SHIPPING company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) conducted a full-day crisis-response drill on Sept. 30 to prepare for potential maritime accidents in the Seto Inland Sea, simulating a vessel grounding and fuel oil spill off Kagawa Prefecture.
The exercise was held as part of the company’s annual “Beyond Naka-no-Se” safety campaign. The scenario involved a 300-meter bulk carrier of approximately 100,000 gross tons — owned and operated by NYK and managed by group company NYK Bulkship Partners Co. Ltd. — that suffered a steering failure, ran aground in shallow waters and ruptured a fuel oil tank.
Participants executed initial emergency response procedures, arranged oil spill containment and recovery operations, and coordinated with government and industry authorities. External participants included representatives from the Maritime Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters; and the Japanese Shipowners’ Association.
As part of the drill, NYK established an accident response headquarters, issued sequential mock press releases and hosted a simulated news conference. Managing Executive Officers Nobuaki Sumida and Katsuhiko Haruna served as spokespersons during the press event.
The “Beyond Naka-no-Se” campaign expands on NYK’s long-running safety initiatives established after the 1997 Diamond Grace crude oil spill in Tokyo Bay. The annual program combines full-scale crisis simulation exercises with vessel visits and safety awareness activities across the company’s operations.