In January, the Maritime Self-Defense Force announced the results of an investigation into an accident in which an escort vessel landed in shallow water off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The captain did not consider safety considerations when he gave instructions to change the planned route because the test proceeded ahead of schedule, and the command and supervision were inappropriate because he sailed at a maximum speed of about 1 kilometers per hour.
The government will review the education and training of captains, enhance safety surveys when navigating, and add communication methods to ensure that safety information is conveyed.