Heavy Oil Spill off Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture - March 2021

Heavy Oil Spill off Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture - March 2021
In March 2021, the cargo ship Setomaru ran aground off the coast of Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, spilling approximately 50 tons of heavy oil. The spilled oil spread from Onomichi City to the coast of Fukuyama City, causing serious damage especially to the oyster farming industry, affecting about 30 percent of its production. The cause of the accident was an error in route setting and poor hull management, and the operator was fined. Approximately 500 people participated in the oil recovery operation, and a large amount of oil was recovered as a result of the quick response. The accident had a major impact on the local economy and environment, and served as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of environmental protection and vessel safety management in the Seto Inland Sea.