5 Indonesian Fishermen Return Safely After Ship Accident in Ibaraki, Japan
TOKYO – In a fortunate turn of events, the ship accident involving a sardine fishing vessel in Japan on Monday (6/1/2025) did not result in any casualties among the Indonesian trainees on board. The five fishermen have safely returned to the Otsu Fisheries Cooperative in Kita City, Ibaraki, where they began their work.
Rescue Efforts and Press Conference
Following the maritime accident where the seine fishing vessel overturned off the coast of Kashima Port in Ibaraki Prefecture, executives of the Otsu Fisheries Cooperative held a press conference at the Choshi Fishing Port in Chiba Prefecture later that day (6/1/2025). Noriho Suzuki, the Chairman of the Otsu Fisheries Cooperative Association, expressed relief that all crew members, including the Indonesian trainees, were safe.
“We have many experienced crew members who are skilled fishermen,” Suzuki stated during the press briefing. While declining to comment on the specific cause of the accident, he emphasized the cooperative’s commitment to safety and training.
Details of the Accident
The 80-ton sardine fishing vessel, Ohama Maru No. 8, capsized with 20 crew members on board, including five Indonesian nationals. The vessel departed from the Otsu Fishing Port around midnight on January 5th or early morning on January 6th, beginning its first round of purse seine fishing operations at night. The accident occurred during the second operation, which commenced after midnight on January 5th until the early hours of January 6th.
The cooperative received reports of the accident around 2 am on January 6, 2025. The Japanese crew members who were rescued were accommodated overnight at a hotel in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, on January 6, 2025.
Search and Recovery Efforts
Yoshinori Sakamoto, the executive director of the fisheries cooperative, mentioned that while the exact cause of the accident was still under investigation with the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), efforts were underway to locate three missing Japanese fishermen. Tragically, two Japanese fishermen lost their lives in the incident.
Sakamoto highlighted the challenging conditions at sea, with multiple fishing vessels operating in the same area and a significant haul of over 300 tons of fish. Despite the tragedy, the fishing community rallied together, exemplified by the successful auction of a record-breaking bluefin tuna at the Toyosu Market in Tokyo, showcasing the resilience and camaraderie of fishermen in times of adversity.
In conclusion, the safe return of the Indonesian fishermen after the ship accident in Ibaraki, Japan, serves as a reminder of the risks faced by those in the fishing industry and the importance of safety measures and training to prevent such incidents in the future.
