Maritime authorities decided Tuesday to send papers to prosecutors on the captain of the controversial North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 over an alleged safety violation.
Japan Coast Guard officials said the captain of the 9,672-ton passenger-cargo ferry allegedly allowed passengers on board beyond its legally defined capacity of 220 when it last visited Niigata on Sept. 5, the officials said.
The case was to be turned over to prosecutors on Wednesday, the officials said.