184KB GIF
or 60KB JPG Nisshin Maru is the Mother ship to a fleet of three
catchers, from where all operations are controlled, whilst the
Japanese whaling fleet is in the Antarctic waters. This fleet is
hunting 330 Minke whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary,
under program of so-called 'scientific research'-- although this
same fleet is the main supplier of whale meat to the exclusive
restaurant markets, where whale meat is sold at prices up to
US$680.00 per kilo.
This 6095T (Deadweight) vessel, formerly named Chikushi Maru, is a converted fish factory stern trawler built in 1987. It was rebuilt for whaling factory purposes in 1991, to replace the former Nisshin Maru No.3. It cruises at a speed of 14.3kts, and has a top speed of 17.5kts. It runs on a B&W 12L35MCE 12 cyl 2 stroke engine which gives 7,320 (PS)(6220 b.h.p.). The overall length is 127.92m, breadth of 19.41m and a max. draught of 7.21m.
Greenpeace protests the presence of the Nisshin Maru in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, which was established by the IWC in May of last year, and came into effect in December. Greenpeace encourages anybody and everybody to state their own protest to the Japanese Government through your local Japanese Embassy/Consul, and also to the whaling fleet directly.
The Nisshin Maru is equipped with Inmarsat Telephone and Fax communications equipment. Their number is:
NISSHIN MARU Inmarsat Fax:
(Your International access code) + 872 81 1201540
(omit the '81' for Telephone)
Or to the ICR (Institute for Cetacean Research) in Japan, running
the Whaling program. Their fax No. is +81 33 5366522