Minesweeper, cargo ship collide off Hiroshima

A Japanese warship and a cargo vessel collided in the waters off Hiroshima Prefecture at around midnight local time on Wednesday, June 26.

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) confirmed that no injuries or oil spills have resulted from the collision between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF) minesweeper JS Notojima and the cargo vessel Jeikei 3 in the Seto Inland Sea approximately 1.5 kilometres northeast of Koneshima Island.

Notojima‘s starboard side stern and Jeikei 3‘s port side bow sustained damage in the accident, which the JCG says had occurred despite the calm weather and sea conditions in the area at the time.

The minesweeper has since been towed to a shipyard in Hiroshima Prefecture to allow an inspection of the hull as well as repairs to be conducted.