KOBE (Kyodo) A cruise ship collided Monday night with a 700-ton freighter off Kobe, there were no reports of injuries or oil leaks.
The Japan Coast Guard said Tuesday the 28,717-ton Asuka, carrying 605 passengers and crew members, was sailing from Kobe to Nagasaki when it hit the freighter Udo Maru, which was carrying five crew members. The Asuka is owned by Yusen Cruise Co., based in Tokyo. The Udo Maru is run by Fukuoka-based Shinwa Naiko Kaiun Kaisha Ltd.
The collision took place at around 10:45 p.m. about 5 km southwest of Kobe port, near the eastern end of the Akashi Strait.
Kobe coast guard officials are investigating the cause of the accident. The freighter was bound for Oita from Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.
They are also questioning the captains on suspicion of endangering traffic through negligence in the conduct of business.
The Asuka resumed course at 4 a.m. after halting at the collision site for about five hours for a coast guard investigation, the officials said.