Welcome back Shirase!

Freo Today. 18 March 2024. Shirase, an icebreaker that is also described on ship tracking apps as a ‘Military Ops’ vessel sailing under the flag of Japan, arrived in Freo this morning around 10 am. She was welcomed at Victoria Quay by a large group of Japanese folk waving from the Embassy as well as other well wishers waving Japan’s and Australia’s flags, and traditional Japanese drummers beating out a great rhythm. We have reported on Shirase regularly over recent years, for example in this article by our Shipping News Correspondent Jean Hudson. Shirase has been in Antarctica for a number of months and, after Fremantle, will find her way home to Japan. Welcome back Shirase!