Summary

A Short History of Construction of 'Chikyu' -What drives our passion to materialize a New Riser Equipped Scientific Drilling Vessel ?-

I. The Inception of the Idea to develop 'Chikyu' samples from the Nankai Trough earthquake zone off the The 'Chikyu' a scientific deep drilling vessel with coast of Japan (Nature v. 450 , 19 December 2007 , pp 1134 - a marine riser system was launched after a 15 year period of 1135 )' (Figure VI. 3-2 on page 264 ). research and development carried out with the collaboration What does this 'Chikyu' mean for the scholars of of administrative, industrial and academic groups in Japan. It earth sciences who are striving to understand the earth as a is a result of the accumulation of methodical progress in complicated but unified dynamic system? In one word, the ocean drilling science and technology driven by the dreams 'Chikyu' is a symbol of the new phase of the revolution in of the earth science researchers in the world, and the soul of earth sciences in the 21 st Century. Efforts toward Japanese and oil and natural gas production understanding the earth system were started as early as the well design engineers (Figures on cover page). beginning of 17 -th century; first by F. Bacon who noticed The scientific measuring instruments aboard the that the coastal outlines of America and Africa seemed to fit vessel are astonishingly marvelous. These highly each other in great detail. sophisticated high-speed and precise measurement and In the ages of the Great Navigation around the globe, analyzing systems are provided for post-cruise research by which continued from the middle of 15 -th century to the scientists participating IODP program aboard the scientific beginning of 17 -th century, R. Descartes described his drilling vessels and platforms offered by Japan, USA and intuition that there should be some dynamic, convection- Europe. The measurement equipment at onboard and type motion deep inside the Earth. Since G. Galilei proposed onshore laboratories was planned through the coordinated the heliocentric theory, scientific research played an efforts of Kochi Core Research Institute, JAMSTEC and important role in changing mankind's understanding of the Kochi University at the Kochi University campus. A universe. This was the time of the first revolution in our beautiful shore-based research environment was built for the concepts about the heavenly bodies and the earth. People of first time in the history of Ocean Drilling Programs (DSDP, the Occident started to regard the earth as a unified system. IPOD and ODP) through the efforts of Japan in The second revolution of earth sciences started at the collaboration with the ODP implementation operators at beginning of 20 -th century and corresponded to the end of TAMU. Based on present technology, the best of all the the storm of social and political revolution that swept over available scientific research tools are brought together at this the Eurasian Continent during the 18 th - 19 th century - the laboratory. Soviet socialistic revolution for example. At this time the Let us refer to the subject as it appeared in the revolution in the earth sciences started with the theory of popular journal Nature; Subject 2007 , The year in which continental drift, including the false hypothesis of - the Chikyu drilling ship set sail -- Japan's gigantic oceanization of the continental plate. The continental drift research ship Chikyu set off on its first scientific hypothesis forced people to consider the possibility that expedition. The 210 -metre and US$ 526 -million drilling some intense dynamic motion was taking place inside the vessel completed its first mission in November ( 2007 ). earth. The mantle convection theory, the spreading of the Its long-term goal is to obtain six kilometres of rock seafloor, the subduction of the lithosphere into the lower part

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of the mantle, geomagnetic field self-reversal and many However, US scientists were stubborn as usual. other theories were put forward. We may call this time the Having been disappointed by the “Mohole Project ”, they second revolution in the earth sciences. overcame political and economic difficulties by focusing on The initial trial to prove that there should be a deep-sea sediment and rock recovery using conventional oil dynamic motion within the Earth was to study the internal drilling technologies. They resumed their efforts with the structure of the Earth's crust through seismological methods. promising and prosperous Deep Sea Drilling Project. , As It is a conventional technique in science that the theoretical described in detail in the book Glomar Challenger at Sea (by output is to be fed back and compared with the measured K.Hsu, October 1, 1992 ), a full-scale scientific drilling plan facts and vice versa. In the early years of seismic was resumed with the initiation of the Deep Sea Drilling exploration scientists had to scrape off the strata from the top Project. These efforts (DSDP: from 1963 to 1973 , IPOD of the crustal surface to delineate the layered structure [International Phase of Ocean Drilling], 1973 to 1983 : ODP obtained by seismic shooting (usually using high-powered [Ocean Drilling Program] from 1983 to 2003 ) have led all of seismic sources such as dynamite). In the present day us into a new era and the third revolution in earth sciences. inverse methods are used in seismological structural study The economic growth of Japan in the second half of that take a large number of widely distributed observational 1970 s was quickly followed by a rapid growth in the points in a large volume of raw data and then rearrange and exchange program with foreign countries. In the field of resort the data using a high speed computer to clarify the Japanese earth sciences, the development of international structure of the interior of the shallow part of the Earth. joint research projects prospered. The French geological During and after World War II, the technologies of survey ship Jean Charcot, the deep sea research submersible oil exploration and production, well drilling and excavation Nautile (with the mother ship Nadir and L'Atalante) and the of deep seated natural resources developed a great deal, German seismic survey ship Sonne, for example, all visited particularly in the United States. There was a big discussion our country in the first half of 1980 s. These international in the 1950 s about the possibility of drilling deep into the interactions showed us that there were differences in Earth's crust to reach the mantle underneath. There was also technology and management systems between Japan and a discussion of the possibility of drilling a deep hole beneath other developed countries that seemed scarcely considered the bottom of the abyssal . Late in the 1950 s the by Japan. This situation must have been the same as that of ocean floor drilling program started and gave us new the noble-minded patriots 'Samurai (Japanese ancient scientific results, mostly on the physical properties of some worrier)' who gazed at the Western warships or U.S. Black serpentine rocks brought up from the bottom of a drill hole Battle Ships in the last stage of the Edo era. Too many in the eastern North Pacific. Soon after the beginning of this things, for example equipment, technology, and the system project, there was some scandal invoving cost over-runs and of management, were different from those of Japan, and we the program was suddenly terminated in 1966 - seemingly were forced to consider that the Japanese researchers were because of some quibbles over the logistics of hole drilling all but helpless to try to absorb the technological and implementation and budgetary difficulties. Earth scientists managerial know-how from foreign developed countries. were disappointed, for they had been looking forward to However, the psychological tsunami of this time became the more analytical results of drilled rock samples brought up ignition agent in the argument for our own reformation of one after another from beneath the eastern Pacific Ocean the Japanese scientific management systems in later years. seabed. With time, the number of the Japanese university

