Major Incidents Related to Maritime Safety (July 1999-July 2000)
The Special Rescue Team has Saved a Total of 1,000 People and Been Mobilized a Total of 2,000 Times (August and October 1999)
When the cargo ship, KOSHIN MARU caught fire at sea off the shore of Nojimasaki, Chiba Prefecture on 5 August 1999, the Special Rescue Team lifted five crew members to safety. As such, the total number of people rescued by the Special Rescue Team broke through the 1,000 person mark since its inauguration in 1975. In addition, the Special Rescue Team has now been mobilized a total of 2000 times.
Implementation of Joint Japan-Republic of Korea Rescue and Oil Cleanup Training (October 1999)
On 6 October 1999, joint rescue and oil cleanup training was carried out for the first time between the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the Korea National Maritime Police Agency (Republic of Korea) in the Tsushima Straits.
Exposure of a Spate of Large-Scale Stimulant and Firearms Smuggling Crimes (October 1999-April 2000)
In October 1999 on the Kurose Coast, Kasasacho, Kagoshima Prefecture, JCG arrested five crew members from a Taiwanese fishing boat for violating the Stimulants Control Law as they attempted to smuggle approximately 564.6kg of stimulants (record amount confiscated) from their boat in an inflatable raft. Furthermore, in February 2000, JCG exposed a crime in Yunotsu Port, Shimane Prefecture in which approximately 249.3kg of stimulants were smuggled concealed in 38 foam polystyrene boxes in a recreational fishing boat. In March 2000 also, JCG uncovered a crime in which approximately 201.4kg of stimulants were smuggled onto Miyakojima Island, Okinawa Prefecture using a Belizean cargo ship.
