Ship Operation
Department
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The Japan Marine Science & Technology Center (JAMSTEC) has owned: two marine systems, "SHINKAI 2000" and "SHINKAI 6500"; a 10,000m class deep sea ROV "KAIKO", research vessel, the "KAIYO"; a deep-sea research vessel, the "KAIREI"; and an oceanographic research vessel, the "MIRAI". The marine system "SHINKAI 2000" was a fleet manned research submersible the "SHINKAI 2000", a support vessel the "NATSUSHIMA" and a ROV "Dolphin-3K". The marine system "SHINKAI 6500" manned research submersible the "SHINKAI 6500" and a support vessel the "YOKOSUKA". This Center has used these vessels and vehicles to conduct various researches and tests on marine science and technologies, including deep-sea surveys and oceanographic observations. This Center has been mainly responsible for the direct operation, maintenance and servicing of the research submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles, and entrusted the operation and general servicing of the support vessel and research vehicles to marine service companies. The operation of vessels and vehicles in the business year 1999 will be summarized hereinafter. The "SHINKAI 2000" made dive surveys in the Bays of SURUGA and SAGAMI, the Sea of ENSHU, the NANKAI Trough, the waters around the NANSEI Islands, the sea areas off the coast of SANRIKU and the east coast of HOKKAIDO, the Sea of Japan, the sea area surrounding the IZU - OGASAWARA Islands, and the Manus Basin near Papua New Guinea. ROV "Dolphin-3K" not only made pre-dive surveys to confirm that the dive routes for the "SHINKAI 2000" were safe, but also conducted dive surveys in the Bays of KAGOSHIMA, SAGAMI and SURUGA, the Sea of Japan, the open sea off the coast of SANRIKU, and the sea areas around IZU-OGASAWARA and NANSEI Islands. In addition, it participated in the search for H-áUrocket engine parts. Research vessel "KAIYO" made various researches and observations, including the "Tropical Pacific Ocean Climate Study" (TOCS), the "Equatorial Pacific Tomographic Observation", the research on the interaction between the heat/mass flux and the biosphere, and the oceanic crust dynamics research. "SHINKAI 6500" made dive surveys in the Sea of Japan, the Japan Trench, the NANKAI Trough, and the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This submersible accomplished the 500th dive in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands on the 19th of August. The support vessel "YOKOSUKA" sailed to support the dive of the "SHINKAI 6500", performed missions to conduct the testing of "UROV7K" in the Japan Trench and the trial of the "R1 Robot" in real waters, and assisted in the search for H-áUrocket engine parts. In addition, this ship made the "Ocean Floor Dynamics Research" and carries out the "maintenance and servicing of the observing system on the isle OKINO-TORISHIMA". ROV "KAIKO" made dive surveys in the Mariana Trench, the sea areas off the coasts of KUSHIRO and SANRIKU, the Japan Trench, the waters around the NANSEI Islands, the open sea areas off the coast of the BOSO Peninsula and the MUROTO Point, and the NANKAI Trough. In addition, this vehicle participated in the search for H-áUrocket engine parts. "KAIREI" supported the dive of the "KAIKO", and made surveys in the open sea off MIYAGI, the Japan Trench, the open sea off SHIKOKU, and the NANKAI Trough by using the on-board multi-channel reflection survey system. In addition, it conducted surveys in the Sea of Philippine Mariana and the Polynesian Sea by using such means as multi-narrow beam echo sounders, and sailed to make the emergency recovery of TRITON buoys. "MIRAI" made observations and researches on the "dynamics of the Pacific Ocean North subpolar-to-subtropical zone circulatory system" (in Japan's eastern waters), the "air-sea interaction" (in the Nauru waters), the "mass flux in high-latitude waters" (in the Pacific Ocean northwest area), the "polar waters" (in the Seas of Beaufort, Chukchi and Bering), the "primary production in the equatorial zone" (in the Pacific tropical equatorial waters), and the "Western Tropical Pacific Ocean" (in the Western Pacific Ocean equatorial waters). These vessels and vehicles were subjected to periodical servicing and inspection and various improvements were made in their performance. |
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Operation of the "SHINKAI 2000/NATSUSHIMA"
The support mother ship "NATSUSHIMA" made 16 missions in the business year 1999. The courses that the ship took are given in Table 1, and the waters in which it sailed are shown in Fig 1.
The "SHINKAI 2000" made 7 dive missions, while the "Dolphin-3K" carried out 9 missions.
The Dive survey projects were drawn up by The Annual Deep-sea Research Project Review Committee, discussed by the Deep-sea Research Project Implementation Committee, and implemented according to the annual schedule approved by the JAMSTEC Board of Directors.
For the "SHINKAI 2000", 7 missions and 90 dives (including trial and training dives) were planned for the business year 1999. In the year, the vessel actually made 70 survey dives and 14 trial and training dives, 84 in total, in the Bays of SURUGA and SAGAMI, the Sea of ENSHU, the NANKAI Trough, the sea areas around the NANSEI and IZU-OGASAWARA Islands, the Sea of Japan off the east coast of HOKKAIDO, and the Magnus Basin.
The "Dolphin-3K" not only made 4 trial dives, but also 44 pre-dive surveys to confirm the safety of the diving routes for the "SHINKAI 2000", and research dives in the Bay of KAGOSHIMA, the waters around the IZU-OGASAWARA Islands, the Sea of Japan, the open sea off the coast of SANRIKU, and the Bay of SURUGA. In January 2000, this vehicle made 3 additional dives to search for H-áUrocket engine parts. As a result, it made 51 dives in total in the business year 1999.
The vessel and vehicle were opened to the public at their ports of call, TSURUGA (July 25), HAKODATE (August 1).
