Calling all Japanese Post-War Merchant Marine Fans......

[Caravellarella]

Here is the Shofuku Kisen Kaisha motorship M.V. Eifuku Maru in Nippon Yusen Kaisha service as M.V. Misaki Maru......

M.V. Misaki Maru (iv), � Tom Rayner; in Nippon Yusen Kaisha livery.

M.V. MISAKI MARU; a one-off motorship was built as EIFUKU MARU for Shofuku Kisen Kaisha. She became MISAKI MARU of Nippon Yusen Kaisha in 1958.

Builder � Ishikawajima Dockyard, Tokyo. Yard N�. 719.
IMO 5236898
Laid Down � unknown.
Launched - 14th March 1953.
Service - May 1953 to 1973.

Length 128.8 metres, breadth 16.8 metres. 5,490Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is the Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) reefer motorship M.V. Ecuador Maru. She doesn't look like any other K-Line ship and looks much more like a European fruit-carrier......

M.V. Ecuador Maru (ii), � Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

M.V. Ecuador Maru (iv), � A. Duncan; in Salen Reefer Pool colours.

M.V. ECUADOR MARU; a one-off motorship reefer built for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe. Yard N�. 831.
IMO 6414198
Laid down � 24th April 1964.
Launched � 26th May 1964.
Service (K-Line) 13th July 1964 to 1974.

Length 137.6 metres, breadth 18 metres. 6,843Grt.


Here is a link to the "nifty" page for this reefer......
http://homepage3.nifty.com/jpnships//sh ... oaletc.htm

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is the Osaka Shosen Kaisha motorship M.V. Hague Maru in a transitional post-merger Mitsui-OSK livery. Her hull is still in black & white Osaka Shosen Kaisha colours, but her black & white funnel (with it's superimposed Osaka Shosen Kaisha emblem) has been over-piainted in Mitsui-OSK vermilion......

M.V. Hague Maru (iv), � A. Duncan; in partial Osaka Shosen Kaisha livery.

M.V. HAGUE MARU; name-ship of a class of three motorships built for Osaka Shosen Kaisha, Hague Maru, Norfolk Maru and Tacoma Maru.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 921.
IMO 5139753
Laid down � December 1960.
Launched - 3rd March 1961.
Service (OSK then Mitsui-OSK) 24th May 1961 to 7th October 1980.

Length 156.1 metres, breadth 19.5 metres. 9,295Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

A German built pre-war Norwegian motorship in post-war Japanese service as M.V. Ginyo Maru......

M.V. Ginyo Maru (i), � A. Duncan; in Nippon Yusen Kaisha livery.

M.V. GINYO MARU; a motorship built as HOEGH SILVERLIGHT for Leif Hoegh & Co A/S of Norway and sold to Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha in 1953. She later sailed for Nippon Yusen Kaisha.

Builder � Deutsche Werft, Reiherstieg. Yard No. 180.
IMO 5130836
Laid down � unknown.
Launched - 30th October 1936.
Completed � December 1936
Service (NYK) 9th May 1959 to 19th December 1964.

Length 124.8 metres (pp), breadth 17 metres. 5,197Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

The Taiyo Kaiun Kaisha motorship M.V. Taikyu Maru in a livery that I cannot identify (perhaps she is on charter)......

M.V. Taikyu Maru (vii), � & livery unknown.

M.V. TAIKYU MARU; a one-off motorship built for Taiyo Kaiun Kaisha, which was an associate and then a division of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

Builder � Hitachi Zosen K.K, Innoshima. Yard N�. 3,894.
IMO 5349293
Laid down - unknown.
Launched - 27th April 1960.
Service (Taiyo Kaiun then Kawasaki Kisen) 1960 to 1974.

Length 149.3 metres, breadth 18.8 metres. 8,739Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Another of my favourites; Nippon Yusen Kaisha's high speed "K" class motorship M.V. Kaga Maru of 1966......

As originally completed......