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researchers participating in IPOD and ODP gradually Westerners. They built a full-scale citizen hospital taking increased. The IPOD and ODP offered by U.S. into account the comprehensive scientific foundation of that (one Leg consists of 55 -60 seafaring days mostly) was a time. This opportunity became the first light (dusk) of the great project that added to the deep sea drilling experience of Japanese medical regime, i.e., the ancient regime declined these researchers. The research proposals that were and was replaced by a much more modern medical regime. addressed in these projects stood a long examination on the The same kind of transition occurred at the end of 1970 s international table based on free and critical discussions within the old regime of Earth sciences in Japan. The among researchers, and met a severe and narrow-gated revolution that was brought about was equivalent to the selection by voting. The responsibilities of project shock of 'Black US Battle Ships in Showa (latest stage of participants included not only scientific activities onboard 20 -th Century)'. the drilling vessel but also active participation in project This cultural shock was transferred to a certain level research before and after a particular voyage (Leg). within the Japanese intellectual society and then shook the While many of participating researchers from Japan administrative management of Japanese science and felt a shock in this new way of doing things, they picked up technology. It resulted in a buildup of the fundamental science speed to accommodate Western culture and science. They plans of the Science and Technology Agency of Japan (present were taught lessons also from colleagues and visited a large Monbukagakusho: MEXT). The necessity of increasing the number of famous research institutes in the United States quality and quantity of scientific ocean research by a quantum and Europe. The experiences obtained through these leap was made clear. This revolution in scientific thinking international activities of our colleagues were not mere triggered a fusion of ocean oriented industrial, administrative experiences, they began to bring about a tremendous and academic sectors and promoted an endeavor to develop a reconsideration and change to the management of the deep new government-owned seafaring research system. As a result sea research in Japan itself. Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (present Japan We began to consider that Earth science in the past Agency for Marine-Earth Science and TEChnology: had been just a collection of individual knowledge fragments (reorganization to the present Agency in 2004 )) was founded in and that we could simply glue these fragments together to 1971 , nine years after the foundation of Ocean Research make one seemingly complete picture we could imagine in Institute (ORI), the University of Tokyo in 1962 . JAMSTEC our mind. We thought that we must turn this approach (technology oriented organization) soon took the lead in the completely upside down; that we should look at things in a Japanese oceanographic research, in coordination with ORI holistic way. This change of atmosphere in Earth sciences (education oriented), and started a number of large scale seemed to be a copy of the transition in the Japanese medical projects. This could not have occurred if there had been no systems at the end of Edo era. Young people coming from quantum leap of transition in the seafaring research scheme as the Chinese physician school found that they had to change described above. JAMSTEC ’s fleet started to present itself in their medical system from the Chinese-oriented one to that various parts of the world oceans as if they were pursuing the of Netherlands-oriented medical system. The old fashioned scientific fleets of the western developed countries (refer to Chinese system was gradually replaced by Dutch-directed http://www.jamstec.go.jp/j/about/equipment/ships/shinkai 65 medicine from the Outpost (Dejima) Nagasaki, at the 00 .html with its photo here). western tip of Kyushu (one of the Japanese big islands), On the other hand, ORI strove for the promotion of which the Edo Shogun regime had only opened to the international joint research projects and the cultivation of

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talented people. ORI became the National center of ODP We hoped also that the outcome of the present endeavor will Japan and heightened the international presence of Japan. be transferred to people in the future. One example of our ORI followed this path in cooperation with other research providing this new technology and research capability is the organizations, such as the Institute of Industrial Science construction of the drilling vessel ‘Chikyu ’ with a deep-sea (IIS), the University of Tokyo, and other institutions marine riser. When we promoted the acquisition of this working for the success of the JAMSTEC project. unprecedented large scientific drilling vessel with an ultra- As a result, JAMSTEC obtained a well equipped high capability not only in drilling power but also in holistic seismic survey vessel right after the tragic Kobe (Hyogo-ken analytical power, we understood that an extremely large Nambu) Great quake in 1995 , and was able to start a number amount of help and cooperation would be needed from of large scale and long range seismic surveys.. At this time it scientific, administrative and industrial fields for the was able to make an around the globe research cruise with realization of this gigantic vessel in the beginning of 21 st the unmanned submersible SHINKAI 6500 and its mother Century. The history of ODP (DSDP, IOPD and ODP) has ship Kairei. The Kariel sailed from the East Pacific Rise been described in detail by Kenneth Hsu (Challenger at Sea, through Panama, to theWoods Hole Oceanographic by Kenneth J. Hsu, in Germany, Princeton Univ. Press, Institution, to Plymouth, and the Midatlantic Ridge, and to October 1, 1992 ) and Noriyuki Nasu (Half century being the Atlantis Transform fault in the Indian Ocean. The enchanted by the ocean, in Japanese, JAMSTEC Press, research carried out on this expedition focused mainly on the 2001 ). hydrothermal venting activities at the spreading ridges. We must recognize that some opinions have been Furthermore, another big contribution to the global expressed against the construction of this vessel by Japan. by the research vessel Mirai (an ice-proof One of the representative opinions on this matter was a research vessel) was performed in 2003 (lasting for about 10 question raised by Dr. K. Hsu. He was quite suspicious of months). This expedition investigated marine environmental the Japanese proposal to reach for the seismogenic fault zone change around the world in the Southern Hemisphere (a part by scientific drilling using a huge amount of funds, which of WOCE program). might suppress the financial freedom of other fields of earth The monitoring of seismic and tsunami activities sciences. He is not sure, he says, if the expenditure in this associated with large crustal deformation on the seabed manner would promote a conviction and advocacy among around the Japanese islands was started in the same period the Japanese, as well as the world taxpayers. It is true that we of time. This monitoring used cable-connected must acknowledge his concern, but at the same time we seismometers, pressure gauges, tiltmeters and thermometers would like to point out that his comments were made after with ultra-high resolution. Another task taken up by he had left his previous lifework of understanding the JAMSTEC was the development of a heavy duty mechanism of earth ’s environmental change by scientific autonomous underwater vehicle which could cruise as long ocean drilling using a huge amount of money given by as 1000 hours and as far as a few thousand kilometers. This taxpayers. He then moved to a commercial oil company. His vehicle was used in a number of pre-programmed argument is quite right from the viewpoint of entrepreneurs autonomous deep sea surveys, particularly deep in the trench of oil exploration companies who, as very large taxpayers, areas around Japan. We intended to make available every may look at time- and money-consuming sciences kind of submarine technology and research capability protectively. transferred from the past to the scholar of the present day. The rapid advancement in the earth science of Japan

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during and after the 1970 s started from the cooperation of scheme of a new drilling vessel in 1989 . After the first Japanese researchers with foreign researchers within ODP. approval of funding ( 1990 ) for initiation of study on the This interaction made ODP-raised Japanese scientists basic components of a possible new drilling vessel, in 1990 confident that they were in a main stream of the earth STA and JAMSTEC were invited to observe one of the sciences that was leading research plans in other branches of ODP working groups, the Technology and Engineering scientific research in Japan. The birth of ‘Chikyu ’ could be Development Committee, TEDCOM. only successful because of tight support from many senior The ship construction and development technology members of governmental agencies, expertise of scientific group of JAMSTEC had, at the same time, endeavored to institutions and innumerable people who took an active part learn more about deep sea drilling technologies by aiming at development of the ocean-earth and environmental participating in a number of technology-oriented ODP Legs, sciences of Japan. It is not an overstatement that the for example Leg 142 (East Pacific Rise, 1992 ), Leg 158 research-and-development activities through ‘Chikyu ’ are (TAG active hydrothermal mound, 1994 ) and Leg 169 S going to be a new revolution in earth sciences in the sense (Saanich Inlet, 1996 ). While young people of JAMSTEC that this opportunity can make an innovative leap into the joined a number of these ODP Legs, TEDCOM developed next generation of earth sciences. their discussion and offered a series of comments, which the JAMSTEC designing team accepted. In the first stage of the II. Sprouting of ‘Chikyu’ construction future IODP (post-ODP) the riser system would extend to as It has been a long lasting desire of people working in long as 2500 m and in the later stage of IODP, the riser will the field of shipbuilding technology and architectural have to be extended to 4500 m. This was one of the most engineering to construct a new type of research, survey and important proposals put forward by the global ocean marine observation system. This system has to be able to reach far drilling science community and this configuration has also beyond the boundaries limited by presently available been accepted by CONCORD (CONference on Coordinated methodology in the natural earth sciences. This desire was in Ocean Riser Drilling, 1997 ) as well as by related good accordance with the basic understanding of the Science international meetings (COMPLEX and APLACON, both in and Technology Agency (STA) that some development of 1999 ) after CONCORD. cutting edge science and technology should be launched. After Finally JASMTEC accepted the proposal of the long and heated discussions of policy decisions, JAMSTEC marine science community as authorized by the Japanese started construction of a three-man Research Submersible Council for Ocean Development and in 2000 started ‘SHINKAI 6500 ’ in 1988 . In 1989 this vessel reached the sea construction of a new deep sea drilling vessel under the bottom as deep as 6527 m off Sanriku in the Japan Trench. auspices of STA. This initiative was widely accepted by JAMSTEC also designed a tethered rescue vessel ‘Kaiko ’ just marine researchers at universities and institutions in the USA in case SHINKAI 6500 would be trapped somewhere deep on and in many of the European countries. Such international the bottom of the ocean. The construction of Kaiko started approval compelled Ocean Research Institute (ORI), the early in spring, 1995 . Kaiko will be found in University of the Tokyo to decide to assist with the http://www.jamstec.go.jp/jamstec/topix 2.html with its promotion of the construction of a new drilling vessel that illustration here. could reach, for example, Moholovicic discontinuity as Further development of deep-sea technologies was shallow as 10 -12 km below the ocean basin floor in reviewed and JAMSTEC endeavored to design the entire subduction regimes.