Fig.1 Research Area of "NATSUSHIMA" in 1999 Fiscal year
Operation of "SHINKAI 6500/YOKOSUKA"
The support mother ship "YOKOSUKA" made 10 missions in the business year 1999. The courses that the ship took are given in Table 2, and the waters in which the ship sailed are shown in Fig 2.
The vessel "SHINKAI 6500" made 6 dive missions, while the ship "YOKOSUKA" carried out 4 missions alone.
The dive survey projects were drawn up by The Annual Deep-sea Research Project Review Committee, discussed by the Deep-sea Research Project Implementation Committee, and implemented according to the annual schedule approved by the JAMSTEC Board of Directors.
For the "SHINKAI 6500", 6 missions and 75 dives (including trial and training dives) were planned for the business year 1999. In the year, the vessel actually performed 60 survey and training dives and 4 trial dives, 64 in total, in the Sea of Japan, the Japan Trench, the NANKAI Trough, and the waters around the Hawaiian Islands.
The "YOKOSUKA" carried out its own missions to conduct the demonstration tests on the unmanned underwater vehicle "UROV-7K" (in the Japan Trench) and the "R1 Robot" (in the Bay of SURUGA and the Reef of MYOJIN), and the "Ocean Floor Dynamics Study" (in the sea areas around the IZU-OGASAWARA and Mariana Islands), and undertook the "maintenance and inspection of the observing system on the isle OKINO-TORISHIMA.
These vessels were opened to the public at their port of call, Honolulu, Hawaii (August 28).
Fig.2 Reserch Area of "YOKOSUKA" in 1999 Fiscal year
Circle: "SHINKAI6500" Research dive
Triangle: "YOKOSUKA" Research
Operation of the "KAIREI/KAIKO"
The deep-sea research vehicle "KAIREI" made 12 missions in the business year 1999. The courses that the vehicle took are indicated in Table 3, and the waters in which it sailed are shown in Fig 3.
The unmanned underwater vehicle "KAIKO" made 3 trial and training missions, 4 dive research missions, and 2 oceanic crust dynamics research missions. The "KAIREI" carried out 3 missions alone.
The "KAIKO" made 11 trial and training dives, and 36 research dives in the open sea off the coast of SANRIKU, the Japan Trench, the waters around the NANSEI Islands, the sea off the Point of MUROTO, and the NANKAI Trough.
The oceanic crust dynamics researches were conducted by using a multi-channel reflection survey system and ocean bottom seismometers in the open sea off SHIKOKU, the NANKAI Trough, the open sea off MIYAGI, and the Japan Trench.
The "KAIREI" conducted surveys by using its on-board observing equipment in the Philippine Mariana and Polynesian waters. In addition, it sailed to make the emergency recovery of TRITON buoys.
Fig.3 Research Area of "KAIREI" in 1999 Fiscal year
Circle: "KAIKO" Research dive
White Triangle: "KAIREI" Research
Black Triangle: Research by MCS
Operation of the "KAIYO"
The ocean investigation ship "KAIYO" has a special hull (semi-submerged catamaran), and presents many advantages such as a large working deck space with a small amount of pitching and rolling. As a result, this ship is applicable to a variety of oceanographic researches. It made 8 missions in the business year 1999. The courses that the ship took are shown in Table 4, and the waters in which it sailed are shown in Fig 4.
The "KAIYO" performed 2 missions to conducted "observations by using an ocean acoustic tomography system" (in the Mid Tropical Pacific waters), and to carry out the "development of an observing technology and the observations and researches on the air-sea interaction (TOCS)" (in the Western tropical pacific waters).
It carried out 1 mission to conduct the "multiple reflection sound field measuring tests" (in the NANKAI Trough).
In addition, the "KAIYO" performed 3 deep-sea research missions in the Bay of SAGAMI, the waters around the NANSEI Islands and the open sea off the coast of SANRIKU, including deep-sea towing and researches by using a "Deep Tow" and multi-narrow beam echo sounders. It also carried out 2 missions to conduct oceanic crust dynamics surveys by using a multi-channel reflection survey system and ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs).
The ship was opened to the public at its port of call SEKINEHAMA (in the period of July 24 to 25).
Fig.4 Research Area of "KAIYO" in 1999 Fiscal year
Operation of the "MIRAI"
The ocean and earth research vessel "MIRAI" made 8 missions in the business year 1999. The courses that the vessel took are indicated in Table 5, and the waters in which it sailed are shown in Fig 5.
This research vessel performed 8 missions to conduct oceanographic observations and researches, including the "researches on mass flux at high latitudes", the "observations and researches on the dynamics of the Pacific Ocean North subpolar-to-subtropical zone circulation system", the "observations and researches on the air-sea interaction", the "observations and researches on the mass flux in high latitude waters", the "observations and researches on the Arctic Ocean", the "observations and researches on the primary production in the equatorial zone" and the "observations and researches on the Western Tropical Pacific Ocean".
This vessel was opened to the public at OHARAI (May 2), TSURUGA (July 18) and SHIMIZU (August 4).
Fig. 5 Research Area of "MIRAI" in 1999 Fiscal year
(1) MR99-K02
Observational Studies on the Material Cycle in
the High Latitude Sea
(2) MR99-K03
Observational Studies in Air-Sea interaction
(3) MR99-K04
The Subtropical Gyre and the Subpolar Gyre in
the North Pacific Ocean
(4) MR99-K05
Observational Studies in the Arctic Ocean
(5) MR99-K06
Observational Studies in the Western Tropical
Pacific Ocean
(6) MR99-K07
Observational Studies on Primary Productivity in
the Equatorial Pacific Ocean
(7) MR00-K01
Observational Studies on the Material Cycle in
the High Latitude Sea
(8) MR00-K02
Observational Studies in the Western Tropical
Pacific Ocean