Famous Japanese Icebreaker Shirase Back In Port

Morning broke over Fremantle this morning and a big blue sky, a pod of dolphins and several small craft arrived to welcome the Japanese Icebreaker Shirase as she made her way into Fremantle’s inner harbour.

Credit Jean Hudson

The Japanese Flag, the Japanese Military Flag and the Australian Flag flew high on the South Mole as she sailed past. The white uniformed crew waved to and saluted the spectators on shore.

Credit Jean Hudson

Shirase is a lovely orange colour – you may have seen her out in Gage Roads yesterday.

Credit Deanna Shanahan

Shirase is part of the fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – or Navy, by any other name – and is Japan’s fourth icebreaker for Antarctic expeditions.

Shirase inherited her name from her predecessor. She was launched in April 2008 and commissioned in May 2009 with the hull number AGB-5003. She is 138m long with a beam of 28m. Her speed is 19.5 knots and 3 knots through 1.5m of ice.

This icebreaker employs an auxiliary icebreaking system that sprays water through holes on both sides of the ship at the bow during the icebreaking operation to wet the snow accumulated on the ice, which makes the ice easier to hold and thereby improves the icebreaking effect.

In 2013, it was reported Japan had sent her to bolster its whaling fleet in the conflict with Sea Shepherd off the Australian Antarctic Territory. Japan didn’t comment on her use or role at the time.

Pop down to Victoria Quay to look at her – she is at D/E Berth.

* Words by our Shipping Correspondent, Jean Hudson @jeansdyssey
* Photographs by Jean Hudson and Deanna Shanahan of @flotsamandjetsam6162

* Jean Hudson is also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE –