Japan commissions third Awaji-class minesweeper 16 March 2021 by Kosuke Takahashi The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned its third Awaji-class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) in a ceremony held on 16 March in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Named Etajima (with pennant number MSO 306), the 67 m-long boat was inducted into the service’s Minesweeper Division 3 at the Kure naval base in Hiroshima Prefecture shortly after being handed over by shipbuilder Japan Marine United (JMU) Corporation, which also built the other two ships of the class. The JMSDF commissioned Etajima , its third Awaji-class MCMV, in a ceremony held on 16 March in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.