Marine Wildlife Center of Japan

Safety Information

Safety Information about Abashiri Nature Cruise

Basic Information

Operating Organization Non-Profit Organization: Marine Wildlife Center of Japan
Representative Mari Kobayashi
Business Authorization Non-scheduled Passenger Vessel Service (authorized in 2012)
Vessel Name Chipashiri（4.9 tons, 10.45 m in length, maximum capacity: 25 passengers）
Route Name Abashiri Offshore Dolphin & Whale Watching Route
Departure / Arrival Point Abashiri River Landing (behind Roadside Station “Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri,” south bank of the Abashiri River)
Operational Weather Conditions
  • Wind speed: 8 m/s or less
  • Wave height: 1.0 m or less
  • Visibility: 300 m or more

Operational Standards

Decision on Operation The cruise will be canceled if one or more of the following conditions are met within Abashiri Port:
  • Wind speed of 8.0 m/s or more
  • Wave height of 0.5 m or more
  • Visibility of 300 m or less

Life-Saving Equipment

Life Jackets
  • 27 for adults
  • 5 for children

(Life jackets must be worn at all times during the cruise.)

Life Rings 2 units
Life Rafts / Floats
  • Two rafts for 12 persons
  • One raft for 4 persons

Communications Equipment

  • Mobile phone (NTT DOCOMO)
  • Satellite marine phone (Inmarsat IsatPhone 2)

Insurance Coverage

Passenger Liability Insurance
Maximum compensation: JPY 100,000,000 per person
Coverage period: April 1, 2026 – November 30, 2026

Vessel Inspection

Vessel Inspection Certificate
No. 2-1190 (Issued December 26, 2023)
Accident Record
No accidents reported in the past five years

Safety Policy at Abashiri Nature Cruise

At Abashiri Nature Cruise, we comply with all relevant laws and regulations to ensure safe operations.
Based on the principle that safety is our highest priority, we have established the following safety policy, which is reviewed and updated as necessary.

Safety Policy

  1. We recognize that safety is the operator’s most important responsibility and strive for safe navigation at all times.
  2. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations to ensure safety.
  3. We strengthen our safety management system to prevent accidents before they occur.
  4. We provide safety education and training to raise safety awareness.
  5. We continuously review and improve our safety measures.

Safety Priority Measures for FY2024

  1. Thorough pre-departure inspections and vessel maintenance
  2. Strengthening communication and coordination with fishing vessels and recreational boats
  3. Careful and conservative assessment of weather and sea conditions
in Japanese only
Accident Response Standards Print PDF
Work Operation Standards Print PDF
Standard Passenger Transport Terms and Conditions Print PDF
Safety Management Regulations Print PDF
Operational Standards Print PDF
Severe Weather Safety Operation Manual Print PDF
Abashiri Nature Cruise