Chikyū

The Japanese part of the IODP program is called {{nihongo|Chikyū Hakken|地球発見|Chikyū Hakken}}, Japanese for "Earth Discovery". Chikyū is operated by the Centre for Deep Earth Research (CDEX), a subdivision of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). JAMSTEC also operates the DSV Shinkai, Earth Simulator supercomputer and other marine scientific research projects. CDEX is responsible for the services to support activities including on-board staffing, data management for core samples and logging; implements engineering site surveys; and conducts engineering developments. CDEX contracts with the Mantle Quest Japan Company for the navigation of the ship.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

The Chikyū Hakken program is part of an international scientific collaborative effort with scientists from the United States, ECORD, a consortium consisting of several European countries and Canada, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand (ANZIC), and India.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

D/V Chikyū was built by the Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding and launched on 18 January 2002 in Nagasaki, Nagasaki.[http://www.mes.co.jp/press/2005/20050729b.html 地球深部探査船「ちきゅう」に三井造船も貢献] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513062838/http://www.mes.co.jp/press/2005/20050729b.html |date=13 May 2010}}, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding {{inlang|ja}}. The ship was outfitted by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and delivered to JAMSTEC on 29 July 2005.[http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/CHIKYU/history.html Chikyū history page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630125526/http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/CHIKYU/history.html |date=30 June 2007}}. Retrieved 27 August 2007.

The hull of the ship is {{convert|210|m|ft|abbr=in}} long, {{convert|38|m|ft|abbr=in}} in width, {{convert|16.2|m|ft|abbr=in}} high, and has an approximate gross tonnage of about {{convert|57000|tonne}}. The ship has a draft of {{convert|9.2|m|ft|abbr=in}} and a maximum cruising speed of {{convert|12|kn|km/h mph}}. The amidships derrick is {{convert|121|m|ft|abbr=in}} above sea level, and the top drive has a lifting capacity of {{convert|1000|tonne}}. Its complement of 150 crew are divided between 100 operators and 50 science personnel, with at sea crew changes handled by helicopter transfer.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

Key innovations include a GPS system and six adjustable computer controlled azimuth thrusters ({{convert|3.8|m|ft|abbr=in|disp=or}} in diameter) that enable precise positioning to maintain a stable platform during deep water drilling. The maximum drilling water depth for riser drilling is {{convert|2500|m|ft|abbr=in}} and can support a drill string up to {{convert|10000|m|ft|abbr=in}} long.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

The helipad can serve very large helicopters transporting as many as 30 persons per landing.

The D/V Chikyū was built for deep-sea geological scientific research, which now includes not only research of earthquake-generating zones in the Earth's crust but also hydrothermal vents[http://www.jamstec.go.jp/biogeos/e/xbr/sugar/OkinawaDrilling/aboutDHBD.html The Deep Hot Biosphere Drilling]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122224930/http://www.jamstec.go.jp/biogeos/e/xbr/sugar/OkinawaDrilling/aboutDHBD.html |date=22 January 2013 }}, Deep Hot Biosphere hydrothermal vents. and subsea methane hydrate research.

{{cite news |last=Mann|first=Charles C. |title=What If We Never Run Out of Oil? |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly |date=April 2013 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/05/what-if-we-never-run-out-of-oil/309294/ |accessdate=23 May 2013 |quote=The Chikyū, which first set out in 2005, was initially intended to probe earthquake-generating zones in the planet's mantle, a subject of obvious interest to seismically unstable Japan. Its present undertaking was, if possible, of even greater importance: trying to develop an energy source that could free not just Japan but much of the world from the dependence on Middle Eastern oil.}}

On 16 November 2007 Chikyū began drilling the {{ill|NanTroSEIZE|reasonator=1}} transect as planned, reaching {{convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=in}} at the site of a future deep subsea floor observatory. The first stage of four NanTroSEIZE Stages was completed in February 2008. The whole project was envisioned to be completed by 2012.[http://www.nature.com/news/2007/071119/full/news.2007.267.html Chikyū's first mission complete] Nature News, 19 November 2007.

