## 1 Maritime traffic environment enhancements

## Maintenance of traffic safety facilities

In accordance with the Priority Plan for Social Infrastructure Development, projects have been carried out in improving waterways designated as requiring development or preservation maintaining ports and harbors, and also enhancing the earthquake resistance of ports and harbors. Under the Long-term Development Plan for Fishing Harbors and Fisheries, which was introduced for the first time in fiscal year 2007, infrastructure improvements took place on facilities around fishing harbors in promoting greater safety for fishing vessels.

## 2 Maritime safety campaigns

## ☑ Spreading the principle of prevention

Spreading and raising the awareness of maritime affairs of related parties such as ship operators, marine leisure lovers and all the citizens of Japan is of the utmost importance in preventing maritime accidents from occurring.

Maritime accident prevention seminars are therefore being held through citizens visiting ships and being encouraged study maritime affairs related laws and how to operate vessels safely. From July 16th to 31st in 2008 in particular, a national campaign was launched on a vast scale, which also involved the participation of citizens primarily to raise awareness on the prevention of maritime crashes due to poor lookouts and the mishandling of vessels.

In addition, the Regional Coast Guard Headquarters has been implementing safety campaigns tailored to the characteristics and needs of respective regions, such as in the prevention of accidents resulting from typhoons, accidents during heavy fog seasons, and accidents due to people falling asleep with self-steering systems in operation.

## 3 Ensuring Safe Operation

## Enhancement of safety management inspections

Inspections of passenger and cargo ships are performed on the basis of the Marine Transportation Law and the Coastal Shipping Law. Improvements in the methods of inspection have been improved and the entire system enhanced in accordance with that.

## I mplementation of the transport safety management system

The status with the construction and improvement of the safety management systems of a total of 567 business operators had been evaluated by the end of December 2008. This was carried out by the government implemented "Transport Safety Management System" being introduced in October 2006, and the promotion of the establishment of a unified safety management system from the top management down to site employees in operations.

## 4 Augmentation of safety measures for small vessels, etc

## Promotion of safety measures for pleasure boats

The Japan Coast Guard provides in-depth guidance on the acquisition of meteorological and oceanographic information and complying with the relevant laws and regulations related to maritime affairs through a variety of endeavors that include visiting vessels in ports to provide guidance to their crews, and hosting maritime accident prevention seminars.

The police too likewise engage in a number of water safety efforts that are concentrated on ports and other areas of heavy maritime vessel traffic, popular swimming beaches, and waters frequented by marine leisure sport enthusiasts. Those efforts involve safety guidance being provided from police boats, patrols taking place with support from police aircraft, and collaborations with community and other pertinent organizations. Maritime safety also gets promoted through maintenance of the marine leisure environment activities, safety guidance being made available to marine leisure providers, and by raising the safety awareness of marine leisure users.