An item reported that the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru joined by 8 chasers arrived at Gage Roads, Fremantle, Australia for stores and water. The 550 feet long 16.800 register tons factory ship was built for around 500.000 pound sterling at Kobe, Japan. Oil capacity 21.000 tons. The single 6.000hp diesel engine allowed a speed of 14,5 knots. Captain Kantako Okamoto with a crew numbering 215 men including 30 officers. The expected catch was 1.600 whales equivalent of the 18.000 tons oil. Returning from the season were the chasers bound for Japan with the factory staff embarked while the Nisshin Maru would transport the oil to Europe and return around July via the USA towards Japan. The factory had a fuel oil bunker capacity of 15.00 tons sufficient for the chasers during the season, return to Fremantle and the voyage to Europe. The fuel oil tanks were after cleaning to be used for storing the whale oil. Except for this expedition was a second Japanese expected also consisting of a factory ship and 5 years, but the next season was even spoken about 4 factory ships.
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