Japanese icebreaker Shirase (AGB-5003)
{{Short description|Japanese Polar Icebreaker}}
{{For|a Japanese icebreaker "Shirase" (AGB-5002) decommissioned in 2008|Japanese icebreaker Shirase (AGB-5002)}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:Shirase 01.JPG | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Japan | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Japan|naval}} | Ship name = *Shirase
| Ship namesake = Shirase Glacier | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = | Ship laid down = 15 March 2007 | Ship launched = 16 April 2008 | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned = 20 May 2009 | Ship decommissioned = | Ship struck = | Ship homeport = Yokosuka | Ship identification = *Hull number: AGB-5003
| Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honours = | Ship fate = | Ship status = Active | Ship notes = }}{{Infobox ship class overview | Class before = Shirase class (1981) | Class after = N/A }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Ship type = Icebreaker | Ship displacement = Approx. 20,000 tons | Ship length = {{convert|138|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|28|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = {{convert|9.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion = *Diesel-electric
| Ship speed = *{{convert|19.5|kn}} (maximum)
| Ship range = | Ship complement = 175 | Ship capacity = *80 scientists
| Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 3 helicopters | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
{{Nihongo||しらせ|Shirase|}} is a Japanese icebreaker operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan's fourth icebreaker for Antarctic expeditions. She inherited her name from her predecessor.
She was launched in April 2008 and commissioned in May 2009 with the hull number AGB-5003. She began her first voyage on 10 November 2009.
Name
In Japanese, the name "Shirase" is written in hiragana.{{cite web | url = https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/formal/info/sirase/index_kinen.html | script-title = ja:砕氷艦「しらせ」除籍記念特集サイト | trans-title = Special site memorializing retired icebreaker "Shirase" | publisher = Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | accessdate = 10 February 2010 | language = Japanese }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Due to a JMSDF internal naming rule, an icebreaker must be named after a place.{{cite web | url = http://www.nipr.ac.jp/~academy/science/shirase/shirase01.html | script-title = ja:世界有数の砕氷船「しらせ」 | trans-title = The world's foremost icebreaker "Shirase" | page = 1 | publisher = National Institute of Polar Research | accessdate = 10 February 2010 | language = Japanese }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Accordingly, Shirase was named after the Shirase Glacier. This glacier bears the family name of Lieutenant Nobu Shirase, a Japanese pioneer in Antarctic exploration.{{cite web | url = http://www.pref.akita.lg.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1141722804066&SiteID=0 | script-title = ja:南極観測船しらせ（晴海埠頭） | trans-title = Antarctic observation ship Shirase (Harumi Pier) | publisher = Akita Prefecture | author = 遠藤知子 | date = November 2003 | accessdate = 10 February 2010 | language = Japanese | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070212224111/http://www.pref.akita.lg.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1141722804066&SiteID=0 | archivedate = 12 February 2007 }}
Operations
In February 2013, the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claimed the Shirase was sent to monitor its interference with the Japanese cetacean research fleet.{{cite web|first=Andrew |last=Darby |url=http://www.theage.com.au/environment/whale-watch/military-icebreaker-arrives-to-defend-japanese-whalers-20130225-2f0hj.html |title=Military icebreaker arrives to defend Japanese whalers |work=The Age |date=25 February 2013 |accessdate=25 February 2013}} However, according to the National Institute of Polar Research, the icebreaker was in fact far to the west off the coast of Antarctica near the Showa Base at the time.{{cite web |url=http://www.nipr.ac.jp/jare/shirase/index.html |publisher=National Institute of Polar Research |title=Shirase |accessdate=9 May 2015 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034731/http://www.nipr.ac.jp/jare/shirase/index.html |url-status=dead }} The Japanese government subsequently confirmed that the vessel was not involved in any operation related to the whaling program,{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/letters/japans-friendship/story-fn558imw-1226588753583 |title=Japan's friendship |work=The Australian |date=2 March 2013 |accessdate=9 May 2015}} and that Sea Shepherd's claims were "completely fake".[http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1751260/Sea-Shepherd-claims-false-Japan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328222901/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1751260/Sea-Shepherd-claims-false-Japan|date=March 28, 2013}}
On 17 February 2014, the Shirase ran aground just off the unmanned Molodyozhnaya Station in Antarctica. While the outer hull was penetrated, the vessel was in no danger of sinking and no fuel oil leakage was reported.[http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140218_01.html Shirase runs aground off Antarctica] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140219181731/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140218_01.html |date=2014-02-19 }}. NHK World, 17 February 2014. {{retrieved|accessdate=2014-02-19}}
On August 17, 2017, a CH-101 helicopter of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force assigned to the Shirase crashed at Iwakuni Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Four crewmembers were injured.[https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/08/18/national/four-msdf-servicemen-treated-helicopter-flips-iwakuni-air-base/ Four Japanese servicemen injured after GSDF helicopter flips in Iwakuni August 18, 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015828/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/08/18/national/four-msdf-servicemen-treated-helicopter-flips-iwakuni-air-base/ |date=November 12, 2020 }} Japan Times Retrieved September 2, 2017{{Cite web |title=Four injured after Japanese military helicopter flips over at Iwakuni |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/four-injured-after-japanese-military-helicopter-flips-over-at-iwakuni-1.483461 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Rahmat |first=Ridzwan |date=August 18, 2017 |title=Japanese navy helicopter crashes during VERTREP training, injures three |url=http://www.janes.com/article/73206/japanese-navy-helicopter-crashes-during-vertrep-training-injures-three |work=Jane's |access-date=October 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172817/http://www.janes.com/article/73206/japanese-navy-helicopter-crashes-during-vertrep-training-injures-three |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Combatant ship classes of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shirase (AGB-5003)}}
Category:Auxiliary ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force