Poor surveillance by night-duty officers and bad teamwork caused the fatal collision between a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer and a fishing boat off Chiba Prefecture last year, the Defense Ministry said in a report released Friday.
The report describes a pattern of sloppy navigation by the Atago's crew, which had been warned before about its inadequate watch performance during poor visibility.
To prevent similar accidents, the report recommends improving the quality of surveillance, bolstering teamwork among navigation personnel, and enhancing overall navigation through periodic evaluations and training.