The ship was damaged by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. The ship was moored in the port of Hachinohe, Aomori. The tsunami wave pushed the Chikyu over the pier and the vessel sustained some damage. One of the six thrusters, No.5, was damaged and a {{convert|1.5|m|ft|adj=on|sp=us}} hole was made in the bottom. Local preliminary school children who were visiting the ship at the time of the earthquake spent one night on board and were rescued by Japan Self-Defense Forces helicopters next day. The ship was repaired at a dock in Yokohama (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) and returned to service in June 2011.[http://mainichi.jp/select/science/news/20110617k0000m040051000c.html 地球深部探査船：「ちきゅう」修理完了…津波で損傷] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618050152/http://mainichi.jp/select/science/news/20110617k0000m040051000c.html |date=18 June 2011}} {{inlang|ja}}.

According to the IODP, on 27 April 2012, Chikyū drilled to a depth of {{convert|7740|m|ft|abbr=in}} below sea level, setting a new world record for deep-sea drilling. This record has since been surpassed by the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon mobile offshore drilling unit, operating on the Tiber prospect in the Mississippi Canyon Field, United States Gulf of Mexico, when it achieved a world record for total length for a vertical drilling string of {{convert|10062|m|ft|abbr=in}}.{{cite web| url = http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-9000/deepest-oil-well-/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111017233505/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-9000/deepest-oil-well-/| archive-date = 2011-10-17| title = - - Explore Records - Guinness World Records}} The previous record was held by the U.S. vessel Glomar Challenger, which in 1978 drilled to {{convert|7049.5|m|ft|abbr=in}} below sea level in the Mariana Trench.{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/28/3581148/japan-deep-sea-drilling-probe.html |title=Japan deep-sea drilling probe sets world record |date=28 April 2012 |work=The Kansas City Star |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=28 April 2012 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120428174623/http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/28/3581148/japan-deep-sea-drilling-probe.html |archivedate=28 April 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} On 6 September 2012, scientific deep sea drilling vessel Chikyū set a new world record by drilling down and obtaining rock samples from deeper than 2,111 meters below the seafloor off the Shimokita Peninsula of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

In addition, the 27 April 2012 drilling set a record for the depth of water for drilling of {{convert|6960|m|ft|abbr=in}}. That record still stands.

File:Chikyu (drilling ship) Model.jpg]]

The D/V Chikyū is featured and plays a pivotal role in the 2006 film Sinking of Japan.

{{portal|Oceans|Science}}

• Scientific drilling program
• Project Mohole
• Kola Superdeep Borehole
• Ocean Drilling Program
• German Continental Deep Drilling Program
• San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth
• Integrated Ocean Drilling Program
• Scientific drilling ships
• JOIDES Resolution
• Glomar Challenger
• Mohorovičić discontinuity
• Earthscope
• USARRAY

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Chikyu (ship, 2002)}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071017211830/http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa004&articleID=00059DD3-A6CE-1330-A54583414B7F0000 The Biggest Dig: Japan builds a ship to drill to the earth's mantle] – Scientific American (September 2005)
• [http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/index.html JAMSTEC's Chikyu Hakken] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502023353/http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/index.html |date=2 May 2006 }}
• [http://www.iodp.org Official Page for Integrated Ocean Drilling Program]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080915004533/http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/CDEX/index.html CDEX Homepage], JAMSTEC.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080913084303/http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Expedition/NantroSEIZE/index.html NanTroSEIZE homepage at CDEX], JAMSTEC.
• [http://www.mqj.co.jp/english/company/index.html MANTLE QUEST JAPAN COMPANY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216145144/http://www.mqj.co.jp/english/company/index.html |date=16 February 2020 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517152755/http://www.iodp.org/riser-vessel/ IODP Riser Vessel homepage]
• [https://deepcarbon.net/feature/how-hot-is-too-hot#.V9Fp-4WASfE/ T-Limit Expedition]

{{Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology vessels and vehicles}}

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Category:Science and technology in Japan

Category:Structure of the Earth

Category:2002 ships

Category:Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Category:Drillships