Japanese icebreaker Shirase (AGB-5003)

History
Japan
Name	Shirase; (しらせ);
Namesake	Shirase Glacier
Laid down	15 March 2007
Launched	16 April 2008
Commissioned	20 May 2009
Homeport	Yokosuka
Identification	Hull number: AGB-5003; MMSI number: 431999533; Callsign: JSNJ;
Status	Active
Class overview
Preceded by	Shirase class (1981)
Succeeded by	N/A
General characteristics
Type	Icebreaker
Displacement	Approx. 20,000 tons
Length	138 m (452 ft 9 in)
Beam	28 m (91 ft 10 in)
Draft	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; Four propulsion motors, 22,000 kW (30,000 hp) (combined); Two shafts; fixed-pitch propellers;
Speed	19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) (maximum); 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1.5 m (4.9 ft) ice;
Capacity	80 scientists; 1,100 tons of cargo;
Complement	175
Aircraft carried	3 helicopters

Shirase (しらせ) 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.

History

Japan
Name	Shirase (しらせ)
Namesake	Shirase Glacier
Laid down	15 March 2007
Launched	16 April 2008
Commissioned	20 May 2009
Homeport	Yokosuka
Identification	Hull number: AGB-5003 MMSI number: 431999533 Callsign: JSNJ
Status	Active
Class overview
Preceded by	Shirase class (1981)
Succeeded by	N/A
General characteristics
Type	Icebreaker
Displacement	Approx. 20,000 tons
Length	138 m (452 ft 9 in)
Beam	28 m (91 ft 10 in)
Draft	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric Four propulsion motors, 22,000 kW (30,000 hp) (combined) Two shafts; fixed-pitch propellers
Speed	19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) (maximum) 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1.5 m (4.9 ft) ice
Capacity	80 scientists 1,100 tons of cargo
Complement	175
Aircraft carried	3 helicopters