Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Hayashio-Maru

On May 20, deepwater divers officially concluded a two-day search operation inside the ill-fated tour boat 'Kazu I', which sank off the coast of Hokkaido on April 23, leaving 12 individuals unaccounted for. The divers, deployed from the barge 'Kaishin', employed advanced saturation diving techniques, allowing them to acclimate to the high water pressure encountered at significant depths, yet unfortunately, no trace of the missing persons was located during their efforts. In response to the ongoing situation, Japan's transport ministry is poised to commence salvage operations for the 19-ton vessel as early as May 21. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard continues to conduct aerial and maritime searches of the surrounding waters, while local police have intensified their search efforts over land, focusing on areas to the south of the peninsula. In a development that has heightened concerns, a body—potentially one of the missing individuals—was discovered along the shore of Kunashiri Island, which is under Russian control but claimed by Japan. Russian officials communicated with Japan's Foreign Ministry regarding the discovery on May 19. Notably, this incident marks the second occurrence of an unidentified deceased person washing ashore on Kunashiri Island since the tragic sinking, with another woman's body having been found there on May 6. As rescue and recovery operations continue in this tragic scenario, the hope remains that more answers will be uncovered in the days ahead.

On May 19, the 'Hayashio Maru', accompanied by a specialized workboat, initiated a search mission involving deepwater divers at the site of the ill-fated tour boat 'Kazu 1'. The tragic incident, which took place off Hokkaido, resulted in 14 confirmed fatalities, with 12 individuals still unaccounted for. The divers aim to complete their search efforts by May 20. In addition to locating the missing, the team is set to assess the feasibility of raising the 19-ton vessel, which disappeared on April 23 while carrying 26 individuals—including 24 passengers and two crew members—during a sightseeing journey along the Shiretoko Peninsula. The vessel is currently located approximately 120 meters beneath the surface. This marks the first time divers have participated in surveying the 'Kazu 1', following previous attempts with an underwater drone that unfortunately did not reveal any signs of the missing individuals. It is particularly noted that the tour boat made a distress call shortly before vanishing after departing from Utoro port in Shari, even with adverse weather forecasts in place.

aquaThe 'Hayashio Maru' arrived in Arashiri with a crane vessel, equipped with divers who are specially trained for deep-sea operations, to commence a critical search inside the sunken tour boat 'Kazu I'. This tragic incident, which occurred off the Shiretoko Peninsula, has resulted in the loss of 14 lives, with 12 individuals still unaccounted for. Scheduled to depart from Abashiri port on the afternoon of May 18, the divers are set to initiate their underwater search within the 19-ton vessel, resting about 120 meters beneath the surface, beginning as early as May 19. Previous efforts utilizing underwater drones have not yielded any findings, heightening the urgency for skilled divers to take action. The divers will employ a specialized technique called saturation diving, which involves breathing a mixture of oxygen and helium to acclimatize their bodies to the immense water pressure at such depths. Meanwhile, Japan Coast Guard boats persist in their sea search for the missing persons, and police efforts are intensifying in regions south of the peninsula. On April 23, the tour boat 'Kazu I', carrying 24 passengers and two crew members, issued a distress call after departing from Utoro port in Shari, aiming for a scenic tour amid forecasts of inclement weather. For ongoing updates, please follow our coverage, including photos at https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/05/d48eb96e63e3-deepwater-divers-prepare-for-search-inside-sunken-hokkaido-tour-boat.html.