Marine Ecosystems Research Department - jamstec japan agency ...

JAMSTEC 2002 Annual Report
Research Support Department
Fig. 5 R/V MIRAI Cruise Tracks, FY02
Ocean) days; and research on material circulation
in high-latitude sea areas (northwestern Pacific
Ocean) days.
From April to May , MIRAI underwent a
statutory routine inspection at the Shimonoseki
Shipyard & Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries, Ltd. during which checks and maintenance
were carried out on the various systems and equipment
in preparation for BEAGLE hydrographic
survey in the southern hemisphere.
7. Deep-sea survey systems
() SHINKAI
SHINKAI was scheduled to undertake seven
missions and dives (including test and training
dives) during the year, and completed research
dives and test/training dives for a total of dives
around the Nansei Islands, Suruga Bay, Sagami Bay,
Nankai Trough and Izu-Ogasawara.
On November , SHINKAI completed
its ,th and final dive in Sagami Bay, bringing an
end to its operational life of years, and on
November it was brought ashore to the Yokosuka
Headquarters submersible maintenance yard.
Many researchers expressed great regret at the operational
retirement of SHINKAI , and several academic
societies and associations started a signature
campaign.
() SHINKAI
SHINKAI was scheduled to undertake five
missions and dives (including test and training
dives) during the year, and completed research
dives and test/training dives for a total of dives
around the Nansei Islands, Nankai Trough, Suruga
Bay, Sagami Bay, Chishima Trench, and around
Hawaii and Java-Sunda Trench.
Between November , and February ,
SHINKAI underwent a statutory routine inspection
at the submersible maintenance yard during which
all equipment and systems were thoroughly checked
and where necessary parts were replaced to maintain its
performance. Following this inspection, it conducted
test dives, including a maximum depth dive, around the
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