Cause
The capsizing of the Shoei Maru is attributable to the following factors: Owing to the failure of the crew to ensure the stability of the Shoei Maru when it was loaded with a comparatively large load of liquid refined glycerin while in the port of Kobe, ballast was not flooded into the double-bottomed ballast tanks and the appropriate trim by stem was not attached. Moreover, not only did the Shoei Maru leave port without closing its deck store door, it took inappropriate ship maneuvering to avoid collision with another vessel, wrenching its rudder back to the original position in the midst of a turn undertaken at full speed and despite the fact that it was already listing severely in the opposite direction. As well as aggravating the list and dashing water against the upper deck, this action caused the liquid cargo to surge in its tank, destabilizing the vessel.
The fact that the shipyard failed to investigate the cause of the problem when informed by the owner that the vessel made a severe list while in motion was also a contributing factor in this accident.
The fact that the owner of the Shoei Maru failed to press the shipyard to investigate the cause of the problem when informed by the master of the vessel that it made a severe list while in motion, or to take appropriate measures to ensure the stability of the vessel, such as instructing crew members to flood ballast into the ballast tanks, was also a contributing factor in this accident.
Conduct of designated persons concerned in the marine accident
・ Builder of the Shoei Maru
The fact that the company that built the Shoei Maru failed to investigate the cause of the problem when informed by the owner that the vessel made a severe list while in motion was a contributing factor in this accident.
Following the accident, the company took steps to reinforce employee awareness of the importance of vessel stability and to prevent future accidents, including establishing an accident response committee. For this reason, no recommendation was pronounced against the builder of the vessel.
・ Owner of the Shoei Maru
The fact that the company that owns the Shoei Maru failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the vessel's stability - such as insisting on an investigation into the cause of the problem when informed by the master that the vessel made a severe list while in motion and directing crew members to put ballast into the ballast tanks - that was a contributing factor in this accident.
Following the accident, the company ordered the master to ensure the fifth and sixth ballast tanks were full at all times. No recommendation was pronounced against the owner of the vessel.
・ Designer of the Shoei Maru
The conduct of the company that designed the Shoei Maru did not contribute to the accident in question.
