Wind forces exceeding 216 kilometres per hour were believed to have been the reason why the 'Hound Maru' crashed against the bridge connecting Kansai International Airport to mainland Osaka
Wind forces exceeding 216 kilometres per hour were believed to have been the reason why the 'Hound Maru' crashed against the bridge connecting Kansai International Airport to mainland Osaka. The tanker was anchored around two kilometres southeast of the airport in the morning of Sep 4. In view of the deteriorating weather conditions, the Japan Coast Guard advised vessels to keep a distance of at least 5,5 kilometres from Kansai airport. The Coast Guard Osaka Bay vessel traffic service centre warned the tanker that it was being pushed by the strong winds at 1 p.m. and again at 1.45 p.m. However, the captain decided to anchor the tanker in a different location, judging that it was safer, but it was still pushed towards the bridge. Meanwhile, the heavily damaged 'Houn Maru' was towed to dock in Hiroshima but was likely to become a CTL.
