A ferry boat smashed into a floating breakwater off Urago Port in Dozen, Shimane Prefecture, on Saturday night. Two men aboard were killed and seven others were injured, Japan Coast Guard officials said early Sunday.
Masatoshi Nishimura, a 62-year-old passenger from Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture, and crew member Shigeru Matsuda, 53, died in the accident, according to the officials.
Capt. Kumaichi Shinoki, 69, plus five male passengers and one female passenger were taken to a hospital.
Of the seven hurt, two were reported to be seriously injured.
The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, shortly after the 7.9-ton Sakura Maru No. 11 left the port carrying seven passengers, they said.
The ferry took on some water and its bow was dented in the crash, but it returned to port on its own, the officials said.
The captain might have failed to see the floating breakwater, which rises about 50 cm from the water's surface. The breakwater is located about 500 meters off Urago Port and fixed with a rope tied to a weight.