救命いかだ、来年４月から義務化　旅客船対象、知床観光船事故で―国交省

　北海道・知床半島沖で２０２２年４月に起きた観光船「ＫＡＺＵ　Ｉ（カズワン）」の沈没事故を受け、国土交通省は３日、水温の低い海域を航行する旅客船を対象に、救命いかだの搭載を来年４月以降、義務付けることを明らかにした。
　最低水温が１０度未満の海上や一部の湖を航行する場合が対象。２０度未満でも区域によっては対象とする。他の船舶が並走していたり、救助船を待機させたりしている場合、搭載義務はない。
　旅客定員１３人以上の船舶は来年４月から、１２人以下の船舶は２６年４月から義務化する。現在使っている船は約５年ごとの定期検査の時期まで猶予を設け、遊漁船は当面の間、義務化の対象外とした。（2024/10/03-17:00）

Japan's transport ministry will require passenger ships operating in cold water to carry life rafts from next April, it was learned Thursday.
   The move follows the deadly sinking of the Kazu I tour boat off the northern prefecture of Hokkaido in April 2022.
   The Japan Transport Safety Board has found that the water temperature of 4 degrees Celsius at the time was too low for those on the boat to survive wearing life jackets, and proposed that such ships have rescue equipment that prevents people from coming into contact with cold water.
   The new requirement will apply to passenger ships sailing in seas and lakes with water temperatures below 10 degrees. Those that sail with other ships or have rescue ships nearby will be exempt.
   It will take effect in April 2025 for ships with a capacity of 13 passengers or more and in April 2026 for those with a smaller capacity.