The tragic events in Japan have evoked a large scale
international relief effort as the nation continues to deal with
the enormity of the disaster. World-wide, maritime nations have
been quick to respond and ships of all types have been deployed
off the coast of Japan, providing humanitarian assistance to
victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Australian-
built ships are among this number, playing their own part in the
relief effort. Both Aomori on Honshu and Hakodate on Hokkaido,
the traditional home ports for Incat-built 367.5-ft catamaran
Natchan World, have been hectic. The Hokkaido government has
been sending supply and personnel to the region and scenes at
the ferry terminal there revealed the scale of the operation to
move freight across Tsugaru Strait for onward travel to the
worst affected areas. The Natchan World has been operating for
the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, making three round trips per
day to transport soldiers and their vehicles. Her role is the
latest humanitarian deployment