Ro-Ro Ferry Niraikanai II Runs Aground off Toshima Island en Route to Tokyo

The Japanese Ro-Ro cargo ferry Niraikanai II (7,762 DWT) went hard aground off Toshima Island, off Honshu, at approximately 0330 local time on Friday, June 19, while transiting from Osaka to Tokyo. Efforts to refloat the vessel during the day were unsuccessful, and the ship remains hard aground.

At the moment, the tug Koyo Maru is participating in the re-floating operations. Historical track from ShipAtlas shows the vessels efforts to free Niraikanai II.

There were 17 crew members aboard at the time of the grounding. No injuries or environmental issues have been reported. It is unclear how heavily loaded the vessel was at the time.

Niraikanai II was built in 2017, measures 181 metres LOA, and has a gross tonnage of 11,687. The vessel  is described as one of the largest Ro-Ro vessels on the Okinawa route, fitted with an electronically controlled main engine designed for fuel efficiency.

The Japan Coast Guard confirmed the cause of the grounding will be investigated. Local reports indicate sea conditions at the time were calm, with winds under 12 knots and wave heights under two feet.