Kume Island Ocean Jet announced that a contact incident involving the high-speed vessel “Tsumugi” occurred on May 2 at Kanegusuku Port on Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
After departing Kanegusuku Port at 11:00 a.m., the vessel was moving out of the port at 11:03 a.m. with its hydrofoils lowered when it drifted into a shallow area inside the port and made contact, causing the incident. At 11:09 a.m., it returned to Kanegusuku Port under its own power, and all 27 passengers disembarked. There were no injuries. Passengers were transferred to ferry and airline services.
After reporting the incident to the Japan Coast Guard at 11:11 a.m., it was confirmed at 11:20 a.m. that the shock absorber on the forward hydrofoil had been activated, making high-speed navigation impossible. As a result, the operator decided to suspend all sailings. Operations will remain suspended for the time being until the safety of the vessel’s hull is confirmed.
Kume Island Ocean Jet had just commenced operations on May 1. The jetfoil connects Naha and Kume Island in 80 minutes, and Naha and Motobu in 50 minutes. Passenger capacity is 227. The vessel’s hull was manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
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