# The Future Direction of Maritime Traffic Safety Measures - From the Ninth Fundamental Traffic Safety Program

## 1 Basic Concept

If even a single maritime accident occurs, there is not only high risk of a loss of human lives, but also it is likely to have an immeasurable impact on Japan's economic activities and natural environment. Therefore, from the perspective of ensuring the safety of the entire maritime traffic, with the collaboration and cooperation of all parties concerned, it is necessary to promote comprehensive and systematic safety measures, encompassing both intangible and tangible sides. In addition, in the event of an accident we should carry out search and rescue operations promptly and properly to save the lives of people on board.

## 2 Objectives

To reduce the number of marine vessels accidents occurring in Japan (excluding those by foreign vessels not calling at Japan) by approximately 10% (or below 2,220 vessels) by 2015, in comparison to the annual average of the Eighth Program period (2,473 vessels).

To prevent the occurrence of large-scale maritime accidents in the "congested waters," which cause significant social impact, such as a large number of casualties or routes obstruction, and bring the number of the occurrence of those accidents to zero.

## 3 Measures

### 1. Viewpoints

Subsequently, the government continues to promote various measures to prevent maritime accidents, while promoting the coordination and cooperation of the parties concerned, including the improvement and enhancement of the systems for prompt and proper lifesaving, particularly for small vessel marine accidents associated with many personal injuries in coastal waters. In addition, if the marine accident occurs, the preventive measures based on the analysis organization of various aspects of the accident, such as the elements of the cause of the marine accident, the place of occurrence, the type and size of the concerned ship and etc., along with the detailed preventive measures will be considered.

### 2. Measures to be taken

## 1 ) Improving the maritime traffic environment

To ensure safer and smoother movements of vessels and safety in ports and harbors, facing the increasing size and speed of marine vessels, the increasingly diverse use of marine environments, and the growing complexity of maritime traffic, the government will promote improvements to waterways, ports and harbors, fishing harbors and aids to navigation, along with improving the safety-related information and the system to provide information using IT.

## 2 ) Disseminating knowledge on maritime safety

To improve maritime traffic safety, it is necessary to raise awareness about prevention of maritime accidents, not only among people involved in marine-related affairs, but also to marine leisure devotees and each member of the nation. In recognition of this point, the government will make use of a wide range of opportunities to promote awareness of maritime accident prevention.

## 3 ) Securing safe vessel navigation

By maintaining and improving the knowledge and skills of people involved in marine affairs, and to establish a system for improved operational safety, the greater marine transport safety in terms of vessel operation is attained. For this, the government will improve and strengthen appropriate guidance and supervision concerning the improvement of the quality of the crew, pilots, passenger ship operators and domestic carriers, and the improvement of operation management, based on the factor analyses of accidents, while promoting auditing by inspectors for safety management and seafarers labor.

## 4 ) Ensuring vessel safety

In order to ensure vessel safety, the government will work under an international system of cooperation to improve the standards and inspection systems relating to vessel structures, facilities,