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Icebreaker Shirase bids farewell to Antarctica

ABOARD THE SHIRASE, Antarctica - The 11,600-ton Icebreaker Shirase bid farewell to Antarctica on Feb. 15 after 25 years in service as it left Showa Base for Japan with a group of expedition members aboard. In front are members of another expedition team. (Pool photo)

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Icebreaker Shirase leaves Japan on its last Antarctic mission

TOKYO, Japan - The 11,600-ton icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi pier at Tokyo Port on Nov. 14 on its 49th Antarctic expedition, which is also the icebreaker's last mission before it is decommissioned after its return to Japan next spring.

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Icebreaker Shirase leaves on 48th Antarctic expedition

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi dock in Tokyo on Nov. 14 for its 48th Antarctic expedition, marking the 50th anniversary of Japan's initial exploration of the continent. The 11,600-ton exploration ship is expected to arrive at Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica in mid-December and return to Japan next spring.

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Japan's icebreaker Shirase leaves for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Family members and well-wishers wave flags as the 11,600-ton icebreaker Shirase leaves the Harumi Pier in Tokyo port on Nov. 14 for the Antarctica on Japan's 47th observation mission.

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(1)Japanese expedition leaves for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's 11,600-ton icebreaker Shirase sets sail from Tokyo port for the Antarctica on Nov. 14, carrying a research expedition led by Masaru Ayukawa of the National Institute of Polar Research. The team consists of 60 members, including 40 who will winter in the Antarctica.

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(3)Japanese expedition leaves for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Crew members of the Japanese icebreaker Shirase throw tapes at well-wishers as the 11,600-ton ship sets sail from the Harumi Pier of Tokyo port for the Antarctica on Nov. 14.

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(2)Japanese expedition leaves for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - A crew member of the Japanese icebreaker Shirase holds his niece at the Harumi Pier of Tokyo port before the 11,600-ton ship's departure for the Antarctica on Nov. 14.

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Antarctic expedition ship returns to Japan

TOKYO, Japan - The 11,600-ton Japanese icebreaker Shirase carrying 174 crew members returns to Tokyo on April 13 after concluding a five-month Antarctic research mission.

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Icebreaker crew take open-air New Year bath in Antarctica

ABOARD THE SHIRASE, Antarctic Ocean - Sailors aboard the Japanese icebreaker Shirase take a New Year's bath Jan. 6 in an open-air deck tub with a magnificent view of icebergs in the distance. Members of an expedition to Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica also bathed in the 2-meter-square tub built with scrap wood from the hold of the 11,600-ton Maritime Self-Defense Force ship. The temperature at noon was minus 2 C.

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Icebreaker Shirase back from Antarctic expedition

TOKYO, Japan - A crew member of the 11,600-ton Japanese icebreaker Shirase enjoys a reunion with his family and holds his son at Tokyo port's Harumi pier April 12 on returning home after a five-month government-backed Antarctic expedition.