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Fortunately from 1970 s through the end of 1980 s, of Finance) in 1993 . Then the budget for a research project the Japanese ship building companies and heavy industries on development of the entire new deep ocean drilling vessel had had considerable experience in constructing large scale was appropriated to JAMSTEC in 1995 . The international oil drilling vessels, semi-submersible and floating rigs such meeting held in Kyoto (February, 1994 ) in coordination with as SEDCO- 472 , Discoverer 534 , and Discoverer Seven three main ODP-related bodies, EXCOM ODP, STA Japan, . Note that the Scientific Drilling Vessel JOIDES and JAMSTEC, addressed the reestablishment of a new Resolution was converted from SEDCO BP 471 , a sibling of ODP system (later titled as IODP) beyond 2003 . This SEDCO BP 472 . meeting seemed to have created a most important turning Japan National Oil Company (JANOC) intended to point, or the milestone, for OD 21 . JAMSTEC asked the develop a deep sea riser system because of the oil industry ’s Japanese science community to formulate an OD 21 Forum requirements to drill deep holes into the deeper part of the to evaluate and assess the OD 21 planning, and almost at the ocean floor. JANOC ’s methodical trial to gather an same time (October 1999 ), the ODP PEC (Program industrial group interested in this project was successful. But Evaluation Committee)-V of the US National Science because of an unpredictable economic change in which the Foundation (NSF) was held. The preparation for initiation of oil prices dropped drastically, this project was abandoned. the construction of the new deep ocean drilling vessel by However, engineers who participated in this project had Japan was authorized by the statement of the Head of gained a certain level of knowledge of the deep ocean riser Research and Technology Development Department of STA systems that made the first stage of designing the new in the early spring of 1999 . The OD 21 goal was the quantum drilling vessel with a riser system much easier than leap in ocean drilling science by use of a new deep sea anticipated. The aggregate corporate, Japan Deep Sea drilling vessel installed with an ocean riser system and a Technology Association (Nippon Shinkai Gijutsu Kyoukai blowout prevention mechanism. Management of the science in Japanese) organized a not-for-profit forum to study the support and operation had to be open to the international new deep-sea riser technology. Mitsui, Mitsubishi, IHI, Toa, science community and the technological development of Goyo, Kajima, Kawasaki, Sumitomo, Japan Drilling the vessel would have to be performed by JAMSTEC. It was Company, JAMSTEC, and other companies and proposed that the three main scientific themes would be: organizations sent participating members to this new forum. (1) Research of the earth ’s environmental change in the past JAMSTEC, with financial support of STA and a budget and prediction of the environmental change in the future. equivalent to ca. 135 Thousand US Dollars, also officially (2) Cutting edge and fundamental progress in the study on began in 1990 a new program to survey the most advanced the dynamics of the interior of the earth and detailed technology in the deep sea drilling systems . characterization of seismogenic zones. (3) Elucidation of the origin of primeval life in the early III. Ocean Drilling in the 21-st Century (OD21) stage of evolution of the earth. A new ODP-oriented project of Japan OD 21 : Ocean This most important contribution of OD 21 to Drilling Program in the 21 -st Century) was begun by science and technology was introduced by the journal JAMSTEC in 1990 , in accordance with No 3 Verdict of the SCIENCE as ‘The new ocean drilling vessel could also Council for Ocean Development of Japan. The budget for become the anchor for the first major international scientific development of a new element for the deep ocean drilling collaboration initiated by Japan (SCIENCE. Vol. 271 , vessel by JAMSTEC was first approved by MOF (Ministry March 1996 , p 1358 )’.

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1. Major domestic and international conferences funding agencies: Japan, USA, EU/RC and other related to OD21. organizations and/or countries), IPSC (IODP interim There were a number of international and domestic Science Planning Committee and then IODP SPC) have workshops, conferences and forums organized for proposed and established a complete set of management, promotion of scientific planning and the IODP drilling operational and science advisory structures of IODP by vessel construction, mainly in 1990 s and 2000 s. the end of 2002 US fiscal year. (1) Joint EXCOM-STA/JAMSTEC Workshop on Ocean 2. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Drilling in the 21 -st Century, Kyoto, Japan, 1994 . [Note: Description of this section III. 2 is mostly referred to JAMSTEC and STA joined ODP activity for the first from the IODP Home Page.] time. 2.1 Fundamental scheme (2) Secretary of NSF showed ‘Strong Interest on OD 21 The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an Program ’ in January, 1995 . international marine research program that explores Earth's (3) International Conference on Ocean Drilling in the history and structure recorded in seafloor sediments and Twenty-first Century (OD 21 ), Shonan, Kanagawa, rocks, and monitors subseafloor environments. IODP builds Japan, 1996 . JAMSTEC proposed construction of a new upon the earlier successes of the Deep Sea Drilling Project scientific drilling vessel with an ocean riser system. (DSDP) and Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), which (4) International Wo(rkshop on Riser Technology, revolutionized our view of Earth history and global Yokohama, Japan, 1996 . Available riser technologies processes through ocean basin exploration. IODP greatly were discussed openly and selected through an expands the reach of these previous programs by using international scheme. multiple drilling platforms, including riser, riserless, and (5) CONference on Coordinated Ocean Riser Drilling mission-specific, to achieve its scientific goals. These (CONCORD), Tokyo, Japan, 1997 . Science of ocean principal themes are outlined in the Initial Science Plan: drilling of new era was internationally studied and ‘Earth, Oceans and Life: Scientific Investigations of the planned. Earth System Using Multiple Drilling Platforms and New (6) COMPLEX (Conference On Multiple PLatform Technologies ’. It ’s main themes and subjects are: EXploration of the Ocean), Vancouver, Canada, 1999 . (1) The deep biosphere in the sub seafloor of the ocean, Science using two platforms (JOIDES Resolution and (2) Environmental change, processes and effects, and Japan-proposed vessel) was wide-openly discussed. (3) Solid earth cycles and geodynamics. (7) APLACON (An International CONference aimed at IODP is funded by four entities acting as integrating Alternate PLAtforms (Mission Specific international partners: The U.S. National Science Platforms: MSP) as part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Foundation (NSF) and Japan ’s Ministry of Education, Program, Lisbon, Portugal, 1999 . Third drilling Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) are Lead capability (MSP) was added to former two platforms for Agencies. The European Consortium for Ocean Research ocean sciences in areas not suitable for the other two Drilling (ECORD) is a Contributing Member. Ministry of vessels (e.g., higher latitudes). Science and Technology (MOST) the People ’s Republic of (8) Beginning of IODP, Oct. 2003 . After number of China is an Associate Member. Interim Asian Consortium, international efforts to develop OD 21 to international represented by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and program IODP, IWG (International Working Group of Mineral Resources (KIGAM), is an Associate Member.

