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Japanese icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2012, for Antarctica to support Japan's 54th expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton vessel was unable to dock at Japan's Showa Base the previous year, blocked by snow and thick ice, for the first time since 1994, meaning the expedition team had to reach the Antarctic base by air and land.

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Japanese icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2012, for Antarctica to support Japan's 54th expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton vessel was unable to dock at Japan's Showa Base the previous year, blocked by snow and thick ice, for the first time since 1994, meaning the expedition team had to reach the Antarctic base by air and land.

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Japan's Icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Japanese icebreaker the Shirase passing under the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2011, shortly after its departure from Harumi Wharf for Antarctica on a mission to support the country's 53rd expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton Shirase also plans to help break the ice near Australia's Antarctic Mawson Base in response to the Australian government's request to secure supply routes.

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Japan's Icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese icebreaker the Shirase leaves Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2011, for Antarctica on a mission to support the country's 53rd expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton Shirase also plans to help break the ice near Australia's Antarctic Mawson Base in response to the Australian government's request to secure supply routes.

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Japan's Icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - A crew member of Japanese icebreaker the Shirase bids farewell to his family on board the 12,650-ton vessel on Nov. 11, 2011, shortly before leaving Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay for Antarctica on a mission to support the country's 53rd expedition team to be deployed there. The Shirase also plans to help break the ice near Australia's Antarctic Mawson Base in response to the Australian government's request to secure supply routes.

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 31, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic the same day. (Pool photo)

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 23, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic on Dec. 31, 2010. (Pool photo)

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New icebreaker Shirase docks at home port in Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The new icebreaker Shirase docks at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on May 25. The 12,650-ton Shirase, Japan's fourth icebreaker for Antarctic expeditions, is 138 meters long and 28 meters wide, and has top-level icebreaking capabilities.

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New icebreaker Shirase docks at home port in Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The new icebreaker Shirase docks at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on May 25. The 12,650-ton Shirase, Japan's fourth icebreaker for Antarctic expeditions, is 138 meters long and 28 meters wide, and has top-level icebreaking capabilities. (Kyodo)

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Japan's Icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Japanese icebreaker the Shirase passing under the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2011, shortly after its departure from Harumi Wharf for Antarctica on a mission to support the country's 53rd expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton Shirase also plans to help break the ice near Australia's Antarctic Mawson Base in response to the Australian government's request to secure supply routes. (Kyodo)

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Japan's Icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - A crew member of Japanese icebreaker the Shirase bids farewell to his family on board the 12,650-ton vessel on Nov. 11, 2011, shortly before leaving Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay for Antarctica on a mission to support the country's 53rd expedition team to be deployed there. The Shirase also plans to help break the ice near Australia's Antarctic Mawson Base in response to the Australian government's request to secure supply routes. (Kyodo)

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Japan's Icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese icebreaker the Shirase leaves Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2011, for Antarctica on a mission to support the country's 53rd expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton Shirase also plans to help break the ice near Australia's Antarctic Mawson Base in response to the Australian government's request to secure supply routes. (Kyodo)

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 23, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic on Dec. 31, 2010. (Pool photo) (Kyodo)

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 31, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic the same day. (Pool photo) (Kyodo)