
The Kaishin multipurpose work barge arrives at Abashiri Port, Abashiri, Hokkaido, on Tuesday.
15:50 JST, May 17, 2022
ABASHIRI, Hokkaido — A multipurpose work barge carrying specialist equipment and divers tasked with reaching the sunken Kazu I sightseeing boat arrived at Abashiri Port, in Hokkaido, on Tuesday.
The new phase in the search for 12 people who remain missing after the Kazu I sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula on April 23, will begin Thursday, during which the sunken vessel will be examined and assessed for possible raising.
Fourteen of the 26 people who were aboard the Kazu I have been confirmed dead.
Workers carrying large metal cases boarded the Kaishin work barge and the Hayashio Maru — a salvage tug that arrived in tandem with the barge — to prepare for the underwater search. A large crane on board the Kaishin shifted containers onto the shore.
As yet, there has been no confirmation of damage to the hull of the Kazu I, which sank about 1 kilometer off the Shiretoko Peninsula and presently sits at a depth of about 115 meters.
The search will be carried out using saturation diving, which will entail the divers living in a special pressurized environment to become accustomed to the pressure they will experience when at the same depth as the stricken boat. They will then head to the search site about 80 kilometers to the northeast on Wednesday evening.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Over 300 Earthquakes Rumble in Sea Off Japan’s Kagoshima Pref. Islands, Putting Residents on Alert
-
Typhoon Sepat Forms near Ogasawara Islands
-
M5.1 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture Islands
-
46-year-old Man Killed by Bear in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture; 2nd Man Sustained Minor Injuries
-
22 Mil. Admissions Needed for Osaka-Kansai Expo to Be Profitable, Organizer Says; Average of 130,000 Visitors Necessary Per Day
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
Japan’s Agriculture Ministry Starts Survey of Rice Farmers Across Japan on Production Outlook
-
Japan Eyes Hosting Major International Standards Conference in 2029; Govt Making Plans to Host IEC Event in Yokohama
-
Tariff-Free Rice to Be Auctioned Off 3 Months Early, as Japan Seeks to Tame High Prices for the Staple
-
Agriculture Minister Considers Review of Japan’s Rice Harvest Statistics (UPDATE 1)
-
Japan’s Core Inflation Hits 2-year High, Keeps Rate-Hike Bets Alive