Ohsumi

Japanese: おおすみ

A transport ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is a large ship with a standard displacement of 8,900 tons and is the first of three "Osumi-class transport ships." Two transport air cushion craft (hovercraft) are stored in the rear of the ship. The large hull has a flat full-length deck from bow to stern, making it easy for helicopters to take off and land, and it has a high landing capability.
The ship's name comes from the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture. The same name was also given to an amphibious landing ship loaned by the US Navy in the past (decommissioned in 1974). Construction began in December 1995, it was launched in November 1996, and commissioned in March 1998. Its home port is the Kure Naval Base in Hiroshima Prefecture. Compared to previous tank landing ship-type transport ships, which only had a standard displacement of around 2,000 tons, this one is much larger and has superior transport and landing capabilities. It can accommodate approximately 330 troops and equipment, or approximately 1,000 personnel alone, and it also has excellent medical facilities.
After the 1999 earthquake in northwestern Turkey, the company was involved in the transport of temporary housing, and in 2004 it shipped light armored vehicles and water tankers to Iraq under the Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Act. In the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred in March 2011, the company transported relief supplies to Sendai Port. When Typhoon Hagibis struck the Philippines in November 2013, the company named its relief efforts "Operation Sankai (which means friend in the local language)" and transported supplies and provided medical care on the island of Leyte, which was hit hardest by the typhoon.
On January 15, 2014, the Tobiuo fishing boat collided with the Osumi off the coast of Adatajima, Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The Osumi sounded its whistle several times before the collision, but the collision occurred immediately after. The Tobiuo capsized and four people on board were thrown into the sea. Two of them were rescued by the crew of the Osumi, but the captain and two fishing passengers died. The 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters began an on-site inspection and found signs of a collision on the starboard side of the Tobiuo's hull. There was also a scratch on the center of the port side of the Osumi, with paint that was thought to be from the Tobiuo. This led to the two ships colliding sideways. The Japan Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the accident as a maritime accident, suspected of professional negligence causing danger to traffic and professional negligence resulting in death. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has also set up its own accident investigation committee to continue its analysis (as of February 13, 2014).

(Writer Toshihide Kanaya / 2014)

Source : "Chiezo" published by Asahi Shimbun Publications Co., Ltd. About Chiezo

Japanese:

海上自衛隊の輸送艦。基準排水量8900トンの大型艦で「おおすみ型輸送艦」3隻のうちの1番艦。艦内後部には2隻の輸送用エアクッション艇(ホーバークラフト)を格納。大きな船体に船首から船尾まで平らな全通甲板を持ち、ヘリコプターの発着が容易で、高い揚陸能力を備える。
艦名は鹿児島県の大隅半島に由来。かつて米海軍から貸与された揚陸艦にも同じ名前がつけられていたことがある(1974年に除籍)。95年12月に起工、96年11月に進水、98年3月に就役した。母港は広島県の呉基地。これまでの戦車揚陸艦型輸送艦が基準排水量2000トン程度に過ぎなかったのに比べ、はるかに大型で優れた輸送・揚陸能力を備える。兵員装備輸送で約330人、人員だけならば約千人が収容でき、優れた医療機能も備えている。
99年のトルコ北西部地震被害では仮設住宅の輸送に携わり、2004年にはイラク復興支援法に基づき同国に軽装甲機動車や給水車を輸送した。11年3月に発生した東日本大震災では救援物資を仙台港に輸送。13年11月フィリピンを襲った台風30号に際しては、援助活動を「サンカイ(現地語で友達の意)作戦」と命名、被害が甚大だったレイテ島で物資輸送や医療行為を行った。
14年1月15日、広島県大竹市阿多田島沖で釣り船「とびうお」と衝突した。「おおすみ」は衝突前に汽笛を数回鳴らしたが直後に衝突。とびうおは転覆し乗っていた4人が海に投げ出された。うち2人はおおすみの乗員によって救助されたが、船長と釣り客の2人が死亡。第6管区海上保安本部が実況見分を始め、とびうおの船体の右舷に衝突の痕跡を確認。おおすみの左舷中央部にも傷があり、とびうおのものと思われる塗料が付着していた。これにより、両船が側面衝突したものとみられている。事故原因などについては、海上保安庁で海難事故として業務上過失往来危険及び業務上過失致死罪の疑いで調査中。海上自衛隊も独自に事故調査委員会を設けて分析を進めている(14年2月13日時点)。

(金谷俊秀ライター／ 2014年)

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