Japanese warship damaged in collision after fleet review

A Japanese warship collided with a cargo ship off southern Japan last week, injuring three crew members and starting fires on both vessels. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Kurama and the South Korean container vessel Carina Star collided in the Kanmon Strait, some 500 miles southwest of Tokyo. The fire and damage appears to have been more extensive on the JS Kurama.  Fortunately there were no serious injuries or deaths on either vessels.  Minor injuries were reported for several crew members on the JS Kurama.

The collision occurred just following a massive naval fleet review, in which the JS Kurama participated in and served as the flagship.

An official representing the commercial container vessel explained that the vessel collided with the destroyer on Tuesday evening after turning to the left to pass another ship traveling in the same direction.

Coast guard investigators are using automatic identification systems that were installed on both vessels to examine the paths of the vessels and their speeds at the time of the collision.

Defense Ministry and other officials said it was a rule for vessels passing through the Kanmon Strait between the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu to keep to the right. The Kurama, which was heading west, was on the Yamaguchi Prefecture (Honshu) side of the strait and the Carina Star was on the Kitakyushu side. However, coast guard officials said the collision occurred on the Yamaguchi Prefecture side, and a freighter was traveling in front of the container ship.

For some interesting photos of the resulting damage, follow these links:

JS Kurama / Japan vs Carina Star / South Korea

The Daily Mail (UK)