Typhoon Dujuan Could Force Costa Serena and Athletes to Leave Nagoya

Typhoon Dujuan could force Costa Serena to temporarily leave Nagoya with Asian Games athletes and officials still onboard under the port’s emergency evacuation procedures.

The Italian-flagged cruise ship is currently berthed at Kinjo Pier and is being used to accommodate approximately 4,000 athletes and officials participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

If the vessel is ordered to depart, it could remain away from the berth for as long as 48 hours. This could prevent some athletes from reaching their events while also disrupting training, transportation and rest schedules.

Japanese meteorological authorities forecast that the typhoon will affect the Izu Peninsula and Tokyo before reaching the Nagoya coastline on Monday. Heavy rain warnings have been issued across several regions, with maximum sustained winds expected to reach 90 km/h and gusts of up to 126 km/h.

Under Nagoya Coast Guard procedures, a Level 2 evacuation alert would be issued three hours before the arrival of strong winds if the storm area is forecast to affect the port.

In that situation, Costa Serena would be required to depart promptly with anyone still onboard. Athletes who were already ashore would remain on land and be directed to alternative accommodation or facilities.

Ship management has instructed those staying onboard to remove clothing and other loose objects from their balconies and secure their personal belongings.

Macau table tennis player Zhu Yuling shared the weather warning on social media on Sunday evening, writing: “I have a match early tomorrow morning - wish us luck.”

According to OSEN, accommodation capable of housing everyone currently staying aboard Costa Serena at the same time has not been arranged. The Olympic Council of Asia, however, said shelters were available in the event of a large-scale evacuation and maintained that preparations had been comprehensive.

Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura said the vessel would leave if required by port authorities. “Waves within Ise Bay will never reach the height to capsize a large ship,” he said.

Organizers decided against constructing a dedicated athletes’ village because of the expense. Instead, competitors and officials have been accommodated across existing hotels, container-style facilities and the cruise ship.

The use of Costa Serena was promoted on both cost-saving and environmental grounds. It is the first time a ship has been used to accommodate athletes at a major international multi-sport event held in Japan.

Weather conditions have already caused disruption at another Games accommodation facility. During an earlier period of heavy rainfall in Nagoya, precipitation reached approximately 104 mm per hour. Around 400 athletes staying in container accommodation were moved to higher ground as a precaution. They were able to return safely after the evacuation order was lifted approximately two hours later.

The organizing committee said it would work with the Olympic Council of Asia and the relevant international sports federations to adjust competition schedules if events are unable to proceed. The same process would apply if athletes were prevented from competing because they had evacuated aboard Costa Serena.

Equestrian competitions at Tokyo’s JRA Baji Koen Equestrian Park have already been moved from Monday to Tuesday. Among the competitors affected are Hong Kong eventing riders Patrick Lam Lap-shun, Annie Ho Yuen-yan, Su Yuxuan and Nicole Michele Pearson.

Heavy rainfall has also led organizers to shorten the six-day rowing regatta at the Nagara River International Rowing Course in neighboring Gifu prefecture.

Semi-finals and repechage rounds have been removed from several events. Racing that was originally scheduled to take place from September 20 to 25 will now be held on September 23 and 24.