 Upon completion, the new ship sailed to Hawaii, arriving on 17 June 2003.In a ceremony at the "Ehime Maru" monument, the principal of Uwajima Fishery at the time of the disaster, Kazumitsu Joko (上甲一光 "Jōkō Kazumitsu"), read a message from Moriyuki Kato, the governor of Ehime Prefecture, addressed to the Hawaiian people.The message stated, in part, "Since the "Ehime Maru" tragic accident two years ago, the people of Hawaii have shown compassion and warm support."