An Aegis destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense Force collided with a fishing boat about 40 km south-southwest of Cape Nojima, the southern tip of Chiba Prefecture, early Tuesday morning and split the boat into two. The two fishermen aboard, a father and son, are missing. Investigators are trying to determine what specifically caused the collision. Since the collision happened in waters usually crowded with fishing boats, it is clear that MSDF ships must proceed with extreme caution.
It is ironic that the 7,700-ton Atago, the newest of the MSDF's five Aegis destroyers (commissioned last March) and capable of tracking more than 100 air targets simultaneously, was unable to notice the 7.3-ton, 15-meter-long fishing boat in time to take appropriate evasive action. The Atago, which was on its way back home from anti-air missile firing tests in Hawaii, was traveling through relatively calm waters with visibility of some 20 km. The MSDF should disclose the details surrounding the collision, including what navigation and watch crew members were doing.
The incident has revealed communication delays in the MSDF and the Defense Ministry. Defense chief Shigeru Ishiba learned of the collision about 1 1/2 hours after it occurred. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda issued his first instruction about a half hour later. The ministry should find out why there was a delay at each stage of communication. The collision occurred at 4:07 a.m.; the Atago notified the Japan Coast Guard at 4:23 a.m.; the Maritime Staff Office's operation room was notified at 4:40 a.m.; and Mr. Fukuda's first instruction came at 6:05 a.m.