Analysis of Maritime Casualties around Japan Related to Weather and Sea States-III : Quantitative analysis of characteristics in Sea Areas

Abstract

Many maritime casualties occur in sea areas around Japan every year, and the loss of the human life and economy and the damage to the natural environment are so huge. In this report their relating weather and sea states are focused on and the quantitative characteristics of casualties in each sea area are examined based on the data for 20 years from 1980 to 1999 constructed from the judgment records of Japan Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency from 1980 to 2002. The sea around Japan is divided into 10 sea areas according to the characteristics of casualties and the geography. In the coastal sea around Hokkaido Island, the northern and central coastal seas of the North Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea, many casualties were caused by poor and restricted visibility by fog. In the northern coastal sea of the Sea of Japan, many casualties were caused by strong wind, and in the southern coastal sea, many casualties were done by the high wave. In Seto Inland Sea and the western coastal sea of Kyushu Island, the percentage of casualties by ocean and tidal currents was higher than the other areas. In the northern and central coastal seas of the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland sea, the percentages of casualties by cargo and tanker ships were high. In the southern coastal sea of the Sea of Japan, the percentage of the casualties by pleasure boats were higher than the other areas.