The transport ministry plans to require foreign passenger vessels calling at ports in Japan to report outbreaks of infectious diseases on board as part of efforts to improve containment measures, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Friday.
In response to the mass outbreak of the novel coronavirus on a foreign cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, that called at Yokohama Port in February last year, the government wants to use the mandatory reporting to identify outbreaks of infectious diseases at an early stage, according to sources.
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry plans to submit a draft amendment of the Marine Transportation Law to the current Diet session to strengthen screening measures at ports, the sources said.
Under the government's proposal, foreign operators of passenger ships scheduled to call at Japan will be obliged to promptly report the outline of the outbreak situation, including the number of infected people, when an infectious disease outbreak is detected on board.
The new rules will make it mandatory for foreign ships to accept the Japanese authorities' requests to report the situation. They will also include a provision that requires foreign passenger ships to make regular monthly reports on their port calls to Japan, they said.
By maintaining close contact with foreign ships in normal times, the government hopes to facilitate a smooth response to emergencies.
According to the ministry, there is a common understanding among major countries that passenger ships traveling around the world should follow the rules of the country where they will call next. Thus the government thinks it can ensure the effectiveness of the requirement.
The ministry is also considering establishing penal regulations against foreign passenger ships that fail to report or refuse to be questioned.
The MarineTransportation Law requires domestic passenger ship operators to report abnormal situations on board their vessels, but foreign operators are exempt from this requirement.
In the case of the mass infection on the Diamond Princess, which called at Yokohama Port on Feb. 3 last year, the ministry received information on the previous day that a passenger who got off in Hong Kong was found to have been infected with the virus.
This case forced the government to hastily prepare to carry out various tasks to deal with quarantine, inspections and acceptance of passengers.
In order to prepare for such unexpected situations, the government is urged to get a handle on outbreaks of infection and other issues at an early stage.
Yet there is currently no legal mechanism to quickly identify such outbreaks on foreign vessels, given that the Quarantine Law only requires foreign vessel operators to report the presence or absence of suspected infectious diseases within 36 hours of arrival at the port.
The number of cruise ship calls to Japan was about 2,860 in 2019, with foreign operators accounting for about 70 percent. The ministry has concluded that it is necessary to improve the law by making reporting mandatory for foreign ships in anticipation of a recovery in demand after the spread of infections is contained.
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