Patrol boat encountering a giant tsunami off the coast of Fukushima prefecture (Footage provided by Japan Coast Guard) The Japanese text is followed by an English translation. Footage (taken from aboard) of a tsunami encountered by a patrol boat of the Japan Coast Guard off the coast of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, about an hour after the earthquake. A little after 3:45 p.m., the Miyagi Coast Guard patrol boat "Matsushima" (as it was then called) was sailing offshore, about 5 km off the coast of Soma City. On the sea surface 3.3 miles (about 5.3 km) ahead, a long line of black, muddy high waves could be seen, covering the horizon as if they were filling the entire field of vision. Some of the high waves in the distance to the left of the direction of travel were whitecaps, indicating the power of the waves. Watching from a distance as another ship sailing to the right of the course overcame the high waves, the crew predicted that the waves would reach 10 meters in height. The ship was moving at 11 knots (about 16km/h), and the distance between it and the high waves was gradually decreasing. "Both sides, 10 degrees forward!"... Commands and responses were made to steer the ship vertically against the high waves, and the cameraman was also instructed to keep the camera steady and ready to face the shock and vibration of a direct hit from the wave. When the wave finally approached to within 9 cables (0.9 nautical miles = about 1,700 meters), the tension inside the ship increased even more, and various shouts were heard in rapid succession, such as "It's coming! Everyone, hold on to something!!" and "Hold your ground firmly!". About four and a half minutes after the start of the video, the ship finally crossed the first wave, and the view through the porthole changed suddenly, as if it had gone over a large mountain, and then plummeted in the next moment. The crew members also let out groans of indescribable shock. Just as the relieved voice of "We've made it!" rang out, another wave appeared ahead, approaching the ship. A voice that sounded like the captain ordered the ship to speed up and move further out to sea. With tension at an extremely high level, the ship faced the threat of a second and third wave... Footage: Tsunami encountered by the Japan Coast Guard's patrol boat off the coast of Soma city in Fukushima prefecture about an hour after the earthquake occurred. (Recorded from aboard the ship) Past 3:45 pm in the afternoon, patrol boat “Matsushima” from Miyagi Coast Guard Office was heading out to sea, about 5km offshore of Soma city. 3.3 miles (5.3km) ahead on the sea surface, a muddy high wave stretching right and across one's field of view on the horizon can be visually confirmed. The high waves traveling to the left in the distance are forming whitecaps in one area, indicative of its raging power. Confirming the way in which another boat sailing in the distance to the right along the route is overcoming the high wave, crew members estimate that the maximum height of the wave could be as high as 10m. The ship is traveling at 11 knots (16km/h) and the distance between the high wave is steadily shrinking. “Props, 10 degrees ahead!” Instructions and responses to steer the ship vertically against the high waves are exchanged vocally. The recorder of the video is instructed to hold the camera steady in case the ship is directly hit by the wave, creating shock and oscillation. Finally, the wave approaches 9 cable lengths (0.9 nautical miles=1700m) and tension fills the air. “It's coming! Hold on everyone!!” “Brace yourself!” A number of screams and shouts follow in succession. 4 and a half minutes from the beginning of the video, the ship finally crosses over the first wave and the view from the porthole rapidly changes from a great mountain to a plunge the next second. Crew members are startled and let out a moan for a lack of words. “We did it!” Words of relief are heard in a passing moment, but another high wave is accomplished up ahead. The Captain's voice instructs to move further out into the sea, at a faster speed. Under extreme stress, the ship faced the threat of the second and third wave.