Awa Maru (1899)
Encyclopedia
The was a Japan
ese ocean liner
owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha
. The ship was built in 1899 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.
at Nagasaki, Japan
.
The ship's name comes in part from the ancient province of Awa
. This turn-of-the-20th-century Awa Maru was the first NYK vessel to bear this name. A second mid-century, 11,249 ton Awa Maru
was completed in 1943.
The ship sailed the route between Japan and England. By 1914, the ship settled into a regular schedule of sailings between Yokohama and Seattle. and she would be taken out of service in 1930.
On December 27, 1906, the Awa Maru ran aground on the West Scar Rocks off Redcar
. No lives were lost, thanks to the efforts of the Redcar
lifeboat crew and local fishermen, and after eighteen days the vessel was successfully refloated.
Arguably the most important voyage of this Awa Maru began when it left Yokohoma on February 14, 1912 carrying 3,020 cherry trees of twelve varieties. These fragile tree slips were bound for Seattle where they were trans-shipped across the North American continent via insulated freight cars. On arrival in Washington, D.C., these trees they would form the genesis of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha
Nippon Yusen
Japan-based or NYK Line, is one of the largest shipping companies in the world. It is a core Mitsubishi company. The company has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo.-1870-1900:...
. The ship was built in 1899 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
at Nagasaki, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The ship's name comes in part from the ancient province of Awa
Awa Province
Awa Province may refer to:* Awa Province in modern-day Chiba Prefecture* Awa Province in modern-day Tokushima Prefecture...
. This turn-of-the-20th-century Awa Maru was the first NYK vessel to bear this name. A second mid-century, 11,249 ton Awa Maru
Awa Maru (1943)
The was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1941-1943 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan...
was completed in 1943.
History
The ship was built by Mitsubishi at Nagasaki on the southern island of Kyushu. The keel was laid down on June 20, 1898. The Awa Maru was launched on July 27, 1899; and she was completed November 14, 1899.The ship sailed the route between Japan and England. By 1914, the ship settled into a regular schedule of sailings between Yokohama and Seattle. and she would be taken out of service in 1930.
On December 27, 1906, the Awa Maru ran aground on the West Scar Rocks off Redcar
Redcar
Redcar is a seaside resort in the north east of England, and a major town in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It lies east-northeast of Middlesbrough by the North Sea coast...
. No lives were lost, thanks to the efforts of the Redcar
Redcar
Redcar is a seaside resort in the north east of England, and a major town in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It lies east-northeast of Middlesbrough by the North Sea coast...
lifeboat crew and local fishermen, and after eighteen days the vessel was successfully refloated.
Arguably the most important voyage of this Awa Maru began when it left Yokohoma on February 14, 1912 carrying 3,020 cherry trees of twelve varieties. These fragile tree slips were bound for Seattle where they were trans-shipped across the North American continent via insulated freight cars. On arrival in Washington, D.C., these trees they would form the genesis of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington...
.