The Sea Shepherd group's vessel Bob Barker has been following the fleet's factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, since February 9. Bob Barker's captain, Alex Cornelissen, confirmed that the whaling ...

SHIMONOSEKI, Yamaguchi Prefecture--The aging Nisshin Maru, a relic of Japan’s whaling tradition, has finally retired after playing a central role in research and commercial operations for more ...

SHIMONOSEKI, Yamaguchi Prefecture--The Kangei Maru, a new whaling mother ship that will succeed the decommissioned Nisshin Maru, has been built here. A signing ceremony for its delivery was held ...

This is almost double that of its predecessor, Nisshin Maru and thus, the vessel could remain at sea for longer periods. The Kangei Maru is now the world’s only whaling fleet mother ship ...

The vessel will replace Japan's only existing mother ship, the 30-year-old Nisshin Maru, and comes with a vast array of technological upgrades, as well as extra work and storage space. The "mother ...