She was decommissioned in July 2008, and is expected to revive under the new owner as a facility for observation and exhibition regarding weather and environment.

In 2008, the government began to invite public contribution of plans to utilize this ship after the scheduled retirement.

As to the first invitation, however, none of the plans was adopted mainly due to prime cost and problem on securing safety.

On its website, Weathernews says it hopes to rename it as "SHIRASE" (not in hiragana but in Latin alphabet capitals) and to utilize it as a facility for monitoring the polar circles, for observing weather around Tokyo and for exhibitions, discussions and experiences on climate changes and global environment.

[3]) This glacier bears the family name, which is written in kanji, of Lieutenant Nobu Shirase, a Japanese pioneer of Antarctic exploration.