Yūshin Maru No. 2
 A render of the Yushin Maru type whale catcher. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 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 |
| 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]
Sister ship Yūshin Maru with a Whale
Sister ship Yūshin Maru with a Whale
See also
References
- ↑ Single Ship Report for "9278040", Miramar Ship Index, Accessed 8 February 2011
- 1 2 3 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.
- ↑ "Whale Wars: About the Series". Animal Planet. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
- ↑ The Daily Mail - British anti-whaling protester held hostage on Japanese ship offered whale meat for dinner (16 January 2008)
- ↑ Perry, Michael (5 February 2009). "Anti-whaling protest ship collides with Japanese whaler". Reuters.
- ↑ Thomas, Pete (6 February 2009). "Whale war between Japan and Sea Shepherd becomes increasingly confrontational". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 June 2009.