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The Ocean Drilling Program office at NSF (part of support of IODP, regardless of whether it is participating as the Marine Geosciences section of the Division of Ocean an individual member or as a member of a consortium. The Sciences, within the Directorate for Geosciences) is Council is expected to serve as a consultative body responsible for administering commingled funds directed reviewing financial, managerial and other matters involving towards the science operating costs (SOCs) of all IODP the overall support of the IODP. operations. These commingled funds come from the 5. Member Offices international partners as part of their membership fees used (1) Japan: J-DESC (Japan Drilling Earth Science for the conduct of IODP science. Platform operating costs Consortium) (POCs) are the responsibility of the agency supplying the (2) USA: USSSP (U.S. Science Support Program) platform capability. (3) Europe and Canada: ESSAC (ECORD Science Support 3. Implementing Organizations & Advisory Committee) IODP has three Implementing Organizations (IO ’s). (4) Republic of China: IODP-China Typically, the IO ’s manage all ships and platform operations (5) South Korea: K-IODP (Korea Integrated Ocean Drilling from to sea and back to port again. Staff scientists from Program) each IO accompany each IODP science party, providing (6) Australia and New Zealand - ANZIC(Australian-New consistency from one expedition to the next. Zealand IODP Consortium) (1) ECORD Science Operator (ESO), conducts mission- 6. IODP-MI specific operations. IODP Management International, Inc. (IODP-MI) is (2) Center for Deep Earth Exploration (CDEX), conducts a nonprofit, U.S. corporation with an international riser platform operations. membership of academic institutions committed to scientific (3) U.S. Implementing Organization (USIO), conducts ocean drilling research. IODP-MI serves as the central riserless drilling operations. management organization for IODP, receiving advice from National and consortium offices play a key role in Science Advisory Structure (SAS), and working in selecting science party members, balancing the mix of consultation with vessel/platform operators referred to as scientific expertise and international participation. Science ‘Implementing Organizations ’ or IOs. IODP-MI's job is to Support Office are as follows. translate the scientific priorities of the international scientific (1) Japan, J-DESC (Japan Drilling Earth Science ocean drilling community into annual program plans. IODP- Consortium) MI submits an annual IODP Program Plan for review and (2) USA, USSSP (U.S. Science Support Program) approval first to the executive committee of the SAS, then to (3) Europe, ESSAC (ECORD Science Support & Advisory the IODP-MI Board of Governors (BoG), and finally to the Committee) Lead Agencies who give final budget approval. 4. IODP Council IODP-MI has offices in Washington, D.C. and The IODP Council provides governmental oversight Sapporo, Japan and is responsible for program-wide science for all IODP activities; assures effective planning, planning, and oversight of engineering development, management and operations of the IODP; and encourages publications, education and outreach, site survey data and promotes broad international participation in the IODP. management, and core sample repositories. The members of the Council are to be 7. Science Advisory Structure (SAS) representatives of each country or entity contributing to IODP science planning is provided by the Science

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Advisory Structure (SAS), which involves many scientists engineering developments necessary to meet the and engineers on eight standing committees and panels. scientific objectives of active IODP proposals and the IODP-MI Sapporo works very closely with the SAS by IODP Initial Science Plan (ISP) to the SPC. managing the submission and review of drilling proposals, (8) Hotspot Geodynamics Detail Planning Group (HGDPG) assisting SAS committee chairs, and organizing and should review current approaches and produce a written maintaining public records of SAS activities. All IODP report that lays out an optimal drilling, logging, and science is motivated by community input in the form of post-expedition science plan on volcanic chains unsolicited proposals that are nurtured and prioritized by the associated with deep-seated mantle plumes IODP SAS. Science Planning Committee (SPC) receives (9) Industry-IODP Science Program Planning Group (IIS- scientific advice on drilling proposals submitted by the PPG) shall identify subjects of cooperative scientific international community. The nurturing, development, and research between the IODP and selected industries. evaluation of proposals in concert with proponents are the prime responsibilities of SPC and SAS Executive IV. Toward the Construction of the Committee (SASEC). As pointed out briefly elsewhere (within Section II), 8. SAS Committees and Panels the technology development team of JAMSTEC had been (1) Scientific Advisory Structure (SAS) Executive working to develop and construct the manned submersible Committee (SASEC) shall be a committee created by ‘SHINKAI 6500 ’. In 1988 , its pressure hull was installed in IODP-MI in accordance with the terms and conditions the skeletal structure of the submersible, and various of IODP-MI's by-laws. subsystems were prepared and installed. The sea trials had (2) Science Planning Committee (SPC) focuses on the long- also been started, and finally, it dove in the Japan Trench as term science planning activities necessary to achieve the a test dive in 1989 . It touched the sea floor at a depth of objectives of IODP as expressed in the ISP. 6,527 m, which is the deepest record for a manned (3) Science Steering and Evaluation Panel (SSEP) shall submersible now in operation. interact with proponents to nurture submitted drilling The next target for the technology development proposals to maturity. team of JAMSTEC was to touch the bottom of the (4) Environmental Protection and Safety Panel (EPSP) shall Challenger Deep at the Mariana Trench, which is about provide independent advice with regard to safety and 11 ,000 m deep – the deepest point in the world ocean. This environmental issues of proposed drill sites. was the goal of the ROV ‘KAIKO ’ development program, (5) The Site Survey Panel (SSP) shall advise drilling and it was achieved in 1995 by setting the record of proponents on the degree of completeness of the drill diving/touching bottom on the 10 ,912 m deep sea floor. site characterization data package. The technology development team was destined to (6) Scientific Technology Panel (STP) shall contribute develop the No. 1 system in the world to contribute to the information and advice with regard to handling of IODP ocean sciences, and they were seeking a new target. In the data and information, methods and techniques of IODP late 1980 s, the development program of ‘SHINKAI 6500 ’ measurements, laboratory design, downhole was entering its final stage, and they were considering the measurements and experiments, and observatories. next target after the ‘KAIKO ’ project. There were two (7) Engineering Development Panel (EDP) shall provide candidates: one was the full depth manned submersible, and advice on matters related to the technological needs and the other was the drillship.

