Yūshin Maru No. 2

A render of the Yushin Maru type whale catcher.
Career (Japan)
Name: Yūshin Maru No. 2
Owner: Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd.
Operator: Institute of Cetacean Research
Port of registry: Tokyo, Japan
Builder: Naikai Shipbuilding & Engineering, Setoda
Laid down: March 6, 2002
Launched: June 11, 2002
Identification: IMO number: 9278040,[1]
Call sign: JPPV[2]
Status: in active service, as of 2015
General characteristics
Type:Whaler
Tonnage:747 gross tonnage (GT)
Displacement:unknown
Length:69.61 m (228.4 ft) o/a
Beam:10.8 m (35 ft) (moulded)
Height:Bow:  6.5 m (21 ft)
Upper bridge:  11.5 m (38 ft)
IO platform:  13.5 m (44 ft)
Barrel:  19.5 m (64 ft)[2]
Draft:4.718 m (15.48 ft)
Installed power:5280 PS / 3900 kW[2]
Propulsion:unknown
Speed:22 kts
Crew:8

The Yūshin Maru No. 2 (第二勇新丸 Daini Yūshin Maru) is a Japanese-registered whale catcher that undertakes whaling operations in the North Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean. Along with other vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet, its efforts and the ensuing conflict with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have been featured on American television since 2008, in the documentary-style reality series Whale Wars.[3]

Sea Shepherd confrontations

On January 15, 2008, two members (Ben Potts and Giles Lane) of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, traveling on the MV Steve Irwin, boarded the Yūshin Maru No. 2 without permission. They were accordingly detained on board the ship for two days before being transferred to the Australian customs vessel MV Oceanic Viking. During their detainment, they were offered whale meat for dinner.[4]

On February 6, 2009, the MV Steve Irwin collided with the Yūshin Maru No. 2 as the activist vessel attempted to obstruct the transfer of a whale up the slipway of the factory ship Nisshin Maru. Both sides claimed the other responsible.[5] Pete Thomas of the LA Times speculated as to "whether [Mr. Watson's] actions are truly on behalf of the whales, or merely to obtain dramatic footage for the Animal Planet series, Whale Wars".[6]

Seizure by Russia

On 15 August 2014, the whaling vessel and its crew were being held in Russia, after it entered Russian territorial waters without permission.[7] One week later, on 26 August, Shonan Maru No. 2 was allowed to leave Russia after paying a fine of 30,000 rubles ($830 USD).[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Single Ship Report for "9278040", Miramar Ship Index, Accessed 8 February 2011
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matsuoka, K.; Tamura, T.; Mori, M; Isoda, T.; Yoshida, T.; Moriyama, R.; Yamaguchi, F.; Yoshimura, I.; Wada, Atsushi; Nakai, Kazuyoshi; Tsunekawa, Masaomi; Ogawa, Tomoyuki (June 2012). "Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPAII) in 2011/2012" (PDF). Institute of Cetacean Research. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Whale Wars: About the Series". Animal Planet. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  4. ↑ The Daily Mail - British anti-whaling protester held hostage on Japanese ship offered whale meat for dinner (16 January 2008)
  5. ↑ Perry, Michael (5 February 2009). "Anti-whaling protest ship collides with Japanese whaler". Reuters.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Pete (6 February 2009). "Whale war between Japan and Sea Shepherd becomes increasingly confrontational". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  7. ↑ "Russia seizes Japan research whaling ship in Sea of Okhotsk". The Japan Times. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  8. ↑ "Japanese whaling patrol ship allowed to leave Russian port". The Japan Times. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-04.