Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, has completed the handover of the WAKASHIO MARU, a new training ship for the National Institute of Technology, Toyama College. This marks the first replacement ship for the institution in 31 years, following a christening and launch ceremony that took place in October 2025 at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works.
The WAKASHIO MARU is the fifth generation training ship for NIT, Toyama College, and is the first vessel built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for the school. The ship is designed for navigation practice, operations, and ocean-related research, alongside educational and community activities aimed at developing marine sector human resources and supporting local communities.
Equipped with disaster support functions, the ship is capable of transporting relief supplies and providing housing facilities in the event of a natural disaster. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding intends to continue leveraging its synergy with MHI Group to advance maritime development and design, contributing to the training of future maritime officers and oceanographic surveys.
The WAKASHIO MARU measures 56.48 meters in length, with a beam of 10.60 meters and a depth of 5.95 meters. It has a gross tonnage of 389 tonnes and can accommodate approximately 60 persons, achieving a service speed of 12.5 knots.