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In the mean time, Ocean Research Institute (ORI), this confrontation, industries had extensive discussions with the University of Tokyo was considering obtaining a new JOIA (Japan Ocean Industries Association) and JNOC drillship, and government and industries all hoped for the (Japan National Oil Corporation) regarding how to cope progress of this program. The technology development team with this situation, but no promising results were produced. of JAMSTEC started to scrutinize this program in Then, their target shifted to academia. conjunction with the new ORI proposal by designing a The ODP vessel capability was far below the brand new drillship with a cutting edge technology. scientists ’ desire —to drill into MOHO, or to penetrate In order to catch up with the newest deep water through oil/gas bearing layers. The offshore oil/gas drilling technology, JAMSTEC representatives were invited industries were working hard on penetrating deep into the to sit with the JOIDES TEDCOM (Technology and oil/gas layers, and it was thought that the application of their Engineering Development Committee) in 1990 at TAMU, technologies (riser and mud circulation technology) might College Station. TEDCOM Chair was Dr. C. Sparks who be applicable to the future science drilling. However, it was was eagerly promoting utilization of the ‘Slimline Riser ’ for clear also that there is a limitation of riser technology in the newly designed drillship. TEDCOM requested water depths beyond 3-4000 m and for penetration into the JAMSTEC to become the Japanese representative to the mantle. Around 1988 , the maximum water depth that committee in 1993 . Following this request, JAMSTEC marine riser systems used by industries could reach was dispatched a committee member from the technology around 1,000 m. It was expected to become much deeper by development team. The Japanese representative made a some break-through technology development that was not series of presentations at TEDCOM meetings on their plan clearly configured yet. for a new drillship featuring a riser and mud circulation ORI and industries had a meeting to talk about this system. As the result of these activities, a workshop titled situation in 1988 , and ORI recognized the importance of ‘International Workshop on Riser Drilling ’ was held in riser technology. This recognition was put forward to the Yokohama, Japan, hosted by JAMSTEC, ORI, and government and to JAMSTEC in 1989 . The Japanese TEDCOM, in 1996 . This workshop finally approved the government named a study committee, and the importance introduction of riser and mud circulation system that has and necessity of a riser drillship was clearly shown in this been used in marine petroleum industries. They also committee ’s report of August 1989 . recommended equipping the new drillship with 2,500 m A feasibility study was started on May 1989 by water depth capability as soon as possible, and then to move Japan Deep Sea Technology Association. This challenge for to a 4,000 m water depth capability. These efforts and their drilling technology is much the same as in the case of KTB, results had become the basis for the CONCORD meeting Russian Super Deep Drilling at Kola Peninsula, Mohole, held in Tokyo, Japan in the next year ( 1997 ). ODP, and Offshore Petroleum technology. These feasibility 1. General undercurrent of Shipbuilding and Ocean studies became the basis for the design and construction of Development Industries the ‘Chikyu ’. During 1970 s and 1980 s, Japanese shipbuilders 2. Trend and Movement of the Government received many orders for drilling rig construction. However, According to the promotion campaign of ORI for the economic environment was becoming worse in 1980 s the need of a new drillship, the Japanese government and because some of the developing countries such as Korea and other organizations issued a number of reports or proposals Singapore were catching up with Japan. In order to deal with as follows:

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Aug. 1989: One paragraph within a report of overall collision zone between neighboring and subducting planning committee lithospheres. May 1990: No. 3 report of the Ocean Development Council • JOIDES Resolution does not have the capability equal to the Prime Minister or beyond this request and a brand new drillship is June 1990: No. 17 report of the Council for Science and hoped for. Technology Policy • Ocean petroleum drilling technology will be best Aug. 1990: ‘Basic Program on R&D for Earth Science and applicable, but we may require considerable redesigning Technology ’ accepted by Japanese Prime Minister to introduce industrial technologies to scientific drilling. 1991: A report by Deep Sea Drilling Committee of the • A concentrated effort in the technological development Science and Technology Agency (STA) will have to be made before beginning of construction of 1992: OECD Mega Science Forum ‘Specialists ’ Meeting on the new vessel. Deep Drilling ’ STA/JAMSTEC requested from MOF (Ministry of Mar. 1993: Conference on ‘Proposal for a New Deep-Sea Finance) a budget for the survey of the state-of-the-arts Drilling Program ’ by STA drilling technologies. At first MOF opposed this request by June 1993:Presentation of Intention to develop the system stating that Japan lacked the technology and experience in by STA, at JOIDES-EXCOM, TAMU construction and operation of this type of drillship and that Dec. 1993: No. 4 report of the Ocean Development Council the proposal of STA was fully unacceptable. But to the Prime Minister STA/JAMSTEC persuaded them that the construction Feb. 1994: Workshop on ‘Ocean Drilling in the 21 st would promote earthquake research dramatically, with Century (OD 21 ’ at Kyoto, Japan, by JOIDES-EXCOM, substantial societal benefit, and also that Japan could lead the STA, JAMSTEC international science community of marine-earth sciences by June 1994: ODP Council supports the Motion at the operating this drillship. Industries also assisted workshop STA/JAMSTEC, indicating that Japanese technology is June 1994: a report ‘Ocean Drilling in the 21 st Century superior and Japan could get all the required technologies for (OD 21 )’ in Japanese, by Deep-Sea Drilling Committee of the construction of drillship within several years. Finally, STA MOF accepted this plan in 1992 . The fight to materialize our After these frequent meetings, reports and related dream finally started. proposals, the OD 21 began to pick up speed and was recognized as one of the nation-wide science and technology V. Establishing the Basic Plan for ‘Chikyu’ development programs. Construction 3. The First Step toward realization of the Dream 1. Technology Development for ‘Chikyu’ Construction Accumulation of these efforts convinced us that we After the inception of the concept of scientific are very close to a consensus on the capabilities required for drilling, technological review and technology development the new drillship: in various areas of the study on the new drillship were • Drilling capability in the deep sea area with a carried out. The fundamental items of the new research areas penetration capability deeper than 7,000 m below the required JAMSTEC to understand the following issues: seafloor is necessary to obtain geological samples for the (1) Riser systems research on earthquake characterization within the (2) Riser pipe

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(3) Riser handling through 2000 the construction specifications were refined. (4) Systems ‘Chikyu ’ has a newly developed automatic ‘Dual (5) On-board drilling system Elevator ’ system whereas JOIDES Resolution has a manual (6) Ship hull system lift. The mechanism is shown in detail in Fig Ⅱ. 3-22 . (7) Dynamic positioning system (DPS) Another unique feature is a new mud circulation and Japan had splendid technology for ship construction, deterioration process. Offshore oil industry sends the used and had constructed many drillships and rigs. But as there is mud back into an old and abandoned hole, but we decided little oil drilling around Japan, the basic planning and design not to use this old scheme and designed a system to pack the were in most cases not worked out by the Japanese used mud into a solidified package of soil after it returns shipbuilders. Thus, Japan had little experience in basic back to the board of ‘Chikyu ’. The water in the mud is planning and design of the drilling systems aboard the evaporated and then the condensed mud is squeezed to get vessel. almost all the water out. Then, cement powder is mixed into We hoped that this program would enhance the this de-watered mud in order to stabilize the soft mud cake. vitality of Japanese industries. It became the fundamental Agriculture researchers say that there is no difference understanding that the basic planning, basic design, between natural soil and the ‘Chikyu ’-made mud cakes, construction, and operation should be performed by Japan. except that the latter does not carry any nutrients in it. This We thought also that most of items for the new drillship trial development will open one way to transforming the should be fabricated in Japan. Typical examples are the DPS deteriorated mud from trash to a valuable substance. (Dynamic Positioning System) and the high powered and 3. Budget low noise engines. The scale of the budget for ‘Chikyu ’ project was The major manufacturers and suppliers of DPS were very big compared with any other project JAMSTEC has European or US companies and Japan has only one ever had. In order to cut the amount of red tape between company providing DPS. It was decided to introduce a MOF and STA, we had set up a series of international Japan-designed and Japan-constructed DPS. JAMSTEC conferences and meetings to get our project widely requested the company not to produce a conventional DPS, recognized and internationally supported. Various domestic but to add unique capabilities that could not be easily evaluation and assessment committees were set up also for matched by the preceding countries. Details of the DPS rationalization of the program. After a long lasting campaign design and construction will be described later in section of efforts to obtain domestic and international support, the VI. 3. conceptually and in sectionVI. 5. in much more detail. government finally approved the budget following a heated The marine engines produced in Japan were under European discussion in the Appropriation Board of the Congress. royalty, and Japanese shipbuilders were paying a large sum to the license holders. They tried to develop their own ship VI. Construction of ‘Chikyu’ engines; and finally, after a long period of development 1. Construction Contract and Organizational efforts, they produced a small and quiet ADD engine. It was Structure for Construction decided that this engine would be installed in ‘Chikyu ’. Before the construction of the drillship, it was 2. Basic Specification for ‘Chikyu’ necessary to determine the constructing shipyard. A A draft of construction specification was prepared in committee chaired by Prof. N. Nasu discussed this matter 1998 , and during the basic and detailed designing in 1999 and the shipyard Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.(MHI)

