The Jack-Up Oil Drilling Rig “INTEROCEAN I” of which the dimension was approx. 54 meters long X45 meter wide equipped with 4 X 80 meter-high retractable legs was completed in March 1977 at Toyo, Ehime Pref. by Sumitomo-Heavy Industries. While this brand new rig was in tow by two ocean tugs, i.e., the LADY VILMA (4,000 BHP) and the OSA JAGUAR (3,500 BHP) from Toyo to Sakhalin went aground off Chinosaki, Tokushima Pref. Japan at 1340 hours on 23^rd of March 1977 due to the fact that the tow line winch of the LADY VILMA slipped out at 1700 hours on 22nd and her gog line fouled her starboard propeller in a relatively rough weather.

Fujii & Toda were, through a law firm in New York, retained by an American P&I underwriters of the “INTEROCEAN I”. Mr. Fujii visited the casualty site, boarded the rig and conducted investigation into the cause of the casualty, loss and damage allegedly suffered by local fishermen. Mr. Fujii submitted a report to the New York law firm.