M.V. Kaga Maru (iii), � H. J. Reinecke.

After conversion to a cellular containership in 1978......

M.V. Kaga Maru (vii), � unknown.

M.V. Kaga Maru (viii), � unknown.

M.V. KAGA MARU; name-ship of a class of four sisterships built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Kaga Maru, Kawachi Maru, Kii Maru and Kai Maru.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 960.
IMO 6607082
Laid down - 1st October 1965.
Launched - 11th December 1965.
Service (NYK) 12th March 1966 to 9th June 1986.
Converted, but not jumboised, into a container ship September 1978.

Length 170.9 metres, breadth 23 metres. 11,379Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

The Nippoh Kaiun Kaisha motorship M.V. Nikkoh Maru in a livery that I cannot identify (perhaps she is on charter)......

M.V. Nikkoh Maru (v), � unknown.

M.V. NIKKOH MARU; a motorship built for Nippoh Kaiun Kaisha & orignally named HIDAKA MARU.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe. Yard No. 918.
IMO 5252270
Laid down � date unknown.
Launched - 6th September 1952.
Service November 1952 to 1972.

Length 138.4 metres, breadth 17.3 metres. 6,603Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Yet another of my favourites; the Nippon Yusen Kaisha high speed "Y" class motorship M.V. Yamagata Maru......

M.V. Yamagata Maru (iii), � Wolfgang Fuchs.

M.V. Yamagata Maru (ii), � Horst Lorenz.

M.V. Yamagata Maru (iv), � unknown.

M.V. YAMAGATA MARU; last in a class of three sisterships built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Yamashiro Maru, Yamaguchi Maru and Yamagata Maru.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki. Yard N�. 1620.
IMO 6525791
Laid down - 18th May 1965.
Launched - 11th October 1965.
Service (NYK) 16th December 1965 to 2nd July 1979.

Length 161 metres, breadth 23 metres. 10,451Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is a link to a very nice builder's model of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha "Y" class motorship M.V. Yamashiro Maru......

http://www.vallejogallery.com/item.php?id=32


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

The Osaka Shosen Kaisha ocean liner & immigrant ship S.S. Argentina Maru in her original livery (which was grey variation on the more normal black & white livery) and in her post 1964 merger Mitsui-OSK livery (vermilion funnel, off-white superstructure, teal hull and bottle green boot-topping with the ship's name in gold Kanji script on white and repeated in English in white on teal)......

S.S. Argentina Maru (i), � unknown; in Osaka Shosen Kaisha livery.

S.S. Argentina Maru (vi), � A. Duncan; in Mitsui-OSK livery.

S.S. ARGENTINA MARU, a replacement for the pre-war motorship oceanliner of the same name.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 898.
IMO 5023215
Laid down - 11th October 1957.
Launched - 4th February 1958.
Service (OSK then Mitsui-OSK) 2nd June 1958 to 20th December 1976.

Length 156.6 metres, breadth 20.4 metres. 10,864Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Another of my favourites M.V. Yamanashi Maru; a one-off high-speed motorship built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha which led to a class of three derivative sisterships - Yamashiro Maru, Yamaguchi Maru and Yamagata Maru.

M.V. Yamanashi Maru (iv), � A. Duncan.

M.V. Yamanashi Maru (ii), � Nippon Yusen Kaisha.

M.V. YAMANASHI MARU; a one-off high-speed motorship built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha which led to a class of three derivative sisterships, Yamashiro Maru, Yamaguchi Maru and Yamagata Maru.

Yamanashi Maru differed from her three Nagasaki-built sisterships by having a narrower hull, a vertical parallel-section funnel, only one open promenade deck and a slightly different design of goal-post masts.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama. Yard N�. 850.
IMO 5394559
Laid down -20th February 1962.
Launched -19th July 1962.
Service (NYK) 22nd October 1962 to 1979.