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was selected ultimately as a prime contractor in 1999 , with a be written in Japanese phonetical alphabet (Hirakana) with a condition that the ship hull and DPS shall be constructed by standard font used for other JAMSTEC vessels and Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd (MES). following the custom of the Japan Coast Guard. Within this structure, the ship ’s seven azimuth 2. Ship Hull Construction thrusters, main engine and generators, and main parts for the After the construction contract, the shipbuilders ship hull were provided by MES. The other drilling and started the detailed design based on the conceptual design of subsea systems, as well as any other remaining parts were JAMSTEC. On April 25 , 2001 , nearly 1 year after the start collected by MHI. MHI hired US consultants in order to get of the project, the keel laying ceremony was held. Then the support for design, construction and seagoing tests of the ship hull construction proceeded smoothly using a block total system, construction method, i.e., big blocks of hull parts were JAMSTEC contracted with Japan Shipbuilding constructed at some other place in the shipyard. They were Research Center (SRC) for engineering consultation, and then transferred to the berth and connected with the other SRC contracted with Japan Drilling Company (JDC), which blocks. is the only ocean drilling company in Japan available for On January 18 -th 2002 , the ship hull construction drilling operation consultation, and Global Ocean was over, and the launching ceremony was held. Many of Development Inc., which is presently operating most of the ODP/IODP related personnel were invited from all over the JAMSTEC fleet, for rigging consultation. As for world, and a large number of Japanese people including management of the onboard scientific equipment, citizens of the shipyard area gathered at the berth. The JAMSTEC contracted with Marine Work Japan, Ltd. which Japanese Emperor ’s family member princess Sayako is presently managing almost all of the onboard scientific Norinomiya cut the supporting main rope of ‘Chikyu ’, and measurements of the JAMSTEC fleet. the launching ceremony was over in a celebratory The ship was planned to have class-NK (Japan atmosphere. The drillship ‘Chikyu ’ moved to the outfitting Maritime Association) qualification. It was clear that the NK berth in the same shipyard after the ceremony to begin rules for drillships was not well recognized due to the fact outfitting work. that there had never been an NK-class drillship. American At the end of April 2003 , nearly one year after the Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) launching ceremony, the outfitting work was completed, and are thought to be very applicable to this matter. JAMSTEC the sea trials started, but only with the ship ’s hull, without asked ABS and DNV for their support of our new project carrying any of the drilling derrick. It was confirmed that the and they agreed with us to let ‘Chikyu ’ be authenticated as cruising performance was certified to be as good as class-NK, with the understanding it would be equal to ABS expected. After the test run ‘Chikyu ’ moved to Nagasaki or DNV specifications. shipyard on July 2003 for outfitting the drilling units. The ship, however, did not have an appropriate A series of photos from keel laying ceremony, name until this moment. A committee under the auspices of launching ceremony to sea trials are shown in a series of JAMSTEC and chaired by Prof. N. Nasu discussed this figures on the first 14 pages of this book. matter. The committee selected and finally fixed the name 3. Subsea Systems ‘Chikyu ’ (the ‘Globe ’ in Japanese) taking into account the The construction of the drilling systems started on large number of proposals submitted to JAMSTEC from all July 2003 at Nagasaki shipyard of the Mitsubishi Heavy over Japan. The letter ‘Chikyu （ちきゅう） ’ was decided to Industries, Ltd (MHI). These systems were divided into two

19 Summary

groups; On-board drilling systems, provided by Nagasaki Defining the specifications of each system was done MHI group, and Subsea systems, provided by Kobe MHI with the assistance of technological consultation by Reading group. The Kobe group was very well trained for and Bates Falcon, Inc. (R&B F). Negotiations with underwater activities obtained through the construction of manufacturers for procurements were done under the , the manned submersible ‘SHINKAI 6500 ’, and cooperation and assistance of a Vice President of R&B F. the AUV ‘Urashima ’. R&B F dispatched several subsea system engineers and The Subsea system consists of a riser connecting the mechanics to assist the Japanese program, and some of them seafloor and the surface vessel, a BOP (Blow Out Preventer) later became engineering consultants for installations and set for safety at the upper end of a drill hole on the seafloor, tests of this framework. and some other subsystems. The most spectacular work would be the As the ‘ Chikyu ’ is going to operate a mud transportation of riser pipes from Houston to Newport, and circulation system, the BOP and BOP Control System are transferring the riser to ‘Chikyu ’ from a cargo ship via barge. vital portions of the entire drilling system. The mud is The riser pipes are about 27 m long. It took 1 week and 20 circulated in between the ship and the bottom of the drill trucks with air-suspension to complete the transport from hole, i.e., through a duct to return the used mud up to the Houston to Newport. Transferring the pipes to ‘Chikyu ’ took surface ship. This integration of these parts is called a marine 5 days using 10 barges shuttling between the cargo ship and riser system.. The mud usually flows into the sieving and ‘Chikyu ’. refining mechanism after it returns back to the surface ship. 4. Drilling Systems On-Board However, the mud must be diverted sometimes to another Ocean drilling requires a multitude of systems on the flow direction at the diverter (just below the drill floor) for rig. The on-board drilling system means those systems safety reasons. As the hole is fixed on the earth, the ship has above the rig floor directly or indirectly connected to the to be maintained closely at a fixed position. This operation is ‘Subsea Systems ’ described in section 3 (above). Typical performed by DPS system, essentially based upon satellite systems are Derrick, Crane, Power Swivel, Drawworks, navigation method. But this satellite-based navigation Crown Block, Travelling Block, Pipe Racking Machine, system may malfunction due to such problems as radio Pipe Transfer Machine, Roughneck, Driller ’s House, DCIS jamming. Such a malfunctioning caused by spark noise from system, and Mud control systems. the lighting tools actually occurred during the sea trials near After the contract on March 2000 , the detailed Japan . In such a case, a redundancy measure based on design of the drilling modules started. Block construction underwater acoustic positioning is used in a parallel fashion. started in Oct. 2002 , and the modules were fit to ‘Chikyu ’ For this purpose transponders and transducers must also be soon after she came to Nagasaki in July 2003 . deployed on the seafloor. Thus, the entire components of the Drawing up the specification of each system was subsea systems consist of: ( 1)Riser Pipe, ( 2)Riser Tensioner, done with the assistance of technological consultation by (3)BOP, ( 4)BOP Control System, ( 5)Diverter System, R&B F same, as was the case for the ‘Subsea Systems ’. The (6)Riser Management System, and ( 7)Acoustic Position UK based designing company, Rig Design Service Ltd. was Measurement System. The main work for preparing and also selected for consultation on the rig design. building these subsea systems was composed of four steps: Most of these systems were fabricated and tested (1) defining the specifications of each system, ( 2) outside Japan, especially in Europe and the USA, and procurement, ( 3) installation, and ( 4) test. around 20 personnel worked for these facilities. For factory

