A deck officer from a cargo ship involved in a collision off the coast of Toba, Mie, has been arrested on charges of negligent homicide and endangerment.
On January 21st, the Toba Coast Guard arrested 21-year-old Hanon Sugimoto, a second deck officer of the cargo ship "Shinseimaru," on suspicion of negligent homicide and endangerment following a tragic collision with a fishing boat, "Kouseimaru," off the coast of Toba City, Mie Prefecture. The incident resulted in two fatalities, with the fishing vessel splitting in two after the crash. The Coast Guard has not yet disclosed Sugimoto's position regarding the charges.
The collision occurred shortly before 1 PM on the 20th when Sugimoto was at the helm of the Shinseimaru, which struck the Kouseimaru that was fishing offshore. The Kouseimaru had 13 individuals on board, including a 66-year-old captain, resulting in the loss of two lives – both men, aged 67 and 84, from Matsusaka City in Mie Prefecture. Additionally, ten other passengers sustained various degrees of injuries, reinforcing the tragic repercussions of the accident.
The location of the collision is reported to be approximately 6.4 kilometers east of the second breakwater lighthouse at Ishikame Port in Toba City. Following the incident, Japan's Transport Safety Board has designated four maritime accident investigators to examine the situation, indicating the seriousness with which authorities are treating this maritime tragedy. Investigators are currently scrutinizing the precise circumstances behind the collision and assessing the responses of both vessels involved.
