2009/1/24We all make mistakes.
That is why there are systems in place to reduce the likelihood of human error. They include coordinated actions at organizational level and advanced-technology devices. But these fail-safe strategies came up short in the case of a state-of-the-art Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer, a marine accident inquiry pointed out Thursday.
Nearly one year has passed since the MSDF Aegis destroyer Atago rammed a small fishing boat off Chiba Prefecture, killing the two occupants. The Yokohama marine accident tribunal, which investigated the cause of the accident with the aim of preventing similar cases, determined that the Atago was primarily responsible for the Feb. 19, 2008, incident.
We are gratified that the tribunal delved into the organizational problems at the time and recommended that the MSDF 3rd escort flotilla, to which Atago belongs, take steps to enhance safety education. We urge the MSDF to seriously reflect on this unusual recommendation.
Careless conduct on the part of Atago crew members occurred one after another in an appalling manner. They failed to properly monitor the waters in the immediate vicinity of the destroyer where many vessels come and go.
It was this point that the tribunal repeatedly took issue with. In particular, the duty officer in charge at the time of the accident failed to properly grasp the approach of the fishing boat and did not take steps to avert a collision even though the Atago was obliged to do so under the rules of navigation, the tribunal determined.
But of course, the problem does not stop at a single person's carelessness. The tribunal also highlighted other underlying factors.
For example, the duty officer on watch until just before the accident had been informed by a watch keeper nearly 30 minutes previously about the lights of a flotilla of fishing boats. But the officer hastily judged that the boats were moored for hauling in their catches and told the duty officer who took over the watch that there was no danger of a collision.
Furthermore, the crew member in the Combat Information Center who was in a position to assist the duty officer was busy with another task and paid no attention to the movement of the flotilla on the radar screen. As a result, the crew also failed to compensate for the duty officer's error in judgment. Had this crew member bothered to verify the situation, the accident may have been averted.
On any vessel, every crew member is required to cooperate with the other hands on board to ensure safe navigation. Clearly, the crew members of the Atago slighted this basic rule of conduct. Properly speaking, crew members are supposed to cover for one another. But as it turned out, no one did.
At the inquiry, officials on the Atago side said they were re-examining safety measures in the wake of the accident. Since the tribunal issued a recommendation to the MSDF division, we believe they should reconsider whether the measures are sufficient. The MSDF should once again reflect on each point of the accident and implement measures to prevent a recurrence. That is the responsibility of the organization that caused the accident.
"It is very regrettable that the SDF, which should protect the lives and assets of citizens, caused such an accident," the white paper on defense stated with reference to the collision between the Atago and the Seitoku Maru.
Unless the SDF changes its mind-set to ensure there is no recurrence of similar tragedies, the family of the victims cannot be at peace. Nor can the SDF win public trust.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 23(IHT/Asahi: January 24,2009)
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