20 Summary

acceptance trials, JAMSTEC personnel also joined the tests. following the transfer ceremony. The products were transferred to Nagasaki via two 5. Development and Fabrication of DPS chartered cargo ships. The derrick was transported in 3 The Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) installed in separate parts, but as they were still too big to unload at vessels for petroleum industries are products of European or Nagasaki, they were unloaded at Hiroshima, and then US companies. The DPS installed in ‘Chikyu ’ is a product transported to Nagasaki via special barges for domestic use. of a Japanese company, Mitsui Engineering and The Koyagi MHI dock is very big, about 1km long Shipbuilding Co. Ltd (MES). by 100 m in width. it is divided into two docks by a center As a result of the discussions between JAMSTEC gate. ‘Chikyu ’ was positioned at the aft side dock, and and the company, it was decided to apply the NK (Japanese drilling modules were loaded onboard. At the fore dock, Ship Classification Organization) class as DPS-B, which assembliy work on the disassembled derrick was carried out. was nearly equal to DPS-II in ABS or DNV regulation. On Sept. 26 -th, 2003 , loading of the derrick onto ‘Chikyu ’ However, JAMSTEC requested that the company produce a was completed. ‘Chikyu ’ was afloat outside of the dock one strongly competitive system compared to the preceding day before. After getting the derrick, ‘Chikyu ’ became truly European or US products. a new drillship on the sea. ‘Chikyu ’ moved to another JAMSTEC received a proposal from a DPS-related outfitting pier, and received the remaining outfitting parts US group to purchase a system with fully certified and assets. performance. JAMSTEC could hardly accept this proposal Starting in Dec. 2003 , commissioning began. Three because 1) it would only serve to strengthen the monopoly personnel were invited as machine operators from the of DPS industries, and thus shut out the newcomers, and 2) Norwegian drilling contractor Smedvic Offshore the construction of ‘Chikyu ’ was to be conducted using a Association, and seven experienced foreigners including Japanese budget, which implies a strong national interest to R&B F members were also hired as technical consultants. enhance the vitality of Japanese industries. One point of their The commissioning work was done by the commissioning proposal to confirm the long-term performance of the team, which consisted of these 11 foreigners, plus the design system was adopted for the DPS sea trial. and construction teams of the shipyard. The company MES worked very hard and produced This team prepared commissioning procedure for a unique DPS system. For safety DPS requires positioning each unit, and also the team prepared the system integration sensors using at least two different principles. Usually these test procedures on board the ship, and executed it. Each are satellite navigation and underwater acoustic navigation commissioning record was integrated with manufacturer ’s systems. The unique MES system makes a third principle for data book to become a dossier. The commissioning positioning available, i.e., the ‘Riser Angle Control System ’ procedures became the operation procedures for all the (RACS) in which a sum of square of riser angles at the systems including each unit and individual machines. bottom and the top of the riser is brought to minimum. A There were many individual systems related to Combination of the satellite navigation, acoustic positioning drilling, and their operations had to be in harmony with all and RACS should form the best estimate of the local ship the other systems. Therefore, the commissioning procedures position. ‘Chikyu ’ will be operated in the very deep ocean, became highly sophisticated, and it took a very long time to and to operate properly acoustic systems require low ship- get final systems coordination. This was achieved just before generated noise. Also DPS must be robust against any type the vessel was transferred to the owner (JAMSTEC) of noise, all technical troubles, and man-made errors. Thus,

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the company worked hard not only in the simulation and However, after confirming that the ordinary medical CT system production phase, but also in the ship performance scan could be used effectively to image core samples, a tests with collaboration from JAMSTEC and other Japanese system with medical specifications was successfully companies. introduced. After the mechanical completion, ‘Chikyu ’ made a Another unique system is he magnetic shield room series of sea trials. ‘Chikyu ’ encountered several strong facility. It also had been required all through ODP, but this storms during these sea trials. Although some unexpected need was never met. This time a non-magnetic room trouble occurred, the problems were soon repaired, and encircled by a thin sheet of permalloy metal was introduced finally it was confirmed that this MES-made DPS was found on the Chikyu. This shielding reduces the terrestrial to be highly dependable and robust. At present, no person magnetic field strength level by asmuch as 1/100 of the on-board the ship worries about the DPS performance. normal terrestrial field. Another important outcome from the problems 7. System Integration encountered during the final sea trial is that a new theoretical There are a large number of machines, tool systems, research field on the ‘Waves of the Open Seas ’ has been and other pieces of equipment installed on ‘Chikyu ’, and originated. most importantly they are interactive. not ‘stand-alone ’. 6. Selection and Order/Installation of Research They have to have interfaces linking the systems, and the Facilities linkages differ between systems prepared by different In order to make ‘Chikyu ’ a floating institution, the shipyards and companies. It was vitally important to regulate Deep Sea Research Department of JAMSTEC developed the data traffic between systems and to retain a record of this various requirements for research facilities on board ‘Chikyu ’. information flow. Providers of these assets gathered together The general concept for these research facilities was; and most of the individual devices were integrated into a (1) Fast processing and analysis of samples (by obtaining control and report system and then documented for further the primary information before the destruction of activities. samples, obtaining digitized images, and obtaining of X- 8. Final Sea Trial ray CT scan images). After the completion of the outfitting work of on- (2) Completion of analysis onboard the ship (by board drilling systems and subsea systems, final sea trials introduction of the advanced systems). were carried out from Dec. 3-rd through Dec. 8-th, 2004 (6 (3) Well-designed arrangement in the laboratory and stable days) as Leg 1, and from Dec. 18 -th through Dec. 24 -th, electric power supply for air conditioning and other low 2004 (7 days) as Leg 2. Leg 1 was held off the Gotoh Islands power electric systems. area (Nagasaki prefecture) and performed speed trials, One of the unique systems installed in ‘Chikyu ’ is maneuvering tests, cruising tests and other tests to check the the X-ray CT Scan. It enables scientists to grasp the performance of the cruising vessel. Leg 2 was held off the configuration and internal structure of the recovered cores by Gotoh Islands area and Koshiki-jima area (Kagoshima CT scan. This tool had been needed for a long a time - all prefecture) and was mainly concerned with DPS capability through ODP. However such a system that was useful for tests, especially heading course keeping capability and core samples with a diameter ca. 100 mm was not readily position keeping capability tests,. Some of these test items available in the market and to make a special order for a had already been done before the ship came to Nagasaki custom-made machine would have been too expensive. while in an empty configuration. The weight of ship was

