## 3 Safety Measures for Maritime Traffic

In the sea areas surrounding Japan, around 2,500 vessels are involved in marine accidents every year. Once a marine accident occurs, not only are precious lives and property lost, but Japan’s economic activities and marine environment may be adversely affected in a major way, requiring the promotion of further safety measures.

## (1) Improving ship safety and ensuring ship navigation safety

## (i) Improving Ship Safety

In order to ensure ship safety globally, the international regulations and standards have been developed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and MLIT has been participating actively in discussions at IMO. In particular, MLIT proposed IMO in 2015 to improve the large containerships' structural safety measures, which were developed by MLIT based on the investigation and analysis of the large containership breakage accident happened in 2013, and that proposal was decided to be reflected to the international unified regulation of classification societies.

Regarding newly established or amended regulations or standards at IMO, in December 2015, MLIT revised relevant domestic regulations, in accordance with the amendments to the Annex of the International Convention for the Safe of Life at Sea (SOLAS): reviewed requirements on the means of escape in machinery spaces, such as door and ladder, and new requirements on fire-extinguishing appliances for ships designed to carry containers on or above weather deck.

In terms of securing compliance with the international regulations and standards of foreign ships which entering into ports in Japan, and eliminating substandard ships globally, Port State Control (PSC) has been conducted by MLIT.

As specifically focused on domestic approach to ensure ship safety, in response to a fire accident on board a ferry off the coast of Tomakomai, Hokkaido, in July 2015, the investigation under the Marine Transportation Act was conducted by MLIT in parallel with the investigations conducted by the Japan Coast Guard and the Japan Transport Safety Board. As the MLIT’s investigation revealed problems in terms of firefighting, the committee to discuss firefighting on board ferry, which consists of experts on fire and firefighting, was established in September 2015. In March 2016, a manual summarizing effective firefighting procedures to reinforce preparations for engaging in firefighting to be undertaken by ferry operators, the features of firefighting equipment, training methods, and other pertinent matters was compiled and publicly released. This manual is currently being used to provide guidance to ferry operators nationwide.

## (ii) Ensuring Ship Navigation Safety

In accordance with the “Law for Ships’ Officers and Boats’ Operators” which complies with the STCW Convention Note $ ^{2} $ , the qualifications for seafarers are defined to ensure ship navigation safety from human factors. In June 2010, the revised STCW Convention (Manila Amendments) with amendments stipulating additional competencies required for seafarers was adopted and publicizing the partial amendments to domestic Ministerial Ordinances came into force in April 2014 is being carried out. In accordance with the Pilotage Act, qualifications for people who can perform pilotage are defined for the safety of vessel traffic. Based on the report of the Basic Policy commission established at the Council of Traffic Policy Maritime Subcommittee, to secure a stable supply of pilots who will be needed in the future, initiatives to facilitate the acquisition of licenses required for the provision of mutual assistance among neighboring small to medium-sized pilotage districts are being carried out.

Investigation and inquiry, in accordance with the Act on Marine Accident Inquiry, are conducted for a marine technician, a small craft operator, or a pilot who causes a marine accident intentionally or negligently in the course of duties and in 2015 there were 347 cases of determinations and a total of 483 marine technicians, small craft operators, or pilots were performed disciplinary actions of suspension of business operation (one to two months) or admonition to prevent the occurrence of marine accidents.