minesweeper 復習
高知県沖で海上自衛隊の乗組員が海自掃海艇から転落し、行方不明となっています。
Sailor missing after falling into sea from minesweeper off Kochi Prefecture
KOCHI – A Maritime Self-Defense Force sailor was missing Sunday after falling into the sea from a minesweeper off Kochi Prefecture, the MSDF said.
The sailor who is in his 20s fell from the Yakushima while working on the deck with several other crew members around 8:45 a.m. some 10 km (6 miles) south of Cape Muroto, the MSDF said, adding it began searching for him with help from the Japan Coast Guard.
The incident took place as the vessel was returning to Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture after conducting drills in Ise Bay off Mie Prefecture.
今回取り上げる表現は、見出しにもある"minesweeper"です。『ジーニアス英和辞典』第4版(大修館)で調べてみると、「(機雷除去の)掃海艇」とありました。LDOCEでは、"a ship with special equipment for removing bombs from under water"と載っていました。
機雷とは、船が接触、または接近すると爆発する兵器で、敵水域の封鎖や航路の防衛のために使われます。機雷を撤去することを掃海と言います。(コトバンク)(Akim)
