Japan moves to revamp license of sightseeing boat operator

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Japan moves to revamp license of sightseeing boat operator

The Kazu I pleasure boat in a photo taken by an unmanned submersible provided by 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters Japan s transport ministry is moving toward revoking the license of the operator of a sightseeing boat that sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido in late April with 26 people aboard.

Sources said the process could begin as early as this coming week and would be the stiffest administrative penalty imposed under the maritime transportation law and the first against a pleasure boat company involved in a maritime accident.

Ministry officials cited several examples of insufficient safety measures on the part of Shiretoko Pleasure Boat, operator of the Kazu I boat that sank in stormy weather on April 23 during a coastal tour. Fourteen bodies have been recovered to date, and 12 people are still listed as missing.

A final decision is expected as early as next month, and company representatives will be given an opportunity to explain how and why the tragedy occurred.

Among the safety precautions that Shiretoko Pleasure Boat has flouted are a general rule to cancel any departure from port if there is any chance of waves reaching heights of at least 1 meter.

The obligation of the company president as supervisor of operations to be in the office when a boat is out at sea and the requirement for the ship captain to keep regular contact with the office are also cited by officials.

The radio antenna of the company was broken at the time and the Kazu I was not equipped with a satellite phone because it had also malfunctioned.

The skipper embarked on the trip relying on a mobile phone to stay in touch with the shore, but was out of range most of the time during what was supposed to have been an outing lasting no more than three hours.