Japanese Ferry Company Faces Hearing Over Crew Drinking
Listen to the story
Tokai Kisen, a Japanese ferry operator, is facing a serious problem. The company runs boats to islands south of Tokyo.
According to reports, drinking alcohol during duty hours may have become a regular habit among crew members. This means the problem was not just one mistake, but happened many times.
The Kanto Transport Bureau, a government body that oversees transport safety, held a hearing to investigate the company's practices.
Officials are now considering whether to give Tokai Kisen a business suspension. This would stop the company from operating for a period of time.
After the hearing, the company's president publicly apologized. He said sorry to island residents who depend on the ferry service for daily life.
The company is expected to submit an improvement plan to the transport bureau. This plan should explain how Tokai Kisen will stop crew members from drinking during work hours.
The case has raised concerns about safety standards for passenger ferries in Japan. Islands near Tokyo often rely heavily on these boats for transport of people and goods.
Vocabulary10 words
- ferry operator
- a company that runs boats for passengers
- duty
- the official working time on a job
- Transport Bureau
- a government office that checks transport safety
- hearing
- an official meeting to question someone about a problem
- business suspension
- an order to stop a company from operating
- improvement plan
- a document that explains how to fix a problem
- crew
- the workers on a ship
- resident
- a person who lives in a place
- safety standards
- rules that keep people safe
- regular habit
- something done often, not just once
Quiz
Answer key
1. Drinking alcohol during duty hours 2. It held a hearing to investigate 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Tokai Kisen, a Japanese _____ operator, is facing a serious problem. The company runs boats to _____ south of Tokyo.
According to reports, drinking alcohol during _____ hours may have become a regular habit among crew members.
The Kanto _____, a government body that oversees transport safety, held a _____ to investigate the company's practices.
Officials are now considering whether to give Tokai Kisen a _____. This would stop the company from operating for a period of time.
After the hearing, the company's president publicly _____. He said sorry to island residents who depend on the ferry service.
The company is expected to submit an _____ to the transport bureau.