Kazu I

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140828 Utoro Port Shari Hokkaido Japan02bs3 (cropped).jpg
Kazu I at Utoro Port Shari, Hokkaido, 2014
History
NameKazu I
OperatorShiretoko Pleasure Cruise
Port of registryJapan Hokkaido, Japan
RouteShiretoko Peninsula
FateSank on 23 April 2022 with twenty six people on board
General characteristics
TypeTourist boat
Tonnage19 GRT
Crew2

The Kazu I (Hepburn: kazu wan) was a 19-ton tourist boat operating off the Hokkaido island of Japan, travelling around the Shiretoko Peninsula.[1] The boat was operated by the Shiretoko Pleasure Cruise (知床遊覧船, Shiretoko Yūransen). The Shiretoko Peninsula, designated a natural World Heritage Site in 2005, is a popular destination for observing drift ice and rare animals.[1]

The boat sank on 23 April 2022 with twenty six people on board. Fourteen bodies have been recovered, while twelve still missing with no survivors were found.

Incidents[]

In June 2021 she ran aground in shallow water shortly after leaving port; no one was injured.[2]

Sinking[]

On 13:15 local time Saturday 23 April 2022 the ship went missing with 26 people on board, of which two were crew and two were children. The ship was crewed by a 54 year old captain and a 27 year old deckhand. The crew signaled that the boat was listing at 30 degrees and was about to sink. The crew said all aboard were wearing life jackets, however the water temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius at night. Due to high waves in the area, local fishing boats had decided to return to port.[3] The Japan Coast Guard dispatched five patrol board and two aircraft to search for survivors.[4]

As of 30 April 2022 fourteen people have been confirmed dead, and the rest are missing.[5] On 29 April the wreckage of the boat was found, located on a slope near the Shiretoko Peninsula at a depth of 115–120 meters.[6] On 8 May, a submersible was used to probe the sunken boat in an attempt to locate the bodies of the twelve remaining missing people.[7]

The Kazu I had been advised by another tourism operator not to leave port due to the hazardous sea conditions. It was the first tourist boat to be operated in the Shireteko area, 3 other local tourism ship operators delaying the start of their seasons due to weather. Forecasts at the time of the accident showed high winds and waves reaching as high as 3 meters. The ship also operated alone, breaking a safety agreement with other operators that at least 2 ships should be together at sea. In a press conference Shireteko Pleasure cruise CEO Seiichi Katsurada bowed on the floor and apologized in a press conference on 28 April, stating "We caused a disastrous accident, and I’m very sorry."[8] He admitted that the main antenna and satellite phone on deck were known to be inoperable prior to the disaster. Katsurada stated he had approved the trip as he considered that the captain could utilize a cellphone and other boat operators could assist as well.[9] His actions attracted condemnation from both former Shireteko Pleasure cruise employees and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Tetsuo Saito calling his conduct "unthinkable."[10][11]

On 2 May 2022, the Japanese coast guard raided the offices of the tour boat operator as part of a criminal investigation into the sinking.[12] On 11 May 2022 the Hokkaido Joint Communications Bureau announced it was investigating the operators of the Kazu I over their use of amateur HAM transmissions for communicating with ships at sea. Enterprise use of amateur radio frequencies is illegal in Japan.[13][14] The practice reportedly started as a cost-cutting measure as expensive satellite calls were billed to individual crew members.

In late June Russia found two bodies on Kunashir Island,[15] and then another additional body on the south coast of Sakhalin,[16] of likely victims from Kazu I.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ten confirmed dead after tour boat with 26 goes missing off Hokkaido". The Japan Times. April 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Fate of passengers unknown as Japan Coast Guard searches for tour boat off Hokkaido". japantimes. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Japan: Ten confirmed dead from missing tourist boat". BBC News. April 24, 2022.
  4. ^ Cooney, Christy (April 24, 2022). "Nine people found from tour boat that went missing in rough waters off Japan". the Guardian.
  5. ^ "3 More Confirmed Dead after Hokkaido Tour Boat Accident". 28 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Japan Coast Guard searches sunken tour boat off Hokkaido". 30 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Submersible used for 1st time in search for boat victims". THE ASAHI SHIMBUN. 8 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Operator of sunken Japanese tour boat had previous accidents". Associated Press. 27 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Operator of sunken Japanese tour boat apologizes as company is investigated". The Associated Press. 28 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Editorial: Hokkaido tour boat operator's news conference unveils lack of safety awareness". The Mainichi. 29 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Operator of missing Hokkaido boat apologizes for 'wrong judgment'". The Mainichi. 27 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Investigators raid Japan boat company's office after sinking". Channel News Asia. 2 May 2022.
  13. ^ "アマチュア無線使用で聞き取りへ 観光船沈没事故". 11 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Operator of sunken Hokkaido tour boat used cost-cutting ham radio: sources". The Mainichi. 10 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Sources: Russia likely identifies 2 bodies from sunken Kazu I | the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis".
  16. ^ "Body with 'Kazu' life jacket found along southern coast of Sakhalin | the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis".

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