KAIMEI

KAIMEI (IMO: 9712448) is a baycraft vessel sailing under the Japan flag. It has an overall length of 328 feets and a beam of 69 feets.

Vessel Identification

• MMSI: 431273000
• IMO: 9712448
• Call Sign: 7JVB
• Flag: Japan
• Vessel Type: Research Vessel
• AIS Type: 31 (Research Vessel)

Specifications

• Gross Tonnage: 5,763 GT
• Length Overall: 99.9 m
• Beam: 19.0 m
• Depth: 7.9 m
• Draft: 5.8 m
• Displacement: approximately 7,000 tonnes

Propulsion

• Propulsion Type: Diesel-Electric
• Engine Configuration: Azimuth thrusters with dynamic positioning capability
• Dynamic Positioning: DP equipped
• Speed: approximately 12 knots service speed

Shipyard

• Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
• Build Year: 2016
• Country of Build: Japan

Owner / Operator

• Owner: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
• Operator: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
• Home Port: Yokohama, Japan

Navigation / Communications Equipment

• AIS Class: Class A
• Navigation Systems: GMDSS equipped
• Dynamic Positioning: Fitted with DP systems for station keeping during research operations

Operating Region

• Primary Region: Western Pacific Ocean
• Secondary Regions: Indian Ocean, Arctic and Antarctic waters
• Operational Scope: Global deep-sea research operations, frequently deployed to international waters under JAMSTEC scientific programs

Vessel Description

KAIMEI is a Japanese scientific research vessel operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). The vessel is purpose-built for deep-sea geological and geophysical research, and is notably equipped to support riser-less drilling and coring operations in the deep ocean. KAIMEI was constructed to complement the larger JAMSTEC fleet, including the drillship Chikyu, by conducting survey, sampling, and preparatory scientific missions across global ocean basins. The vessel supports a range of oceanographic research programs, including sediment coring, seismic surveys, and environmental monitoring. Its diesel-electric propulsion system and dynamic positioning capability allow it to maintain precise station keeping in open ocean conditions, essential for scientific data collection and seafloor sampling operations.