The Japanese destroyer Atago collided with a fishing boat on Tuesday morning not far from the Pacific coast of Japan in the area of the Boso Peninsula, Chiba Prefecture), Itar-Tass reports.
An official at Japan's Maritime Safety Agency said that as a result of a powerful impact the fishing boat broke into two and sank. The fate of fishermen remains unknown so far. The Coast Guard mounted a search-and-rescue operation. Sea-going ships and aircraft have been sent out to the distress area.
The destroyer Atago with a deadweight of 7,700 tonnes had joined Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Forces in March last year. This modern naval ship of the newest class is provided with the versatile missile system Aegis. The Atago, the crew of which consists of 300 seamen and officers, is registered at the Maizuru naval base, KyotoPrefecture .