A chemical tanker collided with a small fishing vessel off the coast of Kobe on Wednesday afternoon, leaving one person injured and prompting an investigation by maritime authorities.

The incident occurred in waters east of the Akashi Strait, a busy domestic shipping route near Kobe. The Japanese-flagged chemical tanker Maruoka Maru reported contact with a fishing boat while both vessels were navigating the area.

According to the Japan Coast Guard, both vessels sustained damage to their bows as a result of the collision. The skipper of the fishing vessel suffered a non-life-threatening head injury and was medically evacuated to a local hospital for treatment.

Officials say there has been no report of pollution or fuel leakage following the incident, and both vessels remained afloat after the impact. An official investigation into the cause of the collision — including factors like navigation procedures, visibility, and vessel speeds — is currently underway.

The Akashi Strait and surrounding waters form one of Japan’s most important commercial maritime corridors, connecting key ports such as Osaka, Kobe and other cities along the Seto Inland Sea. Incidents like this highlight the challenges of navigating high-traffic zones where smaller fishing boats and larger merchant vessels operate in close proximity.