NYK Conducts Crisis-Response Drill Simulating Bulk Carrier Grounding And Oil Spill

NYK conducted a drill on September 30 that simulated a response to a major accident in the Seto Island Sea as part of the “Beyond Naka-no-Se” safety campaign.

The full-day exercise simulated a major maritime incident involving a large bulk carrier owned and operated by NYK and managed by NYK Bulkship Partners Co., Ltd. (NBSP), an NYK Group company. In the scenario, the vessel, measuring approximately 300 meters in length and about 100,000 gross tons, runs aground in the Seto Inland Sea, resulting in a fuel oil spill.

With the cooperation of external stakeholders — including the Maritime Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters; and the Japanese Shipowners’ Association — participants conducted a comprehensive response exercise under realistic conditions reflecting an actual emergency situation.

The drill covered initial emergency response procedures, oil spill containment and recovery operations, coordination with relevant authorities and industry organizations, external communications, and media response, including a mock press conference.

Crisis Summary

The vessel experienced steering failure while navigating the Seto Inland Sea off Kagawa Prefecture and ran aground in shallow waters. Damage to the vessel’s fuel oil tank resulted in the discharge of fuel oil into the sea.

Training Process Flow

Upon receiving an initial report of the grounding from NBSP, NYK established communication channels with relevant parties and initiated emergency response procedures.

An accident response headquarters was immediately set up, and participants carried out activities including arrangements for oil spill response operations and measures to ensure the safety of the vessel.

Press releases were issued sequentially as events unfolded, and a mock press conference was conducted. Senior managing executive officers Nobuaki Sumida and Katsuhiko Haruna participated as speakers at the press conference.

The “Beyond Naka-no-Se” campaign expands on the “Remember Naka-no-Se” safety campaign that NYK Line has conducted annually since the crude oil spill accident involving the tanker Diamond Grace in Tokyo Bay on July 2, 1997. In addition to major accident response drills, the campaign includes safety awareness activities such as ship visits and serves as an opportunity for NYK Group employees and partner companies to reaffirm the importance of safe operations.

Press Release