22 Summary

very light at that time because drilling or subsea systems initiative jointly funded by Japan, the United States, a were not yet loaded on the ship and the draught was shallow. consortium of European countries, the People's Republic of As expected, some problems were encountered China, and South Korea. during the trials, but they were soon fixed onboard. The NanTroSEIZE scientists were prepared to drill cruising speed was confirmed at 11 .5knots, which satisfied deeply into the Earth to scrutinize earthquake mechanisms in the specifications for the ship. Its maneuverability was also a well-known subduction zone (refer to figures in sections very good and satisfied the specifications. The DPS VII. 1 and VII. 3). The process of subduction occurs when capability was also found to be very satisfactory. lithospheric plates collide and one plate slides beneath another one. Geological samples will be collected from the VII. Beginning of IODP initial phase subduction zone, so that IODP scientists can analyze them -Initiation of the first stage of IODP activity at the and study the frictional properties of the rock. Later, sensors site of The Seismogenic Zone of Nankai Trough, to are to be installed deep beneath the sea floor, in the the south of Japanese Main Island- seismogenic fault zone, to monitor the development of Prior to its role in the Nankai Trough Seismogenic earthquakes at close range. The data collected through these Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE), the Chikyu underwent a sensors and the data collected from cored samples are full schedule of systems integration testing near Shimokita expected to yield new insights into naturally occurring Peninsula and in-situ testing of its drilling, coring, and processes responsible for earthquakes. IODP scientists navigation systems. Complex data sets were assembled anticipate that the new data also will help them understand onboard and entered into a vast IODP database. Daily and the nature of liquid (most probably water) motion and the weekly logs were posted online from the ship for access by effects of liquid on the subduction mechanism. the global scientific community eager to glean news of Former Ocean Drilling Program Director James F. these ground-breaking investigations. Following the in situ Allan of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) then testing, IODP scientists launched the deep-sea scientific characterized the first NanTroSEIZE expedition as an drilling program to study the very active earthquake zone. important milestone. ‘NSF welcomes the beginning of a new Late in 2007 , NanTroSEIZE got underway, with tomorrow, where the Chikyu enables us to explore the Chikyu departing from Shingu Port with scientists aboard, origins of devastating earthquakes at their source, study all ready to log, drill, sample, and install monitoring Earth history through coring of unstable, thick sediment instrumentation in one of the most active earthquake zones sections, and investigate the fundamentals of ocean crust on the Earth. Her maiden leg opened the first one of a series formation. These new capabilities, ’ Allan noted, of scientific drilling expeditions that will retrieve geological ‘complement those provided by the U.S. scientific ocean samples and provide scientific data from the Nankai Trough drilling vessel and European mission-specific platforms, fault zone. which also support IODP scientific investigations, and that Situated off Japan's southwest coast, the Nankai have investigated the subseafloor biosphere and Earth's Trough has repeatedly generated large-scale earthquakes and dynamic climate with great success. ’ tsunamis for millions of years, including the historic The full range of NanTroSEIZE investigations will earthquakes in 1944 and 1946 , which measured 8.1 and 8.3, occur in four stages: respectively, on the Richter scale. The NanTroSEIZE -- Stage 1, now underway, calls for drilling and sampling at expeditions are supported by the IODP, a marine research six drill sites to characterize the region's geology and

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provide geotechnical information for subsequent deep riser instruments down inside the earthquake fault, so we can look drilling. at the physics of the fault process. We will be able to -- Stage 2 involves drilling the first of two deep holes, determine whether earthquakes actually have precursory using Chikyu's riser drilling technology to target the mega- signals that happen before the earthquakes we can measure splay fault zone (where an array of faults occur) at ~ 3,500 that will provide early warning systems for people on land. ’ meters below the seafloor. Co-chief scientist Dr. Kinoshita explained that to -- Stage 3 focuses on 6,000 -meter deep drilling into the people in Japan, earthquakes and tsunamis are serious seismogenic zone and across the plate interface into matters. ‘Consequently, it is logical and relatively easy subducting crust. to excavate into the earthquake source to learn about its -- Stage 4 includes installing long-term observatory mechanism. ’ The NanTroSEIZE science party will drill systems in two ultra-deep boreholes. 6,000 meters below the 2,000 -meter-deep oceanic During Stage 1, drill targets are 1) the incoming sediment bottom to meet the expedition's scientific objectives that of the Shikoku Basin and the underlying oceanic crust, 2) are part of the IODP ISP (Initial Science Plan). (For the frontal thrust system at the toe of the accretionary more details you are recommended to visit HP of Center wedge (where sediment is added to tectonic plates through of Deep Earth Exploration, JAMSTEC (CDEX); frictional contact), 3) the mid-wedge multiple-fault system http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/CHIKYU/sta tus.html) (mega-splays), and 4) two, approximately 1,000 -meter Or you may visit HP of Integrated Ocean Drilling deep holes at sites identified for later deep penetration into Program Management International; (IODP MI): seismogenic zone faults. The first Stage 1 expedition http://www.iodp.org/iodp-mi/. finished on November 16 , 2007 . The following Stage 1 expedition will sail again from May , 2009 (future plan as From the Editorial Board of January, 2009 ) , with new scientist participation. It is noted here that we particularly express our Logging While Drilling (LWD) investigations will gratitude to those who have joined with us at large for occur at all Stage 1 drill sites. LWD operations consist of consultation, promotion, construction, and assembling the continuously drilling one or more holes at each site by fundamental assets of Chikyu. Japan Drilling Company drilling down at a controlled rate, with logging tools (JDC) proposed and consulted on deep ocean riser incorporated into the bottom-hole assembly, a relatively technology . Ships hull, propelling system and dynamic short distance (tens of meters) behind the drill bit. Log data positioning system of the ship installed with deep ocean riser are acquired very soon after the hole is cut, providing the were provided by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding best possible data quality. LWD operational and science data Company (MES). Mud circulation system was provided by are crucial for optimizing subsequent expeditions and future IHI Corporation (former Ishikawajima Harima Heavy drilling stages. Industry). Final assembly of all these important parts and The first NanTroSEIZE expedition was led by Co- installation of a double drilling derrick were achieved by Chief Scientist Harold Tobin, University of Wisconsin- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI). Without the efforts Madison, and Co-Chief Scientist, Masataka Kinoshita, of all these companies and related subsidiaries of these JAMSTEC. companies, our aim of equipping the Chikyu with the ‘ A fundamental goal of the NanTroSEIZE world ’s best, cutting-edge technology would not have come expedition, ’ said Dr. Tobin, ‘is to put long-term monitoring true. Our thanks is given to those who assisted us in

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publishing this book by reading our manuscript and giving us a large number of comments: Dr. Y. Tatsumi, Dr. T. Tanaka (JAMSTEC), Dr. H. Yamamoto (risk management department. JAMSTEC), Mr. Y. Tamura (MLIT:Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) and Professor R. Geller , the University of Tokyo. Our particular thanks are due to Professor Theodore C. Moore, University of Michigan, USA, one of the long time leading collaborators in establishing IODP schemes, for his critical reading and comments on our summary manuscript.

January 22 , 2009

Editor in Chief Hajimu Kinoshita 1

Editorial Board Members Kiyoshi Hara 2 Hiroyuki Hashimoto 3 Eiichi Kikawa 1 Hiroshi Okada 4 Izumi Sakamoto 5 Shinichi Takagawa 6 Shigehito Uetake 7

Publishing Board Members Yasushi Taya 1 Makiko Uno 1

1 JAMSTEC 2 Mitsui Engineering and Ship Building Company 3 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. 4 Shipbuilding Research Centre of Japan 5 Tokai University 6 Japan Deep Sea Technology Association 7 Japan Drilling Company

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