Name Yūshin Maru No. 2 Laid down March 6, 2002 Construction started 6 March 2002 Speed 22 kts Installed power 5280 PS / 3900 kW | Port of registry Tokyo, Japan Length 11 m Launched 11 June 2002 Crew 8 | |
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Owner Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd. Operator Institute of Cetacean Research Builder Naikai Shipbuilding & Engineering, Setoda Height Bow: 6.5 m (21 ft) Upper bridge: 11.5 m (38 ft) IO platform: 13.5 m (44 ft) Barrel: 19.5 m (64 ft) | ||
The Yūshin Maru No. 2 (第二勇新丸, Daini Yūshin Maru) is a Japanese-registered whale catcher that undertakes whaling operations in the North Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean. Along with other vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet, its efforts and the ensuing conflict with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have been featured on American television since 2008, in the documentary-style reality series Whale Wars.
Sea Shepherd confrontations
On January 15, 2008, two members (Ben Potts and Giles Lane) of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, traveling on the MV Steve Irwin, boarded the Yūshin Maru No. 2 without permission. They were accordingly detained on board the ship for two days before being transferred to the Australian customs vessel MV Oceanic Viking. During their detainment, they were offered whale meat for dinner.
On February 6, 2009, the MV Steve Irwin collided with the Yūshin Maru No. 2 as the activist vessel attempted to obstruct the transfer of a whale up the slipway of the factory ship Nisshin Maru. Both sides claimed the other responsible. Pete Thomas of the LA Times speculated as to "whether [Mr. Watson's] actions are truly on behalf of the whales, or merely to obtain dramatic footage for the Animal Planet series, Whale Wars".
On January 15, 2017, the Yushin Maru No. 2 was again caught illegally fishing for whales within the Australian Whale Sanctuary by the Sea Shepherd. As the Sea Shepherds scouting helicopter flew overhead, Japanese whalers scrambled to cover a dead endangered Antarctic Minke Whale and loaded harpoons with tarps to hide the evidence of their poaching.
The Sea Shepherd has transmitted coordinates to the MY Steve Irwin which is now on route to intercept the poaching vessels.