Japanese Icebreaker Shirase Reaches Showa Base in Antarctica

December 26, 2018

Tokyo--The Japanese icebreaker Shirase has reached the country's Showa Station research base on Antarctica, the science ministry said Wednesday.

Around 8:25 p.m. on Tuesday Japan time (11:25 a.m. GMT), the ship berthed at a point some 500 meters from the base. Work to transport fuel, foods and other items from the Shirase to Showa Station will start later.

If things go smoothly, the just-arrived 60th Japanese expedition team will succeed the 59th team, which is now on a research mission at the base, in late February 2019. Jiji Press