The US Navy have agreed to pay some USD11.47 million in compensation over last year's sinking of the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru after it was struck by a US submarine off the Hawaiian coast, killing nine people.
The compensation will be paid to the government of the south-western prefecture of Ehime, where the ship was based, a US official in Tokyo said.
The collision last February between the USS Greenville and the Ehime Maru, which was carrying students looking at the fisheries industry, strained relations between the United States and Japan. The victims included four teenage boys.
About 8.87 million will cover the loss of the Ehime Maru, Japanese media said, while the remainder will provide counselling for accident survivors, many of whom are suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, and financial assistance to former crew members who can no longer work at sea.
Separate compensation talks are currently going on between the Navy and families of the victims.
The Greenville rammed the vessel while abruptly surfacing during the performance of an emergency drill as part of a public relations tour for civilians on board.
After an extensive U.S. Navy court of inquiry, officials concluded the Greenville's captain had cut corners because he was running late getting back to port.