Kobe Shipping Incident: Chemical Tanker and Fishing Boat Collide in Akashi Strait, One Crew Member Hurt
A maritime accident involving a chemical tanker and a fishing vessel near Kobe occurred on February 11, 2026, The Maritime Telegraph reports, citing the Japan Coast Guard. The vessels made contact east of the Akashi Strait, close to the entrance routes to Kobe Harbor, leaving one fisherman injured.
According to the Coast Guard, the collision took place at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time. The master of the tanker Maruoka Maru alerted authorities shortly after the impact. Both ships sustained structural damage at the bow.
The captain of the fishing boat suffered a head injury and was transported to a nearby hospital. Officials described his condition as non-life-threatening. Authorities have not released details about the tanker’s cargo. No pollution or hazardous discharge has been reported.
The 1,000-DWT chemical tanker Maruoka Maru, built in 2020, operates on domestic routes linking Kure, Kobe, and Osaka under Japanese management. After the incident, the vessel continued westward toward Kure.
The Japan Coast Guard has opened an official inquiry to determine what led to the collision. The area where the incident occurred regularly handles commercial vessel traffic.
