(JP) Whaling research firm to build more ships

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http://www.asahi.com/english/national/K2002051600352.html

 

Whaling research firm to build more ships

 

The Asahi Shimbun

 

The likelihood of a swift return to commercial whaling

may be slight, but one company is pressing ahead

regardless. It plans to build four more whaling ships

over the next 10 years.

 

The international community opposes commercial whaling

and the issue is not expected to be resolved at a

general meeting of the International Whaling

Commission in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, next

week.

 

But Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, the only company

commissioned by the government to conduct research

whaling, plans to replace half its vessels and says it

will continue studying the mammals.

 

A ceremony marking the start of construction work on

the first new ship was held in Setoda, Hiroshima

Prefecture, in March.

 

The ship, a catcher boat to be called the Yushin Maru

No. 2, is expected to join a team of whale-survey

ships from November.

 

Yushin Maru is the successor to Toshi Maru No. 25,

which first roamed the world's oceans in 1962. The new

vessel, costing 1.8 billion yen to build, will have a

crew of 16, five fewer than usual.

 

Toshi Maru, which was built during the height of

commercial whaling, is fitted out mainly with

whale-hunting equipment. In contrast, the new ship

will feature cabins for research staff to work in, for

example, studying migration patterns and water

temperatures.

 

About 20 company executives, including President

Hiroshi Ogawa, attended the ceremony.

 

``We want to continue studying whales in the hope that

it will lead to commercial whaling,'' Ogawa said.

 

Kyodo Senpaku was established in 1976 through

integration of the whaling divisions of Maruha Corp.,

Nippon Suisan and Kyokuyo Co. The firm, which took

over the three companies' ships and crew members, took

its current name in 1987.

 

Since the ban on commercial whaling was imposed, the

company has been studying whales on behalf of the

Institute of Cetacean Research.

 

Kyodo Senpaku owns eight whaling ships, of which

four-catcher boats and whale detection vessels-are now

more than 30 years old and need to be replaced.

 

Ogawa said the new ships are intended for research

purposes.

 

Nippon Suisan Kaisha and Kyokuyo, which each has a 32

percent stake in Kyodo Senpaku, are not in a position

to resume whaling or expand their sales of whale meat,

officials said. Whale-related sales account for less

than 1 percent of their total.

 

Some Kyokuyo officials doubt the 1.8 billion yen

investment is worthwhile.(IHT/Asahi: May 16,2002)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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