Length 161 metres, breadth 20.9 metres. 10,199Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is another poorly-documented Japanese motorship; M.V. Katsura Maru; a Tokyo Kaiji Kaisha heavylift motorship.

M.V. Katsura Maru (i), � unknown; taken at Malta.

M.V. KATSURA MARU; a one-off heavylift motorship with a 120 ton derrick built for Tokyo Kaiji Kaisha.

Builder � Nippon Kokan, Shimizu. Yard N�. 214.
IMO 6409416
Laid down - August 1963.
Launched � 9th October 1963.
Service (TKK) 11th November 1963 to 1972.

Length 107.02 metres, breadth 15.63 metres. 3,812Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Some more ships from one of my favourite classes of Nippon Yusen Kaisha motorships; the "I" class of 1965/66 built for expansion into Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Black Sea routes. All eight sisterships were not built at the same yard or by the same builder so they show slight differences in detail from each other......

Hitachi Zosen version......

M.V. Izumo Maru (iii), � A. Duncan; in a later version of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha livery without the white strake along the hull.

M.V. IZUMO MARU; one of a class of eight sisterships built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Ise Maru, Iyo Maru, Ibaraki Maru, Izumo Maru, Iwate Maru, Izumi Maru, Iwaki Maru and Iwashiro Maru.

Builder � Hitachi Zosen, Mukaishima-Onomichi. Yard N�. 4128.
IMO 6612544
Laid down - 15th November 1965.
Launched - 20th March 1966.
Service (NYK) 19th July 1966 to 17th June 1982.

Length 157 metres, breadth 22.1 metres. 10,498Grt.


Nippon Kokan version......

M.V. Ibaraki Maru (ii), � unknown.

M.V. IBARAKI MARU; one of a class of eight sisterships built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha - Ise Maru, Iyo Maru, Ibaraki Maru, Izumo Maru, Iwate Maru, Izumi Maru, Iwaki Maru and Iwashiro Maru.

Builder � Nippon Kokan, Shimizu. Yard N�. 246.
IMO 6604987
Laid down - 30th March 1965
Launched - 8th October 1965
Service (NYK) 25th December 1965 to 1978.

Length 155.4 metres, breadth 21.9 metres. 9,923Grt.


Namura Zosensho version......

M.V. Iyo Maru (ii), � A. Duncan.

M.V. IYO MARU; one of a class of eight sisterships built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Ise Maru, Iyo Maru, Ibaraki Maru, Izumo Maru, Iwate Maru, Izumi Maru, Iwaki Maru and Iwashiro Maru.

Builder � Namura Zoshensho, Osaka. Yard N�. 352.
IMO 6525442
Laid down - 18th March 1965
Launched - 30th August 1965
Service (NYK) 17th December 1965 to 30th September 1979.

Length 155.4 metres, breadth 21.9 metres. 9,931Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Yet another poorly documented motorship, M.V. Hishishima Maru. I have no idea which Japanese shipping line she sailed for......

M.V. Hishishima Maru (i), � John Clarkson.

M.V. HISHISHIMA MARU; a reefer motorship built as the Taiwan flag TAI CHIAO, sistership Tung Ching. She sailed as HISHISHIMA MARU between 1972 and 1974.

Builder � Kurushima Dockyard, Hashihama. Yard N�. 610.
IMO 6516324
Laid down - unknown.
Launched - unknown.
Service 1965 to 1985.

Length 113.5 metres, breadth 16.6 metres. 4,032Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Yet another of my favourites, the fabulous Nippon Yusen Kaisha "K" class high-speed motorship M.V. Kai Maru of 1966......

M.V. Kai Maru (vi), � Schiffsfotos Jansen.

M.V. Kai Maru (v), � unknown.

M.V. KAI MARU; last in a class of four sisterships, Kaga Maru, Kawachi Maru, Kii Maru and Kai Maru.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 963.
IMO 6621882
Laid down - 11th May 1966.
Launched - 30th September 1966.
Service (NYK) 18th December 1966 to 1986.
Jumboised into a container ship in 1979.

