Nippon Maru (1930) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nippon Maru |
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Nippon Maru in Yokohama
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| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 日本丸 | ||||
| Hiragana | にっぽんまる | ||||
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Nippon Maru (日本丸) is a famous Japanese museum ship. It used to be a special training ship for sailors. Today, you can visit her in Yokohama harbor, Japan. She is docked permanently in a place called Nippon Maru Memorial Park.
Contents
History of the Nippon Maru
The Nippon Maru was built by a company called Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. This happened in the city of Kobe, Japan. She was launched into the water on January 27, 1930. Another ship, her sister ship named Kaiwo Maru, was launched at the same time.
Training Sailors for Japan
The Nippon Maru was used by the Tokyo Institute for Maritime Training. Her main job was to train young officers for Japan's merchant marine. These officers would work on ships that carried goods around the world.
During World War II, the ship's large sails were taken down. She then served as a transport ship, helping to move people and supplies. After the war, in 1952, her beautiful sails were put back. She continued her training voyages, sailing the seas and teaching new sailors.
A New Nippon Maru
The original Nippon Maru trained sailors until September 1984. At that time, a newer ship took her place. This new ship was also named Nippon Maru. The older ship then became a museum, so people could learn about her history.
Ship's Design and Features
The Nippon Maru is a very impressive ship. She is 97 metres (318 ft) long. Her width, called the beam, is 12.95 metres (42.5 ft). The part of the ship that goes under the water, called the draft, is 6.90 metres (22.6 ft) deep.
Sails and Engines
The ship's total weight, called gross tonnage, is 2,286 tons. She is designed as a four-masted barque. This means she has four tall masts with 32 sails. These sails cover a huge area of 2,397 square metres (25,800 sq ft).
Even with all those sails, the Nippon Maru also has two diesel engines. Each engine has 600 horsepower. These engines were used to help the ship move when there wasn't enough wind.
Life Aboard the Ship
When the Nippon Maru was a training ship, she had a large crew. There were 27 officers and 48 seamen who worked the ship. Plus, there were 120 trainees, who were the students learning to become sailors. It must have been a busy ship!
Gallery
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The Nippon Maru in 2008
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The Nippon Maru in 2004
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The Nippon Maru in 2009
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The Nippon Maru in 2023
