Antarctica observation ship "Shirase" enters Hiroshima Kure Port is closed to the public at Corona 11:48 on September 4
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's icebreaker "Shirase", which supports the Antarctic observation, entered the port of Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture for the first time in four years for a training voyage, and a welcome ceremony was held.
"Shirase" is a ship that transports observation crews and supplies to Showa Station, which conducts observations in Antarctica, and can use 12,650 tons of weight to smash ice while smashing it little by little.
Shirase, which has about 180 members for training voyage, left the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Yokosuka base on the 30th of last month and welcomed to Kure, the first port of call, for the first time in 4 years on the morning of the 4th. Ceremony was held.
In the ceremony, Yoshiaki Niihara, the mayor of Kure City, greeted us, "We welcome you on behalf of the citizens."
In order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus at the port this time, the number of participants in the ceremony was drastically reduced, and it was anchored at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kure base instead of in a private port, and the public opening that was held so far was also held. That is not.
In addition, "Shirase" was scheduled to depart for the next port of call at Sasebo base on 7th of this month, but it is possible that the schedule may be accelerated as typhoon 10 approaches.
Captain Shusaku Takeuchi 1st grade Kaisa said, "It's a pity that the public release was postponed to prevent infection. We would like to train all over the country while getting to know the business of Shirase."