Following the sinking of a tourist ship off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, a national committee was held to consider safety measures for small vessels, and the effectiveness of ship inspections in the country was questioned. We confirmed the direction of changing or abolishing all the methods and introducing inspections based on the characteristics of the region such as cold regions.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has a policy of studying and implementing specific details.

The committee was held for the second time on the 20th, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism presented draft issues and directions for countermeasures on four themes such as national audits and improving the effectiveness of ship inspections, and the committee members discussed them.



Of these, regarding ship inspection, based on the fact that mobile phones with areas where radio waves do not reach were accepted as communication equipment for ships, all current inadequate inspection methods were changed or abolished, and in areas such as cold regions. We confirmed the direction of introducing inspections based on the characteristics.



In addition to introducing an unannounced format for national audits, a written test will be incorporated into the appointment of a "flight manager" who will oversee flight management and safety operations, and the national government will confirm the facts in response to the application from the vendor. It was decided to consider measures to be taken.



The committee members commented that the inspector's authority might be weak, and that a check system by a private institution should be created to supplement the audit, given the limited number of national personnel. , The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is planning to proceed with the examination of specific contents based on these opinions and implement them one by one.



The next meeting will be held on the 27th of this month, and we will continue to consider measures such as strengthening the requirements for life-saving equipment.

The committee considers countermeasures The four themes are

At the committee meeting on the 20th, there

are four themes: ▽


Strengthening checks on ensuring safety when entering the business, ▽


Ideal way of auditing and administrative sanctions,


▽ Improving the effectiveness of ship inspections, ▽ Providing safety information to users.


The measures were examined.

1 Strengthening checks for business entry

In this accident, Seiichi Katsura, president of the Shiretoko Tour Boat, which operates sightseeing boats, was appointed as the "operation manager" who oversees flight management and safety operations, and was notified to the Diet. It has been pointed out in the Diet that the Hokkaido District Transport Bureau received only confirmed the requirements of the flight manager in the submitted document.



As a draft of measures, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism


will introduce a written test that asks flight managers about relevant laws and regulations and knowledge about the sea


, oblige them to take courses,


and submit a certificate at the time of notification. It was shown that the check will be stricter, such as making it mandatory.



The committee members should discuss not only the flight manager but also the safety supervisor and flight management assistant, and even if there is an exemption system for the owner of the marine technology license and the excellent business operator for the test. It means that there was an opinion that it might be good.

2 How audits and administrative sanctions should be

The government conducted a special audit on the operating company in June last year, but the information was not shared between the auditing department and the inspection department, and confirmation after the special audit was not sufficient. It has been pointed out that things have happened.



As a draft of countermeasures, the national government should


obtain information from the inspection department and carry out multifaceted confirmation before the audit, and

continuously


follow up on the matters instructed.


Has indicated that it will introduce an unannounced format.



The committee members said that the government should take a firm look at the audit, and that the number of people in the country is limited, and that a check system by a private institution should be created to complement the audit. is.



In addition, the committee will discuss the ideal form of administrative sanctions in the future.

3 Improving the effectiveness of ship inspection

A national ship inspection conducted three days before the accident revealed that the ship's communication equipment had passed through even though it was a mobile phone with an area where radio waves did not reach, and the country has already passed. We have begun measures to strengthen checks on ship communication equipment, but there may be other items for which confirmation methods are inadequate.



As a draft of countermeasures, the national government has indicated that ship inspections will


be confirmed and all inspection items will be checked and irrational methods will be changed or abolished, and


inspections will be introduced based on the characteristics of the region such as cold regions. rice field.



The committee members commented that they would ensure that the indicated efforts were implemented and that the inspector's authority was weak and should be strengthened.

4 Provision of safety information

Regarding accidents of passenger ship operators, currently only cases where the government has taken administrative sanctions above a certain level, such as cancellation of business, have been announced.



As a draft of measures, the national government


will announce cases where administrative guidance has been given


, extend the publication period from the current 2 years to 5 years,


and improve measures as well as "negative information". It was shown that it will be announced including "positive information" such as whether it is equipped with communication and lifesaving equipment.



The committee members commented that tourist boats that hold many lives should actively provide information, and that the government should publicize the positive efforts of business operators.