Outline of the ship Etopirika
The ship Etopirika
Etopirika is a ship that was built in accordance with the national government's Policy for the Implementation of Four-Island Exchanges and the Securement of a Successor Ship and that entered service in FY 2012. It has been used for the four-island exchange program.


Ship name | Etopirika (chosen from entries from the public) |
---|---|
Gross tonnage | 1,1,124 tons |
Length | 66.51 m |
Passenger capacity | 84 people |
Owner | Marine Adventure Co., Ltd. |
Origin of the ship name
The name Etopirika was chosen from 2,469 entries received from
throughout the country.
The ship is named after the tufted puffin ( etopirika ),
a seabird that lives in the waters of the Nemuro Peninsula and
the four northern islands. This beautiful bird has an orange
beak, cream-colored feathers sweeping down from its head, and a
white face.
The reason for selection
- The beautiful tufted puffin, which freely travels between its home (the four northern islands) and and the other islands of Japan symbolizes mutual visits under the visa-free exchange program and free visits by former islanders. It was, therefore, considered suitable for the name of a ship used for the four-island exchange program.
- In addition, the pirika of Etopirika means “beautiful” in the Ainu language, so it is also considered suitable for the ship.
