Oriental Bluebird
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NameHiyo Maru
OwnerKyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd[1]
OperatorInstitute of Cetacean Research[1]
Port of registryJapan[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Hiyo Maru |
| Owner | Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd[1] |
| Operator | Institute of Cetacean Research[1] |
| Port of registry | Japan[1] |
| Launched | 1979[1] |
| Renamed | "Hiyo Maru" after dispute with Panamanian Gov't. |
| Fate | Sold for scrap in 2010[2][3] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Products tanker (single hulled)[1] |
| Tonnage | 8,725 GT[1] |
| Length | 143.29 m (470 ft 1 in) o/a[1] |
| Beam | 20.41 m (67 ft 0 in) (moulded)[1] |
| Draft | 8.42 m (27 ft 7 in)[1] |
The 8,725 ton Hiyo Maru (飛鷹丸) was the largest member of the Japanese whaling fleet; providing fuel, resources, and stock storage space for that fleet and its crew. In 1992, it was renamed and re-flagged to Panama as the Oriental Bluebird. According to Greenpeace, after a dispute with the Panamanian Government in 2008, it was de-flagged and re-registered to Japan.[4] The Hiyo Maru served as the fuel tanker for Japan's whaling fleet,[5] and was alleged by Greenpeace to also transport whale meat.[6] In August 2010, the ship was sold to China to be scrapped.