Accident Leads To Tougher Checks On Passenger Boats' Communication Systems
Japan's transport ministry plans to strengthen the emergency inspections of passenger boats that are being conducted in the wake of a vessel's sinking. It says it wants to ensure that the boats are capable of communicating with operators on shore.
The tour boat, "KAZU I", sank off the coast of northern Japan's Shiretoko Peninsula on April 23. Of the 26 people on board, 14 have been confirmed dead, and 12 others are missing.
The boat passed a government safety inspection before the incident occurred. The operator of the boat registered a cell phone as a mandatory piece of communications equipment during the inspection. But it has been revealed that the carrier network did not fully cover the cruise's route.
The ministry has suggested that the inspection may have been inadequate.
The ministry says it will confirm that a carrier network fully covers a boat's cruise route, if the vessel registers a cell phone as a mandatory piece of communications equipment.
The ministry will also reportedly require the boats to sail during the inspections, and actually check whether the vessels can properly communicate with operators on the shore.
With regard to the safety of small boats, a government panel is scheduled to meet on Wednesday. The members will discuss ways in which government inspections can be improved.