Our training ship fleet consists of five training ships, which are two sailing ships, Nippon Maru and Kaiwo Maru, two diesel ships, Ginga Maru and Seiun Maru and one turbine ship, Taisei Maru.
Nippon Maru
Nippon Maru was built in 1984, equipped with two diesel engines as a substitute ship “the second Nippon Maru” to take the place of the former Nippon Maru which was engaged in the sea training for more than half a century. Nippon Maru is the largest sized sail training ship that was built only by Japanese own technologies for the first time, including design and manufacture of sailing gears.
Kaiwo Maru
Kaiwo Maru was built in 1989 as a substitute ship “the second Kaiwo Maru” to take the place of the former Kaiwo Maru as well as Nippon Maru. Although Kaiwo Maru is almost the same size and type sail training ship as Nippon Maru, it is highlighted to adopt feathering propellers different from Nippon Maru equipped with conventional propellers. The builder/owner of Kaiwo Maru was The Training Ship Education Support Association (currently, Maritime Academy Foundation) at that time, and she was built by combining the governmental subsidy, the subsidy from the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation, public subscription and a loan from a bank. NIST puts Kaiwo Maru into effect for continuous sea training by leasing her from TESA with a new mission to familiarize maritime consciousness, accepting twenty trainees from the public several times a year.
Taisei Maru
Taisei Maru was built in 1980 as a substitute ship “the third Taisei Maru” to take the place of the former Taisei Maru. Taisei Maru is equipped with steam turbine plant as its propulsion system and is a unique steam turbine training ship that has been in service since another steamer ship “Hokuto Maru” was decommissioned in 2004.
Ginga Maru
Ginga Maru is the newest training ship built in 2004, equipped with a diesel engine and CPP as a substitute ship “the third Ginga Maru” to take the place of the former Ginga Maru. A new concept, that is response to the marine intelligent transport system, to modernization of domestic vessels and to functions as a training ship for the next generation, was adopted when she was built.
Seiun Maru
Seiun maru was built in 1994, equipped with a diesel engine, CPP and fin stabilizer as a substitute ship “the second Seiun Maru” to take the place of the former Seiun Maru. The engine room was located in the semi-afterpart of the hull for the first time and also designed to be able to sail an around-the-world voyage in 75 days. When she was built, new facilities such as onboard ship handling simulator, classroom in tiers, sports dome, sanitary accommodations for the cadets from abroad, and etc, were installed, considering embarkation of foreign cadets which was an additional mission newly given to her.
