Gravel Freighter Captain Arrested After Fatal Yacht Collision in Oita

On the night of August 13th, the Oita Coast Guard Office apprehended the captain of a gravel freighter following a fatal collision with a yacht near an island in Oita Prefecture, southwest Japan. The captain, 28-year-old Yuki Mochizuki, a resident of Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, was the operator of the 492-ton Sada Maru No. 38. He was arrested on suspicion of professional negligence, endangering traffic, and causing a death.

Mochizuki is accused of colliding with the yacht around 8:15 a.m. on August 13th, approximately 2 kilometers northeast of Hoto Island in Tsukumi. The impact caused the yacht to sink, resulting in the death of Makoto Yamamoto, a 70-year-old doctor from Oita City who was aboard the yacht. The local coast guard reported that visibility was poor at the time of the incident. They allege that Mochizuki failed to take necessary precautions to prevent the accident, such as stopping his vessel. The coast guard has not released information on whether Mochizuki has admitted to the allegations.

Yamamoto was discovered in cardiopulmonary arrest around 10 a.m., approximately 4 kilometers northwest of Hoto Island, about two hours after the collision. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. According to the coast guard, Yamamoto was sailing alone and had departed from a port in Saiki that morning.

Shigeharu Takeo, the 75-year-old captain of a passenger ship that connects Tsukumi Port and Hoto Island, stated that fog frequently blankets the area, sometimes reducing visibility to just a few dozen meters. The area is also known for heavy cargo ship traffic due to a local cement factory, necessitating heightened caution in foggy conditions. Upon learning of the accident, Takeo expressed that he had never heard of a collision between ships in his nearly 50 years of sailing the route. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety.

Initially, there were reports suggesting multiple people were on the yacht, leading to continued search operations by the coast guard and others even after Yamamoto was found. Debris believed to be from the yacht was discovered nearby, and it is believed to have sunk.

In response to the accident, a representative from the Oita Sailing Federation emphasized the importance of all vessels checking their surroundings while sailing and avoiding departures in poor visibility. They also stated their intention to review the emergency contact structure.