kept by the company, and it is suspected that they have not properly communicated with the ship from before. about it.
Initially, the operating company submitted only the record of the ship other than the one that caused the accident at the family briefing, and the family members who attended raised questions and disclosed the record book of "KAZU 1" again. When I asked for, it means that a blank and conspicuous record was shown.
It seems that the 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, which is investigating on suspicion of accidental fatalities in business, has also seized this record book by searching, and sloppy flight management has become normal by listening to the situation voluntarily from President Katsura. We are investigating whether it was there.
Refrain from operating small sightseeing boats Extended until the end of this month
The Shiretoko Small Tour Boat Council, which is created by a company that operates small tour boats in Utoro, Shari Town, has decided to extend the self-restraint of operations following this accident until the end of this month.
After the accident, the "Shiretoko Small Tour Boat Council", which is made up of four companies including the sunken sightseeing boat operator "Shiretoko Tour Boat", decided to refrain from operating until the 8th of this month during the large consecutive holidays, but it is safe. We decided to extend our self-restraint until the end of this month because we needed to review the system.
As a concrete system, the council envisions that when operating a sightseeing boat, multiple boats will depart and help each other in the event of a problem, and discussions will be repeated during the self-restraint period.
The council said, "We take the marine accidents caused by member companies very seriously. We need to work together to create an environment where people can board the ship with peace of mind, and we would like to operate when we have consulted with related organizations and are convinced." I have commented.