MV Shōnan Maru 2
| History | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Name: | MV Shōnan Maru 2 |
| Owner: | Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, LTD. |
| Operator: | Japanese Fisheries Agency |
| Port of registry: | Tokyo, Japan. |
| Builder: | Hitachi Shipbuilding, Osaka |
| Launched: | 1972 |
| In service: | In service as of 2015 |
| Identification: |
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| Status: | Active |
| Notes: | Security Ship for ICR; Water cannons and acoustic weapons both present |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 628 DWT: |
| Length: | 70.55 m (231 ft) |
| Beam: | 10.2 m (33.5 ft) |
| Draft: | 4.763 m (15.6 ft) |
| Ice class: | None |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Diesel 4045kilowatts |
| Speed: | 18 kts Maximum Speed 19knts |
| Crew: | |
The Shōnan Maru 2 (第二昭南丸 Daini Shōnan Maru?) is a Japanese security vessel, operated by the Japanese Fisheries Agency.
The Shōnan Maru 2 has a sister ship, the Shōnan Maru. The Shōnan Maru was sold to the Misaki Fisheries High School and was replaced by the Yūshin Maru No. 3.
The Shōnan Maru 2 is similar in design and appearance to whale catchers used by the ICR such as the Yūshin Maru series, the primary external differences being the presence of a crane near the aft end of her superstructure used to launch and recover rigid-hulled inflatable boats (craft not carried aboard other ICR whale catchers), minor differences in the design of the bridge section and forward catwalk, and the absence of a structure on her prow used to recover fired harpoons. Originally, the Shōnan Maru 2 sported the same blue & white paint scheme as the ICR whale catchers, but in late 2011 she was repainted to an overall white scheme, the word "Research" on the side of her superstructure being replaced with "Government of Japan".
In late 2009, the Shōnan Maru 2 intercepted and pursued the MY Steve Irwin, being shown with a water cannon mounted on the bow in place of a harpoon. The ship trailed the Steve Irwin from a distance before closing in and engaging the Sea Shepherd vessel with water cannons and an LRAD.
On January 6, 2010 the vessel was involved in a collision at sea with the MY Ady Gil which was participating in Sea Shepherd operations against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. Out of the crew of six from the Ady Gil, one New Zealand cameraman sustained broken ribs. The Ady Gil sank soon after. The third vessel at location, Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker, and the Shōnan Maru 2, took footage of the incident. Video of the incident has been released by both Institute of Cetacean Research and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
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