Minesweeper crunched in cargoship collision

A Japanese naval vessel has been damaged in a collision with a cargoship off Hiroshima.

NHK cited the Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) as saying its minesweeper Notojima was involved in a clash with an unnamed vessel around midnight on Wednesday.

No injuries were reported among the 41 crew on the warship, nor among the five seafarers on the cargo vessel.

Television pictures showed significant damage to Notojima's stern.

MSDF said the ships collided 1.5km northeast of Konejima Island in Onomichi.

There were no fears of oil spills.