28.10.2009
Japanese destroyer Kurama and South Korean cargo vessel Carina Star collided Tuesday evening in Kammon Strait Bridge near Kyushu Island 850 km southwest Tokyo, says Japanese Defense Ministry.
The destroyer crippled nose in the accident, the hull of container carrier was broken. Both ships inflamed. One naval serviceman got hurt and slightly injured, two are treated after smoke intoxication, three were burned while fighting the fire. They managed to extinguish the fire shortly after collision.
Maritime traffic was stopped for a few hours in busy strait which is the shortest sea way from South Korea and northern China to Japan.
The destroyer is currently staying at Moji port, Kyushu Island.
Japanese Prime Minister ordered to conduct thorough accident investigation. According to Toshimi Kitazawa, Japanese Defense Minister all crewmembers of the destroyer were performing their duties prior to collision, visibility at accident site was 3-4 km, the sea was calm. To avoid collision, the destroyer tried to slow down.
The warship with 297 men aboard was returning to its base at Sasebo port, Kyushu Island from naval wappenshaw held in Yokosuka port on Sunday.
Container carrier
Carina Star was heading for Osaka port; the vessel's displacement is 7 400 tonnes, the crew is 16 including 12 Koreans and 4 Myanmars.
In Feb 2008 Japanese destroyer
Atago collided with fishing shiplet in the Pacific cutting it into halves. Both fishermen died then. Japanese Defense Ministry dismissed Navy Commander-In-Chief and two officers chargeable for accident from service, twenty officers were shortened in salary.
Kurama is a destroyer of
Shirane-class. It was laid down on Feb 17, 1978, put afloat on Sept 20, 1979, commissioned on March 27, 1981. Displacement is 5 200 tonnes, length is 159 meters, beam is 17.5 meters, draft is 5.3 meters, speed is 31 knots. Armament: SAM
Sea Sparrow launcher,
Mk 112 ASROC launcher, 2
Mark 42 127-mm gun mounts, 2
Phalanx close engagement systems, 2
Mark 32 three-container torpedo tubes for
Mk-46 torpedoes, 3
SH-60J antisubmarine helicopters.
Source: RusNavy.com
