Volume2.　Maritime Transport


(1)　Trends in maritime accidents


　　The number of vessels involved in accidents requiring rescue work, excluding cases due to typhoons and unusual weather, is continuing its long standing decline.

　　On the other hand, with the rapid growth in marine recreational activities in recent years, pleasure boats are making up a growing proportion of the vessels requiring rescue due to problems at sea. In 1997, for the first time, more pleasure boats than fishing vessels called for rescue operations. In 1998, pleasure boats accounted for 41.7% of all vessels requiring rescue, the highest proportion on record.

　　The number of fatalities or missing persons resulting from accidents at sea has hovered around the 200 mark over recent years, but in 1998 the figure dropped sharply to 157. (See Fig. 13)

　　With the increasing number of foreign vessels coming to Japan, foreign vessels are making up a growing proportion of vessels requiring rescue. In the category of cargo ships and tankers over 1,000 gross tons each, 81 out of 85 rescue-requiring vessels were foreign.


(2)　Major measures for maritime traffic safety


1)　In addition to promoting the development of breakwaters, waterways, berths and mooring facilities at ports, harbors and fishing ports, the government is also promoting development and improvement of selected waterways, shelter ports, beacons or channel marks.

2)　To strengthen earthquake resistance at ports, harbors and fishing ports, the government is developing earthquake-resistant wharves, emergency bases and transportation facilities.

3)　The government has introduced special regulations for seaways suffering from traffic congestion. As part of this initiative, it is establishing and operating the Maritime Traffic Information System, a unified approach to maritime traffic issues that combines information dissemination and navigation control.

　　The government is also working to develop maritime charts and nautical publications, and to improve weather information and notices to mariners.

4)　As a result of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (the SOLAS treaty), safety management systems on all ships must conform to the International Safety Management (ISM) code. The government is currently revising related national laws in line with the ISM and establishing a maritime safety inspection system.

5)　In response to the revision of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafares (STCW treaty), which aims to improve the quality of ship crews, for example, by making wireless operator qualifications mandatory for navigation officers, the government is revising national laws and making preparations to implement the requirements of the treaty.

6)　In the area of Port State Control (supervision of vessels by the government of ports of call, e.g. conducting on-board inspections of foreign vessels), the government is expanding the scope and detail of its supervisory efforts and deploying more full-time inspectors (foreign vessel inspectors) to strengthen its resources.

Figure 13 Changes in Vessels Requiring Rescue, Fatalities and Missing Persons Notes: 1. Source: Maritime Safety Agency 2. Maritime accidents that occurred in 1983 as a result of an earthquake in the Japan Sea, are not recorded here. 3. Maritime accidents that occurred in 1993 as a result of an earthquake in the Japan Sea south west of Hokkaido, are not recorded here.