CHOSUI MARU or KUROSHIO MARU

[aukepalmhof]

The cable between Singapore and Djakarta (Indonesia) was laid by two Japanese cable ships, this cable and a very small ship can be seen on an Indonesia stamp of 75r and 200r issued in 1980. It is impossible to identify which ship is on the stamp, but most probably KUROSHIO MARU she was a cable layer while the CHOSUI MARU laid only the shore ends, she was built as a training trawler. But I can’t find a photo of her on the net. I will give the details for both vessels.
Built as a training trawler under yard no 651 by Hayashikane Shipbuilding & Engineering in Nagasaki, Japan for the Nagasaki Prefecture, Nagasaki.
Launched as the CHOSUI MARU.
Tonnage 360 grt, dim. 40,1 x 7.96 x 3.84m. draught 3.69m.
Powered by one 6-cyl. diesel engine 10,50 bhp, speed 11.5 knots.
1967 Completed. IMO No 6715750.

1973 Lengthened to 50.1m. bpp. 45,1m, tonnage 473 grt, 308 dwt. Converted in a cable ship.
1979 Sold to Settsu Kisen KK, Sasebo, Japan not renamed.
1984 Sold or chartered to Sasebo Jukogyo KK, Sasebo, not renamed.
1985 Returned to Settsu Kisen KK, Sasebo, not renamed.
1989 Broken up at Sasebo.

The other ship was built as a cable ship under yard no 749 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Shimonnoseki, Japan for the Japan Telegraph & Telephone Corp., Tokyo. (comparing with the stamp I believe she is depict.)
12 March 1974 keel laid down.
01 October 1974 launched as the KUROSHIO MARU.
Tonnage 3,344 grt, 1,239 nrt, 2,645 dwt. Dim. 119.3 x 16.21 x 5.90m., draught 5.99m. Length bpp. 105.0m.
Powered by one 16-cyl. MAN/Mitsubishi diesel, 8,900 bhp. Speed 16.5 knots.
One thruster forward and one aft.
28 February 1975 completed. Imo No 7377945.

1995 Sold to Nagashima KK, Tokyo not renamed.
1998 Sold to NTT World Engineering Marine Corp., Tokyo not renamed.
29 October 2002 broken up.


Indonesia 1980 75/200r sg 1589/90, scott ?
Source: Log Book February 1989 page 130, Piet Snyers. Lloyds Registry. https://www.miramarshipindex.nz