On Monday a submarine of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force collided with a ship bulk carrier of Hong Kong not far from the island of Shikoku, in the south of Japan, in the Pacific Ocean, reporting more serious damage than was initially found. Part of the submarine’s command tower, 84 meters long, was destroyed, and the system that allows you to control the depth of diving and the communication systems, including the antennas, were also damaged: for this reason, the accident was was communicated over three hours late to the prefecture of Ashizuri – in the south of the island – and via mobile phone.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi he said that the submarine was unable to avoid the collision despite the ship being seen through the periscope during the surfacing phase and that the ministry will work with Maritime Force and Coast Guard officials to clarify the circumstances of the incident. Three crew members of the submarine were slightly injured in the collision, which was taken to the port of Kobe near Osaka on Tuesday. The bulk carrier, on which there were about twenty crew members, was not damaged.
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