Vessels Collide off Japan, 2 Missing

Padmesh Prabhune

Two crew members from a cargo ship are missing while three others were successfully rescued after the vessel Izumi Maru capsized off Wakayama Prefecture following her collision with another freighter enroute from Osaka to Keelung in Taiwan.

Japanese authorities were searching for two missing crew members from the capsized general cargo ship on Friday last. Jiji Press cited the fifth regional coast guard headquarters in Kobe as saying the five crew members from the stricken ship were aged between 30 and 70. All the three rescued seafarers were sent to hospital and were recovering.

The Izumi Maru was carrying approximately 1,100 tons of scrap metal when it departed from Chiba Prefecture on Wednesday afternoon for Okayama Prefecture. The vessel was in collision with Greek owner Contships’ 1,118-teu feeder container vessel, the Contship Uno (built 2007).

According to the Japan Coast Guard and the ship’s owner, Tokyo-based Izumikaiun, the search continues for the two people who were aboard the Japanese-registered 499-ton Izumi Maru, with one of them being the captain, who is in his 50’s and another colleague in his 60’s.

The accident occurred about 15 kilometers northwest of Hidaka, Wakayama. Visibility in the area was good at the time. Video footage showed divers exploring the area around the partially submerged and upturned hull.

-Marex Media