Salvaged Hokkaido Tour Boat To Be Open To Passengers' Families
Families of passengers on a tour boat that sank off Hokkaido will be allowed to see the raised vessel on Wednesday afternoon.
The KAZU I, carrying 26 people, sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido on April 23. Fourteen passengers have been confirmed dead and the remaining 12 are still missing.
The boat was salvaged and brought to Abashiri Port on a barge in the northern prefecture.
Work to unload the vessel began shortly after 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
After offering a silent prayer to the vessel, workers raised the boat using a crane. A trailer will carry the boat to a nearby site.
Passengers' families will be allowed to visit the site and offer flowers in the afternoon.
Japan Coast Guard and others stepped up the search for the missing for three days until Tuesday. Over 80 ships, including fishing boats and about 20 aircraft were deployed for the operation. But they were unable to find any clues.
The coast guard will decide on the future approach of search efforts by studying the latest operation.