Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to Review Diving Ship Safety Measures
Tokyo, April 17, 2025 (JST) – In light of recent incidents and a renewed focus on maritime safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced today the establishment of a “Diving Ship Safety Measures Review Committee.” The committee’s mandate is to formulate comprehensive guidelines for enhancing the safety of diving ships operating in Japanese waters.
The committee’s inaugural meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2025, at 20:00 (JST).
Why the Review?
The initiative comes in response to growing concerns surrounding the safety of diving operations conducted from specialized vessels. While diving itself involves inherent risks, the committee aims to minimize potential hazards associated with the ships themselves, including:
- Structural Integrity: Ensuring the vessels are properly maintained and structurally sound to withstand the demands of repeated diving operations.
- Equipment Maintenance: Establishing standards for the regular inspection and maintenance of critical diving support equipment like compressors, recompression chambers, and communication systems.
- Operational Procedures: Standardizing safe operating procedures for launching and recovering divers, handling equipment, and responding to emergencies.
- Crew Training: Reinforcing the importance of qualified and well-trained crew members capable of safely operating diving ships and providing adequate support to divers.
- Emergency Preparedness: Developing robust emergency response plans in case of accidents, including medical emergencies, equipment failures, and vessel-related incidents.
Committee Composition and Goals
The Review Committee comprises experts from various fields, including:
- Maritime Safety Experts: Individuals with extensive knowledge of maritime regulations, vessel design, and safety protocols.
- Diving Professionals: Experienced commercial divers, diving instructors, and representatives from diving organizations.
- Shipbuilding Engineers: Experts in naval architecture and the construction and maintenance of specialized vessels.
- Government Representatives: Officials from MLIT’s Maritime Bureau and other relevant agencies.
The committee’s primary goals are:
- Analyze Current Regulations: Review existing maritime laws and regulations to identify gaps and areas needing improvement regarding diving ship safety.
- Identify Best Practices: Research and benchmark international best practices for diving ship operation and safety.
- Develop Comprehensive Guidelines: Formulate clear and practical guidelines covering all aspects of diving ship safety, from vessel design and equipment maintenance to operational procedures and crew training.
- Promote Industry Adoption: Work collaboratively with diving ship operators, diving organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure widespread adoption of the new guidelines.
Expected Outcomes
The MLIT anticipates that the establishment of the Diving Ship Safety Measures Review Committee and the subsequent implementation of its guidelines will lead to:
- Reduced Accidents: A significant decrease in the number of accidents and incidents involving diving ships and divers.
- Enhanced Safety Culture: A strengthened safety culture within the diving industry, with a greater emphasis on risk management and prevention.
- Improved Training Standards: Higher standards of training for crew members operating diving ships.
- Increased Public Confidence: Greater public confidence in the safety of diving operations conducted in Japanese waters.
The MLIT is committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the success of this important initiative and to create a safer and more sustainable future for the diving industry in Japan. Further updates and progress reports from the committee will be released periodically.
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-04-17 20:00, ‘The “Diving Ship Safety Measures Review Committee” will be held – Towards formulating guidelines for safety measures for diving ships’ was published according to 国土交通省. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner.
52