This paper presents a case study of the use of and concerns with deploying small ships to support Kasado Island, Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in July 2018, after a heavy rainfall that isolated the island. Additionally, on July 7, 2018, due to the heavy rainfall, a landslide occurred on Prefectural Road 173 that rendered the only access road unpassable and a part of the island was further isolated. As part of the provision of aid, from July 9, 2018 to July 28, 2018, a marine transport operation was conducted on three routes from Kasado Island to the mainland that transported approximately 31,300 people. Thus, small ships became a valuable means of transportation that supported the rescue of residents, and thus the importance of ships was demonstrated. Information on the primary problems of this marine transport operation was collected through a questionnaire survey conducted with the island’s residents as regards the arrangement of user and health management at the port, problems with the port itself, access to the port, and consideration for unavailable residents.
