JR Kyushu issued a public apology on August 14 after it was revealed that its subsidiary, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry, had concealed a serious issue involving water ingress in the high-speed ferry “Queen Beetle,” which operates between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea. Despite discovering water ingress in the bow section of the vessel in February, the company continued operations for over three months without conducting mandatory inspections, repairs, or reporting the problem to government authorities.
During the press conference, JR Kyushu disclosed that the former president of JR Kyushu Jet Ferry had ordered the continuation of the ferry’s operation, fully aware of the situation. The company admitted to tampering with the ferry’s safety systems, including disabling the sensors that detect water ingress, and falsifying log entries to show “no abnormalities.” Actual data about the water ingress, which reached a depth of up to one meter, was recorded in a separate, undisclosed log.
The deception came to light on August 6 during a surprise inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. Following the revelation, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry’s president, Wataru Tanaka, was dismissed from his position on August 13. The ferry has been suspended from service since August 13, affecting approximately 22,000 passengers who had planned to travel on the route.
During the press conference, Takuma Matsushita, a director at JR Kyushu, expressed deep regret for the incident, stating, “We sincerely apologize to all affected passengers and stakeholders for the inconvenience and distress caused by this situation. We are committed to thoroughly investigating the incident, strengthening our safety protocols, and rebuilding trust.” The ongoing investigation by government authorities has kept the Queen Beetle grounded, with no clear timeline for resuming operations.
The incident has raised significant concerns about safety management and corporate transparency within JR Kyushu and its subsidiaries. The company is now under intense scrutiny, and further investigations are expected to determine the full extent of the misconduct. Source: JR Kyushu / NHK
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