On August 21 as part of the company’s Remember Naka-no-Se Campaign,* NYK conducted a crisis-response drill based on the scenario of a serious accident occurring, in this case, a collision between an NYK owned and operated bulk carrier and a passenger ship in the Tsugaru Strait.

Cooperation among the Maritime Bureau within Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT); 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, Japan Coast Guard; Hakodate Coast Guard Office; Guard and Rescue Department, Japan Coast Guard allowed the related parties to coordinate the training in a practical manner.

Moreover, online tools were used for communication because many related staff members were working remotely as a prevention measure in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Afterward, drill findings were assessed and discussed.

A summary of the drill is provided below.

A collision between a bulk carrier and the passenger ship occurred in the Tsugaru Strait, resulting in a crack on the side of the bulker and causing some of the cargo — i.e., steaming coal — to float out to the sea surface. Moreover, some passengers from the passenger ship were tossed into the ocean.

1) NYK set up a crisis-management headquarters upon receiving an urgent report from the bulker’s ship-management company about the accident. Assuming more than half the related staff members were working remotely as a prevention measure against COVID-19, communication among related staff was basically conducted through online tools.

2) NYK reported information about the accident to MLIT’s Maritime Bureau and 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, Japan Coast Guard.

3) Coordinating with 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, Japan Coast Guard, NYK took measures to ensure the safety of the damaged bulker, as well as ships navigating nearby the bulker, and rescue the passengers that had been tossed into the ocean.

4) NYK made press releases as the situation progressed.

The greatest mission of the NYK Group is to deliver our customers’ goods safety and securely while protecting our entire global environment and biodiversity. NYK continues to work steadily to ensure safe operation on land and at sea.


* Remember Naka-no-Se Campaign
This campaign has been conducted every year to remind NYK Group members of the importance of safe operations and to ensure that lessons remain learnt from the oil spill that occurred in July 1997 from the VLCC Diamond Grace.

During the two-month campaign in 2019, over 300 NYK Group executives and employees visited about 150 vessels to exchange opinions and strengthen safety awareness between onboard crew and offshore staff. This year, visiting vessels has not been possible due to the COVID-19 outbreak, so we have extended the term of the campaign one extra month until the end of September, and we are making contact with as many vessels as in 2019 by utilizing telephone as well as other online tools.