Length 170.9 metres, breadth 23 metres. 11,381Grt. (Length 186.9 metres. 14,136Grt Jumboised).


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

M.V. Kokyo Maru; a general cargo motorship in Daido Kaiun Kaisha service......

M.V. Kokyo Maru (i), � unknown.

M.V. KOKYO MARU; a one�off general cargo motorship built for Daido Kaiun Kaisha, she transferred to the Japan Line when Daido Kaiun Kaisha and Nitto Shosen Kaisha merged in 1964 to create Japan Line.

Builder � Nagoya Zosen, Nagoya. Yard N�. 139.
IMO 5191660
Laid Down � unknown.
Launched � 26th January 1958.
Service (Daido Kaiun then Japan Line) 1958 to 1976.

Length 149.1 metres, breadth 19.1 metres. 8,629Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

The Nitto Shosen Kaisha motorship M.V. Daiwa Maru in post merger Japan Line Ltd livery......

M.V. Daiwa Maru (v), � A. Duncan; in Japan Line Ltd livery.

M.V. DAIWA MARU; one of a pair of motorships built for Nitto Shosen Kaisha, Daiwa Maru and Howa Maru. She transferred to the Japan Line Ltd when Daido Kaiun Kaisha and Nitto Shosen Kaisha merged in 1964 to create Japan Line.

Builder � Ishikawajima�Harima Dockyard, Tokyo. Yard N�. 1,428.
IMO 5085287
Laid Down � unknown.
Launched - 17th October 1961.
Service (Nitto Shosen then Japan Line) 1962 to 1983.

Length 156 metres, breadth 19.7 metres. 9,353Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

A Nakamura Kisen Kaisha motorship that I know next-to-nothing about......

M.V. Asakirisan Maru (ii); � A. Duncan.

M.V. ASAKIRISAN MARU; a one-off motorship built for Nakamura Kisen Kaisha. Renamed SEIZAN MARU in 1966 when operated by Kyoei Kisen Kaisha (Kyoei Tanker Line). I do not know why she appears to have the Mitsui Senpaku Kisen device on her funnel in this picture.

Builder � Nishi Nippon Dockyard (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), Hiroshima. Yard No. 27.
IMO 5026487
Laid down � 6th February 1950.
Launched - 12th December 1950.
Service 24th March 1951 to 1971.

Length 139.5 metres, breadth 18.2 metres. 6,714Grt.

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

The Nippon Yusen Kaisha "A" Class motorship M.V. Akagi Maru......

M.V. Akagi Maru (v); � T. Rayner.

M.V. Akagi Maru (vi); � unknown.

M.V. AKAGI MARU; name-ship of a class of five sisterships built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha - Akagi Maru, Atami Maru, Akita Maru, Aizu Maru and Asama Maru.

Builder � Higashi Nippon Dockyard (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), Yokohama. Yard N�. 748.
IMO 5006578
Laid down - 27th December 1950.
Launched - 31st July 1951.
Service (NYK) 20th October 1951 to 1977.

Length 150.5 metres, breadth 19.1 metres. 7,610Grt.

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is one of the final fast motorships built for K-Line before the transition to containerships; M.V. Wales Maru......

M.V. Wales Maru (ii); � unknown.

M.V. Wales Maru (iii); � unknown.

M.V. Wales Maru (i); � unknown.

M.V. WALES MARU; one of a class of three fast motorships with heavylift capability for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha�s UK route, England Maru, Scotland Maru and Wales Maru. She was jumboised into a container ship in 1979 and renamed SILVER PHOENIX, then TOWER BRIDGE and then WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,149.
IMO 7033848
Laid down � unknown.
Launched � unknown.
Service (K-Line) 1970 to 1985.


Terry (Caravellarella)

Length 175 metres (200.6 metres jumboised), breadth 24.1 metres. 9,570Grt (19,037Grt jumboised).