The oil products tanker Taiko Maru collided with passenger ferry Asakaze No 5 at Hakodate Harbor, Japan. The ferry, carrying 30 passenger on board, was leaving the port en route to Aomori, but crossed route of the tanker and both ships collided. The both skippers succeeded to maneuver correctly in last minuted and reversed engines, but it was too late to avoid collision. The oil products tanker Taiko Maru hit with the bow the ferry’s starboard, but fortunately at slow speed and did not causing sufficient damages. The accident was reported to the local authorities and after short inspection, the both vessels were released to return in operations.

There were no injured people on board of the both vessels during the collision. The local authorities started investigation for the responsibility of the accident. According to witness evidences, the accident was described just a touch and did not caused damages of the both vessels. There is no report about oil leaks and water pollution. However, the local authorities, ordered both vessels to be inspected at the next port of call.

The oil products tanker Taiko Maru (IMO: 9251119) has overall length of 75.50 m, moulded beam of 12.00 m and maximum draft of 4.00 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 2,118 DWT and the gross tonnage is 749 GRT. The tanker was built in 2001 by Murakami Hide Shipbuilding in Imabari, Japan. The owner and operator of the oil products tanker is local company Taiyo Kisen.

The ferry Asakaze No 5 (IMO: 9178692) is operating on regular route between Aomori and Hakodate. The vessel has overall length of 100.00 m, moulded beam of 15.00 m and maximum draft of 3.50 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 1,379 DWT and the gross tonnage is 1,958 GRT. The ferry was built in 1998 by Tamanishi Shipbuilding and Iron Works in their shipyard in Ishinomaki, Japan. The ferry Asakaze No 5 is operating under the flag of Japan and is managed by the local company Kita Nippon Kaiun.