The "Ehime-Maru" accident was a tragic incident, in which a mistake by the US Navy took the lives of nine people, including several young high school students. For a period after the incident, the Japanese media, in conjunction with many websites, gathered much sympathy for the lost crew and reported extensively on the emotional aspects of the tragedy. However, there were few references made to the different values of Japanese and American people in terms of the political system in America that caused the collision, the rescue effort after the accident and the raising of the sunken "Ehime-Maru".
Selected Papers No.2(p.10)
Ocean Newsletter
No.20 June 5, 2001
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The 'Ehime-Maru' Incident from a Different Perspective
Masanobu TERADA Secretary, Marine Traffic System Forum / Selected Papers No.2(p.10)
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The Raising of the 'Ehime-Maru' and the Current State of Salvage Operations from the Deep-Sea
Nobuo SHIMIZU Manager, Deep Sea Development Group, Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co. Ltd. / Selected Papers No.2(p.12)
The present situation in deep-sea salvage operations, which involve extraordinary costs, is that no commercial market yet exists. This raises many questions concerning both the equipment and technological aspects of such heavy-duty deep-sea activities. Consequently, in raising the Ehime-Maru 610m from the sea floor, many difficulties can be anticipated. At the same time, however, hopefully it will also trigger many significant breakthroughs in the development of deep-sea salvage technology.
Selected Papers No.2(p.12) -
Playing with the Critters in Mudflats
Shinobu WATASUE Chief, Encounter Network "Friends"
Many crabs and precious shellfish inhabit the vast mudflats of Moriye Bay in Kitsuki City (Oita Prefecture), and this provides the perfect environment for children to become familiar with nature. However, it is with extreme regret that we can only stand and watch as the critters in the mudflats continue to be decreased by the maintenance operations of the nearby fishing port.