Four crew members died after a small inter-island cargo ship struck and capsized a fishing trawler off northern Japan. The incident occurred on 17 March, around 20 km off Misawa Port in Aomori Prefecture, when the cargo vessel MV Suehiro Maru collided with the 140-ton fishing vessel Kofuku Maru No. 65.
The force of the collision caused the fishing vessel to capsize and rapidly sink, leaving all 13 crew members in the water. Rescue efforts began immediately, led by MV Suehiro Maru and nearby fishing vessels.
Nine crew members were rescued without serious injuries, while four others were initially reported missing. Search operations continued through the early morning hours, and the missing seafarers were later located unconscious – one entangled in fishing gear. All four were subsequently pronounced dead.
All crew aboard MV Suehiro Maru were reported safe. The cargo vessel sustained visible damage to its bow, including a large vertical scrape consistent with the collision.
Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear, with winds of about 26 km/h and wave heights near 1 meter. However, the collision occurred during nighttime hours, which may have affected visibility in the busy coastal fishing grounds.
The cargo vessel was reportedly en route between Kimitsu and Tomakomai, operating in an area known for dense fishing activity and coastal traffic.
The Japan Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the collision, including navigation practices, lookout procedures, and traffic conditions in the area.
