also: ひきあげぶね
noun
evacuation boat; repatriation ship
Refers to a vessel used to evacuate or repatriate people, often in historical contexts such as post-war repatriation.
戦後、多くの引き揚げ船が中国から帰国者を運んだ。
After the war, many repatriation ships carried returnees from China.
Compound of 引き揚げ (hikiage, 'withdrawal, evacuation, repatriation') + 船 (fune, 'ship').