On June 12, local authorities at a port near Tokyo officially launched a campaign to dismantle a cruise ship that had been abandoned for eight years. According to government officials, the vessel was now listing and partially flooded, and its removal was necessary to ensure maritime safety and environmental hygiene.
The unnamed ship was left behind eight years ago with no maintenance. Over the years, it sat in shallow waters, its hull rusted and accumulated rubbish, affecting the scenery and other vessel operations. The dismantling move followed multiple complaints from the local community and environmental groups.
The removal process is expected to take several weeks, using floating cranes and tugboats to cut up and transport the hull sections to a scrap processing facility. Authorities said they would monitor closely to prevent oil spills or other environmental incidents. The case has reignited debate over responsibility for abandoned assets in the waterway tourism industry.
